OPINION | This article contains the author's opinion.
The House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee voted to seat Rep. Kathleen Rice instead of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, according to Fox News.
“I do think we need new leadership in the Democratic Party,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Ocasio-Cortez holds concern for a power vacuum because Democratic leaders have not been grooming their successors.
Rep. Henry Cuellar said, “I’m taking into account who works against other members in primaries and who doesn’t.”
At least @AOC supports other Democrats 🤷🏾♀️ https://t.co/neDMmFG97G pic.twitter.com/1Z1NwB7ct7
— Jessica Cisneros (@JCisnerosTX) December 18, 2020
“At least @AOC supports other Democrats,” Cisneros tweeted.
Nancy Pelosi said, “It is an honor to announce the nomination of these outstanding Members to our exclusive committees for the 117th Congress.”
“House Democrats are united in our mission to Build Back Better, and with these strong voices at the table, we will deliver on that sacred promise to make a real difference for all Americans.”
From Fox News:
With five open slots on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., nominated four people and left the fifth spot open for members to choose between the two New Yorkers in a vote, Politico first reported. Fox News confirmed that Rice decisively won the vote 46-13.
The Energy and Commerce Committee handles some of the most critical legislation in the House, from the environment to health care to nuclear facilities. Its site says that it “has the broadest jurisdiction of any authorizing committee in Congress.”
The defeat for Ocasio-Cortez comes after the high-profile lawmaker entering her second term made combative comments about Democratic leadership in Congress in an interview on “The Intercept” this week.
The nominations are not yet final and will need to go to the full Democratic Caucus, but they are expected to be approved.