Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is criticizing what she says is Congressional Democrats’ “my way or the highway” approach to passing a bipartisan infrastructure package, despite previously threatening to sink the bill unless progressives’ demands are met.
During an appearance on MSNBC on Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez said, “Do I love this very, you know, what I would consider a conservative, very underfunded bill? No. But I will vote for it if we pursue them both together.”
“But what we should not take is this approach which is what people are trying to do by forcing a vote tomorrow on an under-considered, under-amended bill by itself, by saying, ‘We want to force this vote right now, and it’s either my way or the highway,'” she added.
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Rep. @AOC (D-NY) on keeping bipartisan infrastructure bill paired with $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill:
— The Recount (@therecount) September 30, 2021
"What we should not take is this approach … saying, 'we want to force this vote right now, and it's either my way or the highway.'" pic.twitter.com/Go4k3zmV77
The New York Congresswoman’s comments come ahead of a scheduled vote on a roughly $1 trillion infrastructure package in the House. However, its fate is unclear.
Progressives have said they would not vote for that bill unless it was accompanied by a larger $3.5 trillion spending package that includes a variety of liberal priorities.
In July, Ocasio-Cortez noted that Democrats have a slim margin in the House and said, “We have made the stand and we said, ‘We will tank the bipartisan infrastructure bill unless we also pass the infrastructure bill.'”
“And so it goes both ways right? If Manchin and in the Senate, if they approve our reconciliation bill, we will approve their bipartisan bill. And if they try to strip immigration reform, if they try to claw back on childcare, climate action, etc., then we’re at an impasse. It’s a no-go,” she added.
Earlier this week, she reiterated to CNN that she plans to vote against the infrastructure bill if it is not accompanied by the larger spending package.
And Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the House Progressive Caucus, told CNN that at least 48 Democrats would not vote for the reconciliation bill “without the reconciliation bill being passed.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), a lead negotiator for moderates in the debate over the handling of the two bills, criticized his progressive colleagues for threatening to block the infrastructure bill unless the House also votes on the spending package at the same time.