BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — At Tuesday's 'Fight Oligarchy' rally hosted by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the two notoriously left-left leaning politicians touched on many things that indirectly and directly affect the Central Valley while taking aim at the Trump Administration.
"Oligarchy or democracy, but we can not have both," said Ocasio-Cortez when discussing recent actions by the Trump administration.
"What we are seeing right now is day after day, Trump is trying to dismantle that separation of powers and bring more power to himself," said Sanders.
Both touched on a wide range of issues like money in politics, and some that affect Kern residents directly like worker rights, the administration's discourse and actions regarding deportation, and the latest budget bill which could slash funding for programs like Medicaid.
The Senator and Representative also took aim at long-time local legislator David Valadao (R-CA) for not holding in-person town halls and Valadao's previous vote in favor of the house budget.
"Now Mr. Congressman, why don't you show up at a town meeting like this?" said Sanders.
"We just need three republican members to say no out of hundreds. Three. And David Valadao is one of the ones that could still do the right thing," said Ocasio-Cortez.
We reached out to both Congressman Fong's and Congressman Valadao's offices via email on Tuesday to get their thoughts:
Fong responding, "Of all days, AOC and Bernie Sanders are in the Central Valley on Tax Day to push their out of touch progressive politics as Californians are being crushed by burdensome taxes and regulations. If they spent more time here in our community, they would realize we have experienced the real-world consequences of their failed policies. That is why the Central Valley will continue to reject their socialist agenda"
Valadao saying: "The party of AOC and Bernie Sanders ignored the needs of the Valley for the last four years. Their only answer to any problem is to borrow more and spend more and the outcome was record inflation, higher energy costs, and housing becoming even more out of reach for Valley families. While out-of-touch, out-of-town socialists continue to use the Central Valley as a backdrop for their political stunts, I'll keep fighting to deliver real results for my constituents."
Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders had one more event in Folsom, California on Tuesday and will head to Missoula, Montana on Wednesday.
WATCH THE STREAM OF THE EVENT HERE:
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