Ocasio-Cortez: It was easier to get elected to Congress than pay off student loan debt

The Hill ^ | 06/25/19 | Aris Folley

[SJackson]

© Greg Nash

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezDemocrat backs up Ocasio-Cortez: Migrant shelters 'are like concentration camps' Ocasio-Cortez marks one-year anniversary of her primary win Democratic lawmaker says treatment of migrants at border 'not American' MORE (D-N.Y.) said this week it was “literally easier” for her to be elected to Congress than it has been for her to pay off her student loan debt.

“I will disclose my personal stake in this fight because I have student loans, too,” the freshman Democrat began during an event on Monday in Washington, D.C., where Sen. Bernie SandersBernie Sanders2020 Democrats spar over socialism ahead of first debate 'Teflon Don' avoids the scorn of the 'family values' GOP — again Don't expect Trump-sized ratings for Democratic debates MORE (I-Vt.) unveiled a bill calling on the elimination of student debt in the country.

“I think it’s so funny a year ago I was waiting tables in a restaurant and it was literally easier for me to become the youngest woman in American history elected to Congress than it is pay off my student loan debt,” she said.

“So, that should tell you everything about the state of our economy and the state of quality of life for working people,” she continued. “Because in order for me to get a chance to have health care, in order for me to get a chance to pay off my student loans, I had to do something that was nearly impossible.”

“And I don’t think that that is the bar in which a person should be able to access education, health care and a bevy of other things that should be considered human rights,” the 29-year-old lawmaker added.

During the event on Monday, Sanders, who is running for president, proposed legislation along with progressive Reps. Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarThe four House Democrats who voted against the border funding bill Ocasio-Cortez: It was easier to get elected to Congress than pay off student loan debt Progressive group endorses three House freshmen MORE (D-Minn.) and Pramila JayapalPramila JayapalOcasio-Cortez: It was easier to get elected to Congress than pay off student loan debt House Democratic leaders work to secure votes for border bill Republican lawmaker: Plan to #CancelStudentDebt 'is immoral' MORE (D-Wash.) that calls for all of the country’s $1.6 trillion worth of student debt to be eliminated.

If enacted, the measure would call on the federal government to wipe out the student loan debt of nearly 45 million Americans. The bill would also call for universities across the country to admit students into school tuition-free.

Sanders's plan calls for taxes on Wall Street that his campaign says could raise more than $2 trillion over 10 years to pay for the bill. 

[Williams]

And her point is?

[Texas Eagle]

Help us do the math.

A) What is your salary as a Congressdropping?

B) What is the amount of your student loan debt?

[Mariner]

She should sue for a refund.

[48th SPS Crusader]

Democratic lawmaker says treatment of migrants at border ‘not American’ MORE (D-N.Y.)

Correct. If it was American they would have been put in trucks and sent back. That is what America used to do with illegals. So PO with you silly concentration camp nonsense!

[Kath]

Especially if there are a bunch of morons in your district.

[Zathras]

“It is easier to be given a home than it is to actually have to buy one”

[SJackson]

Actually, AOC is a perfectly typical late-20s Millennial. And that's a good thing.

Interesting. She has $15,000 to $50,000 in debt. From four years at a college with tuition above $50,000 per year. And I doubt she lived in her car and went through garbage cans to eat, so costs were higher. Yet she appears to owe at most maybe 20% of her college costs. Wish my kids college educations were so cheap.

Her income in 2017, last full working year was $27,000. A little over half the $50,000 the average college grad earns our of school. A suppose attending prestigious, expensive college was the cause.

I doubt she paid down a lot of debt on that $27,000. Especially given the fact that on that kind of salary, especially since she's saved between $17,000 and $80,000 presumably from her jog.

a checking account at Charles Schwab with between $15,000 and $50,000; an investment account at Charles Schwab with between $1,000 and $15,000; and a 401(k) retirement plan through the National Hispanic Institute valued at between $1,000 and $15,000.

She should quit whining and consider how fortunate she's been. Maybe write a book on attending college and amassing savings on a limited salary. Lots of kids her age and older haven't done as well on considerably larger incomes.

[1Old Pro]

Let’s see how easy it is the second time.

[GMMC0987]

Perhaps it would be easier if she didn’t spend that much for a degree so she could tend bar.

[mewzilla]

Note to AOC stop spending big bucks on clothes and watches, sweetie, and you might be able to pay down your debt.

[databoss]

Don’t take out the loans in the first place!!!

[SJackson]

Note my post 8. You’re correct, her clothes and watches magnify her apparent financial acumen.

[SJackson]

Don’t take out the loans in the first place!!!

True, though I'd say don't whine. What's probably a $250,000 plus education for a maximum of $50,000 in debt is a pretty good deal if you're planning on earning an income from it. And her degree is in Economics, not Immigration Studies. Plenty of professionals from middle class families leave college with productive degrees in much worse shape than she's in. Heck, $15,000 to $50,000 in debt, $17,000 to $80,000 in liquid investments, she appears to be in no financial stress at all. Particularly since she no longer earns $27,000 per year. I'd suggest she quit funding and help provide funding to take care of the aliens detained at the border. Give them beds instead of whining they have no beds.

[PeterPrinciple]

That is because you are a turtle on a fence post and someone put you there.

Paying off your student debt is much easier if someone else does it too.

[Yo-Yo]

OK, Mz. Ocrazio-Cortex, we shall see how difficult it will be to get re-elected in 2020.

[fungoking]

Probably true. If it was difficult to to, she couldn’t do it.

[nikos1121]

Let’s see how easy it’ll be the second time around, Honey.

[Thank You Rush]

She actually closes her mouth????? Amazing!

[MrRelevant]

All depends if the activists who cast her in this role want her again.