Newly minted Dem congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez once more validated Mark Twain's (Puddin'head Wilson) quip, "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself." Numerous reports have accompanied O-C's tweet whereby she will pay her interns $15 an hour. In the lexicon of idioms, O-C is courageously "offering sleeves from her vest." Unless she will pay interns out of her own pocket, her virtue-mongering would easily fit within a congressional budget allotted to each member of Congress approximately $1.3 mil, while sacrificing nothing. Personnel expenses for each member – salaries and stipends – allowed by congressional rules are pegged at $945,000, with office expenses and travel, communications, and security constituting the remainder.  Any U.S. House rep can spend the $1.3 mil in any manner he chooses, but full-time staff head count cannot exceed 18. Ergo, O-C can...(Read Full Post)