Ocasio-Cortez Threatens To ‘Tank’ Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is warning that progressives in the House will block a bipartisan infrastructure package unless Democrats pass a separate spending bill that includes an immigration reform provision.

During a virtual town hall event on Thursday, the progressive star said, “People across the country elected Democratic majorities. They elected a Demcoratic president. They elected a Democratic House majority. And they elected a Democratic Senate.”

“And so what that means is that Republicans are not in charge of dictating what policies we pass and what policies we don’t pass. And the idea that we would be limited by a bipartisan deal is laughable. It is laughable,” she continued.

Watch the video below:

The New York Congresswoman’s comments come as lawmakers are in the process of hammering out a bipartisan infrastructure bill and a separate spending bill that includes more Democratic priorities.

Democrats in Congress have linked the passage of the bipartisan bill with the $3.5 trillion spending bill.

Most legislation requires 60 votes to pass the Senate. However, Democrats are looking at using the process known as budget reconciliation to pass the separate spending bill with just Democratic votes.

Reconciliation would let Democrats pass legislation in the Senate with just 50 votes, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote, providing no margin for Democratic defections.

As The New York Times