Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the most frugal of all New York’s House members according to spending report
The youngest Congresswoman in the United States' political history, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), is reportedly also the most frugal of the New York House members, according to reports. The Democrat reportedly spent the least amount of money out of the 27 New York House members during the first three months of 2019, a newly-released spending report of congressional officers revealed.
According to the report, the freshman spent a total of $199,198 on staff salaries, travel, rent for her district office and other office supplies, The New York Post reported. The figures also stated the top spender of the New York delegation was Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the No. 5 Democrat in the House. His total office expenses amounted to $341,585 for the first quarter of the year, according to reports. While another freshman member, Representative Antonio Delgado of the Hudson Valley, spent $223,602 this quarter.
Speaking about AOC's budget, her spokesperson Corbin Trent said the lean budget was intentionally designed. "There’s no question,” he told The Post. "We squeeze the most out of every time or dollar for sure." Reports stated AOC had an advantage considering she's only paying rent for one district officer as eight out of the 27 members from New York have just one office outside DC. The rest of the delegation, however, have at least two to four.
The Congresswoman had initially attracted criticism for being the only new New York House member to not have a district office in place weeks after she assumed her duties in January. However, AOC now has an office in Queens. According to Trent, the New York Representatives has plans to open a second office in The Bronx.
Ocasio-Cortez’s biggest savings reportedly comes from staff pay. Jeffries spent almost $90,000 more on salaries than AOC who has just 13 staffers and two paid interns listed in her first quarter filings. House offices can have up to 18 full-time employees and four part-time employees on the payroll at any time. According to AOC's spokesperson, her team plans to get the number up to 18. "We’re continuing to hire really capable, quality people," Trent said.
AOC has vowed that all her aides will make over $52,000 a year and nobody on staff would earn more than $80,000. Her highest earning staffers, at the moment, will take in nearly $65,000 this year. While Jeffries’ chief of staff will make around $132,000 this year.