Scalise labels Ocasio-Cortez followers ‘radical’ after tax debate

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) early Sunday claimed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) had “radical followers” after the two lawmakers engaged in a Twitter exchange debating the progressive freshman congresswoman’s suggested tax rates for the rich.

The back-and-forth began when the minority whip responded via a tweet to Ocasio-Cortez’s suggestion that tax rates on Americans making more than $10 million be as high as 70 percent in order to fund a “Green New Deal” program. The second-ranking House Republican said Democrats want to tax Americans to give their money to “leftist fantasy programs.”

“You’re the GOP Minority Whip. How do you not know how marginal tax rates work?” Ocasio-Cortez asked in a response, accusing the GOP of working for “corporate CEOs showering themselves in multi-million [dollar] bonuses; not the actual working people.”

You’re the GOP Minority Whip. How do you not know how marginal tax rates work?

Oh that’s right, almost forgot: GOP works for the corporate CEOs showering themselves in multi-millionbonuses; not the actual working people whose wages + healthcare they’re ripping off for profit. https://t.co/R1YIng2Ok1

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 5, 2019

{mosads}Scalise then took note of some of the replies to Ocasio-Cortez’s tweet, which called for the congresswoman to “snipe his ass” and “kick his cane.”

“Happy to continue this debate on the Floor of the People’s House, but it’s clearly not productive to engage here with some of your radical followers,” Scalise tweeted.

Hi @AOC. Happy to continue this debate on the Floor of the People’s House, but it’s clearly not productive to engage here with some of your radical followers. #StayClassy pic.twitter.com/lZCO3oiLUZ

— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) January 6, 2019

Scalise was seriously injured after being shot in 2017 while congressional Republicans held a baseball practice, and required a cane to get around as he recovered.

Ocasio-Cortez has garnered national attention dating back to her upset primary victory over ex-Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.). She became the youngest woman ever elected to the House in November, and was sworn in last week.

In an interview airing late Sunday, the self-described democratic socialist pushed for higher tax rates on the wealthiest Americans to fund progressive programs like the Green New Deal.