Freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez invoked the Bible to tout an economic bill she co-sponsored with Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday — and sarcastically suggested she may win some supporters on the religious right.
The Bronx congresswoman made the joke in a tweet about the “Loan Sharking Prevention Act,” proposed by her and Sanders, which would cap credit-card interest rates at 15% and end payday loans.
“Usury – aka high interest – happens to be explicitly denounced in the Bible (& in many other religions),” the Bronx Democrat wrote on Twitter.
“Looking forward to having the religious right uphold their principles + sign onto my bill,” she added.
“Unless of course they’re only invoking religion to punish women + queer people,” she added, seemingly referring to a number of anti-abortion bills that have been passed recently in conservative state governments.
On Thursday morning, Ocasio-Cortez blasted the religious right in another tweet, claiming they are trying to outlaw sexuality they don’t agree with.
“Abortion bans aren’t just about controlling women’s bodies,” she wrote.
“They’re about controlling women’s sexuality. Owning women. From limiting birth control to banning comprehensive sex ed, US religious fundamentalists are working hard to outlaw sex that falls outside their theology.”