Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-cortez (D-ny) And Rashida Tlaib (D-mi) Were Dealt Blows This Week After Failing To Secure Seats On Powerful House Committees Despite A Push From Progressive Groups.
Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), a former lawyer and accountant in his second term, clinched a seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday, beating out Ocasio-Cortez, 29, who vowed to promote a “Green New Deal” and “Medicare for All,’”if given a seat on the influential panel.
In a statement, Suozzi, who represents Glen Cove, New York, pledged to “fight for the national issues voters and American families are concerned about — increasing wages, improving retirement security, and reducing healthcare and prescription drug costs.”
Corbin Trent, a spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez, said that while the progressive lawmaker hoped to win the seat, she is “excited to see what committees she does get.”
The development is the second defeat for Ocasio-Cortez, whose tenure as a member of Congress is just one-week-old.
Last week, Ocasio-Cortez joined House Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) in voting against the rules package, including the “pay-go” provision. The rule, designed to prevent the deficit from increasing, encourages Congress to offset the cost of legislation that increases spending on entitlement programs.- READ MORE