Economics have always been a significant component of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s political brand. She was among the first candidates to sign the Justice Democrats’ pledge not to accept any campaign funds from corporate PACs or lobbyists and has already delivered on the implied promise that this would empower her to confront and expose political corruption directly and without obfuscation. Economic issues feature prominently in her background and stated motivations for entering politics. Many of her most prominent campaign issues were calls to reform the economic incentives driving major problems in America (Green New Deal, Tuition-Free Education, Medicare For All, Campaign Finance Reform, etc). Even her remarkable skill at responding to smears and criticism is at least partly due to her understanding of economic concepts and how they influence politics. Given all that, I think it makes a lot sense for her to be placed on the Ways and Means committee.
According to the Intercept, one of Ocasio-Cortez’s most prominent competitors is Tom Suozzi who happens to be a member of the right-wing “Problem Solvers Caucus” (also known as “those guys who conspired with Republicans to oppose Nancy Pelosi being Speaker”). He’s also part of the New Democratic Coalition which promotes right-wing economic policies and backed something like 30 of the newly-elected House Democrats — make of that what you will. Suozzi has only served a single term in Congress so I don’t expect to hear “seniority” offered as a reason why he should be on this committee over Ocasio-Cortez but I won’t be surprised either because progressives get SO many excuses for why Democrats have to constantly make concessions to the right.
Now I won’t pretend to fully understand the process by which members of Congress get assigned to committees but apparently the House Democratic chair, Hakeem Jeffries, has a lot of power here. If Jeffries wants to dispel concerns that he’s a “Corporatist” — recommending Ocasio-Cortez for the Ways and Means committee would go a very long way. It’s worth mentioning mentioning Hakeem Jeffries has been described as a “protege” of Joseph Crowley, who lost his seat to Ocasio-Cortez, and that when Crowley was lobbying other Democrats to support Jeffries over Barbara Lee he referenced Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsement of Lee and stoked incumbents’ fear of Democratic primaries. To me, that sounds like an indication that progressives need to launch more aggressive primaries in 2020 than we did in 2018 — especially against Democrats affiliated with right wing groups who make a habit of thwarting progressives.