
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. (Wikimedia Commons)
The four far-left members of "The Squad" were among 174 House Democrats who voted against an amendment ensuring that individuals convicted of sex crimes, terrorism and other violent offenses cannot be employed by the TSA.
The Washington Free Beacon reported 42 House Democrats bucked party leadership on Thursday, joining Republicans to pass the amendment to the Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act.
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But the "socialist wing" of the Democratic Party, which now controls the party, said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, tried to sabotage the amendment.
The four freshman Squad members are Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.; and Ayanna Pressley D-Mass.
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"[The amendment] was pulled back by leadership because the socialist wing of the party did not want to have that amendment go forward on this bill," McCarthy said Thursday. "When it was offered, overwhelmingly the majority of the House would like to see the TSA not hire terrorists or those who have been convicted of sexual misconduct with minors and others. But the socialist wing of the party, that controls now the Democratic Party, said that that could not be offered."
The Free Beacon reported House Republicans were able to include the amendment in the bill only after 42 Democrats broke ranks, inserting the language in a 227-175 vote.
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A top Republican aide criticized Democrats for "taking marching orders from Justice Democrats," referring to the far-left group that has recruited and supported self-declared democratic socialists such as Ocasio-Cortez to run for Congress.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Tlaib and Pressley did not respond to Free Beacon requests for comment about the bill.
The Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act would remove exemptions from salary and workplace policies for TSA workers that apply to other federal workers to ensure flexibility. Ending the exemptions would lead to pay increases for workers as well as increased dues for the TSA workers' union.