News Opinons Politics

Ocasio-Cortez Warns She’s ‘Open’ To Single-Handedly Delaying Coronavirus Bill ‘If Necessary’

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Wednesday she might be inclined to delay passage of a $2 trillion bipartisan coronavirus stimulus package.

Senate lawmakers from both parties and the White House struck a tentative deal early Wednesday to move forward on legislation to offer relief to American workers and businesses currently being affected by nationwide shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“At last, we have a deal. After days of intense discussions, the Senate has reached a bipartisan agreement on a historic relief package for this pandemic,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday morning, NBC News reported.


“In effect, this is a wartime level of investment for our nation,” McConnell added.

“Struggling Americans are going to go to their mailboxes and find four-figure checks to help with their bills. Why? Because the Senate stepped up.”


Harris accuses Trump allies of trying to ‘rig’ 2026 midterms after Virginia court tosses redistricting measure
Minnesota nonprofit accused of siphoning $6.5M to fund Vegas trips, luxury cars, private liquor store
Alabama mother sentenced to life for hiring hitman to kill her child’s father over custody dispute
Trump warns college sports could be ‘lost forever’ as committee pushes changes, Congress urged to act
Duffys fire back after Pete Buttigieg, husband attack new road trip TV series: ‘Radical, miserable left’
Breathtaking ‘Chandelier UFO’ Video Goes Viral – But Is There a Simple Explanation?
Seth Moulton closing gap on progressive Democrat Ed Markey in Massachusetts Senate primary
Breaking: Bobby Cox, Manager of Braves ‘Teams That Ruled NL,’ Dead at 84
Two police officers shot, suspect ‘actively firing at police’ in Syracuse standoff lasting hours: report
Mob Attacks Indian Pastor and His Family as Villagers Try to Drive Him Away from Home
Virginia mother charged with murder after allegedly drowning her 17-month-old twin boys in bathtub: report
Guess Where Hundreds of Uncounted Ballots Were Just Found in California – Hint: It’s One of Dems’ Favorite Places
Perfect Justice: 17K Leftists Who Want to Dox ICE Were Just Doxxed Themselves Thanks to Famed Trump-Hater’s Boneheaded Mistake Online
Trump responds to reports FDA chief Mark Makary could be fired: ‘Know nothing about it’
Trump Hikes Tariffs on Key European Import to Encourage US Industry

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, said, “Help is on the way, big help.”

If the deal is passed by the Senate, it could make its way to President Donald Trump’s desk quickly, with CNN reporting that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told her caucus on Wednesday she would like for the House to adopt the measure by unanimous consent.

See also  At least five killed and dozens injured in Ukraine in ‘vile’ Russian strike amid ceasefire talk

As The Hill noted, a bill can only be passed by unanimous consent if no lawmakers object.

But Ocasio-Cortez says she is currently deciding whether or not she might request a recorded, in-person vote on the relief package in the House.


Harris accuses Trump allies of trying to ‘rig’ 2026 midterms after Virginia court tosses redistricting measure
Minnesota nonprofit accused of siphoning $6.5M to fund Vegas trips, luxury cars, private liquor store
Alabama mother sentenced to life for hiring hitman to kill her child’s father over custody dispute
Trump warns college sports could be ‘lost forever’ as committee pushes changes, Congress urged to act
Duffys fire back after Pete Buttigieg, husband attack new road trip TV series: ‘Radical, miserable left’
Breathtaking ‘Chandelier UFO’ Video Goes Viral – But Is There a Simple Explanation?
Seth Moulton closing gap on progressive Democrat Ed Markey in Massachusetts Senate primary
Breaking: Bobby Cox, Manager of Braves ‘Teams That Ruled NL,’ Dead at 84
Two police officers shot, suspect ‘actively firing at police’ in Syracuse standoff lasting hours: report
Mob Attacks Indian Pastor and His Family as Villagers Try to Drive Him Away from Home
Virginia mother charged with murder after allegedly drowning her 17-month-old twin boys in bathtub: report
Guess Where Hundreds of Uncounted Ballots Were Just Found in California – Hint: It’s One of Dems’ Favorite Places
Perfect Justice: 17K Leftists Who Want to Dox ICE Were Just Doxxed Themselves Thanks to Famed Trump-Hater’s Boneheaded Mistake Online
Trump responds to reports FDA chief Mark Makary could be fired: ‘Know nothing about it’
Trump Hikes Tariffs on Key European Import to Encourage US Industry

The move would force House members who are not currently in Washington, D.C., to travel there to vote.

“With the health risks of travel, there is no easy choice here,” the freshman lawmaker from New York told CNN.

