AOC Revolts, Threatens To Sink Biden’s Agenda: “I will not vote for an infrastructure bill unless we have reconciliation ready to go”
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez just ruined President Joe Biden’s day by saying she will sink the infrastructure bill Biden must get passed in the House if moderate Dems don’t have the $3.5 trillion spending boondoggle Pelosi and Biden are trying to ram through Congress ‘ready to go’ at the same time.
The problem is the $3.5 reconciliation trillion bill can’t pass the Senate as currently constructed and the Dems do not have time to work out a compromise before the deadline.
CNN’s Manu Raju broke news to Joe Biden on social media reporting: “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just told me she is a NO on $1.2T infrastructure package on Sept. 27 if the House and Senate have not approved the larger, Democratic-only economic package by then. She called moderates demanding vote by Sept. 27 a “small destructive group of members”
“AOC told me: “I will not vote for an infrastructure bill unless we have reconciliation ready to go.” She confirmed she meant that it has to pass both chambers of Congress for her to get to YES on infrastructure — and predicted about 45 progressive Dems are in that camp.
“Asked about the prediction by moderates that the liberals are bluffing and they won’t sink the infrastructure package next week, AOC said: “Well, I’m happy to show my cards.”
“She added: “We need to stay focused on the original process that allowed us to move forward in the first place. … I’m more than happy to vote for the infrastructure bill, if we’re able to figure out a way to bring it up in a concurrent fashion with reconciliation.”
“Manchin said that his meeting with President Joe Biden last week was “very good,” but wouldn’t say if they were close to a deal. “We’re just still working through everything.” He said of getting bill done by next week: “If there’s not enough clarity, then you need to get clarity”
But AOC will run up against Dem Senator Kyrsten Sinema who gave Biden an ultimatum that if the House delays the vote on infrastructure bill she will refuse to support the other bill Biden needs to pass via reconciliation.
Sinema’s office said:
“Kyrsten does not share details of private conversations with President Biden or her colleagues.” They did add this though:
“She does look forward to House leadership making good on their commitment to an up-or-down vote on the historic and bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act next Monday — to create jobs and expand economic opportunities across the country.”
From Politico:
Sinema is not the only moderate taking this stand. Rep. KURT SCHRADER (D-Ore.) — one of approximately 10 moderate Democratic House members playing hardball with leadership — said he and several members of their group are on the same page.
Some of the lawmakers have conveyed that message up the chain to leadership and the White House. A senior Democratic aide confirmed the warnings.
“If they delay the vote — or it goes down — then I think you can kiss reconciliation goodbye,” Schrader told Playbook. “Reconciliation would be dead.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just told me she is a NO on $1.2T infrastructure package on Sept. 27 if the House and Senate have not approved the larger, Democratic-only economic package by then. She called moderates demanding vote by Sept. 27 a “small destructive group of members”
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) September 20, 2021
AOC told me: “I will not vote for an infrastructure bill unless we have reconciliation ready to go.” She confirmed she meant that it has to pass both chambers of Congress for her to get to YES on infrastructure — and predicted about 45 progressive Dems are in that camp.
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) September 20, 2021
