Ocasio-Cortez, progressives call on Senate not to confirm lobbyists or executives to future administration posts

Progressive Democrats on Friday called on Senate leadership to oppose the confirmation of any nominee to an executive branch position who is a lobbyist or former lobbyist for any corporate client or who is a C-suite officer for a private corporation. 

In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellFeinstein’s hug of Lindsey Graham sparks outrage on the left Overnight Health Care: Georgia gets Trump approval for Medicaid work requirements, partial expansion | McConnell shoots down .8 trillion coronavirus deal Pelosi: Mnuchin says Trump will lobby McConnell on big COVID-19 deal MORE (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerSenate GOP’s campaign arm releases first ad targeting Bollier in Kansas Intercept Chief: Democrats’ attention to Affordable Care Act in Barrett hearings part of larger election strategy Is Trump a better choice for Jewish voters than Biden? MORE (D-N.Y.), 13 progressive members of Congress asked that they oppose these nominees for this administration “or any future administration.” 

Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezPocan won’t seek another term as Progressive Caucus co-chair Radiation elevated at fracking sites, researchers find Betting on the ‘base’ — can Trump win again? MORE (N.Y.), Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.), Barbara LeeBarbara Jean LeeDemocrats accuse tech companies of deceitful tactics in campaign against Calif. ballot measure Congress fiddles while the US burns, floods, and ails 20 years later, the FDA must lift restrictions on medication abortion care MORE (Calif.), Katie Porter (Calif.), Pramila JayapalPramila JayapalPocan won’t seek another term as Progressive Caucus co-chair Poll shows Biden leading Trump, tight House race in key Nebraska district House votes to condemn alleged hysterectomies on migrant women MORE (Wash.), Rashida TlaibRashida Harbi TlaibPocan won’t seek another term as Progressive Caucus co-chair Kamala Harris’s facial expressions during debate go viral ‘The squad’ responds to Twitter warning for posts threatening bodily harm MORE (Minn.) and Ayanna PressleyAyanna PressleyPocan won’t seek another term as Progressive Caucus co-chair Black Boston jogger stopped by ICE agents, prompting outcry from local officials: ‘Outrageous’ Ocasio-Cortez claps back at Pence calling her ‘AOC’ during debate MORE (Mass.), among others, signed on to the letter.

“Ending the practice of filling cabinet and sub-cabinet posts with current or former corporate officers and lobbyists is not to offer a commentary on each individual person’s character. It is to make a statement of principle,” they wrote. 

The group noted that Schumer opposed President TrumpDonald John TrumpFeds investigating if alleged Hunter Biden emails connected to foreign intelligence operation: report Six takeaways from Trump and Biden’s dueling town halls Biden draws sharp contrast with Trump in low-key town hall MORE‘s nominees like former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex TillersonRex Wayne TillersonGary Cohn: ‘I haven’t made up my mind’ on vote for president in November Kushner says ‘Alice in Wonderland’ describes Trump presidency: Woodward book Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE for the position of secretary of State. Tillerson was fired from his post in 2018 and replaced by now-Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoChina accuses US of trying to destabilize Tibet with appointment of human rights envoy Two Americans held by Yemeni rebels freed State Department appoints special coordinator to Tibet amid tensions with China MORE. 

They said that an officer or lobbyist of a major bank should similarly not be working on financial policy in a Democratic administration.

The letter was endorsed by dozens of progressive organizations, including Public Citizen, Indivisible, Center for International Policy, Our Revolution, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Demand Progress and Greenpeace USA, as well as by Democrat Jamaal Bowman, who is running for Congress in New York. 

Eight progressive groups wrote a letter to Democratic presidential nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenFeds investigating if alleged Hunter Biden emails connected to foreign intelligence operation: report Six takeaways from Trump and Biden’s dueling town halls Biden draws sharp contrast with Trump in low-key town hall MORE in April asking him to vow not to appoint any “current or former Wall Street executives or corporate lobbyists, or people affiliated with the fossil fuel, health insurance or private prison corporations” to his transition team, Cabinet or as his top aides.

That letter has since been criticized by Black and Latino lobbyists, who said a ban of that sort would end up shutting out minorities and could make the administration less diverse if Democrats win back the White House.