“But essential workers are showing up and putting their health at risk every day, and if the final text of a bill is set up to hurt them, [a recorded vote] may be something we have to do,” she added.

Ocasio-Cortez said she had not yet seen a final draft of the bill.

But “I’m open” to forcing a recorded vote “if necessary,” she said.

CNN reported that if Ocasio-Cortez decides to ask for a recorded vote, it could delay passage of the legislation by several days.

See also  Trump motorcade drives across Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to inspect renovation efforts

Pelosi said in a conference call with her Democratic colleagues she’s discussed with the House physician’s office any precautions that might need to be taken in the event of a recorded vote, a source close to congressional negations told CNN.

Axios White House reporter Alayna Treene reported Pelosi supports the bipartisan bill, but did complain it was not as far-reaching as a bill introduced by House Democrats on Monday.


Harris accuses Trump allies of trying to ‘rig’ 2026 midterms after Virginia court tosses redistricting measure
Minnesota nonprofit accused of siphoning $6.5M to fund Vegas trips, luxury cars, private liquor store
Alabama mother sentenced to life for hiring hitman to kill her child’s father over custody dispute
Trump warns college sports could be ‘lost forever’ as committee pushes changes, Congress urged to act
Duffys fire back after Pete Buttigieg, husband attack new road trip TV series: ‘Radical, miserable left’
Breathtaking ‘Chandelier UFO’ Video Goes Viral – But Is There a Simple Explanation?
Seth Moulton closing gap on progressive Democrat Ed Markey in Massachusetts Senate primary
Breaking: Bobby Cox, Manager of Braves ‘Teams That Ruled NL,’ Dead at 84
Two police officers shot, suspect ‘actively firing at police’ in Syracuse standoff lasting hours: report
Mob Attacks Indian Pastor and His Family as Villagers Try to Drive Him Away from Home
Virginia mother charged with murder after allegedly drowning her 17-month-old twin boys in bathtub: report
Guess Where Hundreds of Uncounted Ballots Were Just Found in California – Hint: It’s One of Dems’ Favorite Places
Perfect Justice: 17K Leftists Who Want to Dox ICE Were Just Doxxed Themselves Thanks to Famed Trump-Hater’s Boneheaded Mistake Online
Trump responds to reports FDA chief Mark Makary could be fired: ‘Know nothing about it’
Trump Hikes Tariffs on Key European Import to Encourage US Industry

“This bipartisan legislation takes us a long way down the road in meeting the needs of the American people. While the compromise does not go as far as our[s] … the bill has moved a great deal closer to America’s workers,” Pelosi said.

Ocasio-Cortez was not the only lawmaker to express concern about adopting the measure via unanimous consent.

See also  Trump motorcade drives across Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to inspect renovation efforts

“I know we’re in a very challenging time,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters Wednesday.

“I know we have members who are quarantined, members who are battling the virus, members in New York City who could not travel here without 14 days, but I don’t believe we should pass a $2 trillion package by unanimous consent.”

Later, Pelosi acknowledged to PBS that “I don’t think we can get unanimous consent” on the bill.


Harris accuses Trump allies of trying to ‘rig’ 2026 midterms after Virginia court tosses redistricting measure
Minnesota nonprofit accused of siphoning $6.5M to fund Vegas trips, luxury cars, private liquor store
Alabama mother sentenced to life for hiring hitman to kill her child’s father over custody dispute
Trump warns college sports could be ‘lost forever’ as committee pushes changes, Congress urged to act
Duffys fire back after Pete Buttigieg, husband attack new road trip TV series: ‘Radical, miserable left’
Breathtaking ‘Chandelier UFO’ Video Goes Viral – But Is There a Simple Explanation?
Seth Moulton closing gap on progressive Democrat Ed Markey in Massachusetts Senate primary
Breaking: Bobby Cox, Manager of Braves ‘Teams That Ruled NL,’ Dead at 84
Two police officers shot, suspect ‘actively firing at police’ in Syracuse standoff lasting hours: report
Mob Attacks Indian Pastor and His Family as Villagers Try to Drive Him Away from Home
Virginia mother charged with murder after allegedly drowning her 17-month-old twin boys in bathtub: report
Guess Where Hundreds of Uncounted Ballots Were Just Found in California – Hint: It’s One of Dems’ Favorite Places
Perfect Justice: 17K Leftists Who Want to Dox ICE Were Just Doxxed Themselves Thanks to Famed Trump-Hater’s Boneheaded Mistake Online
Trump responds to reports FDA chief Mark Makary could be fired: ‘Know nothing about it’
Trump Hikes Tariffs on Key European Import to Encourage US Industry

The Senate was set to vote on the legislation at some point Wednesday evening, NBC reported.

Story cited here.

Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter