Ocasio-Cortez on Biden infrastructure plan: 'Not nearly enough'

[DonViejo]

BY DOMINICK MASTRANGELO - 03/31/21 08:08 AM EDT

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is critiquing President Biden's proposed infrastructure plan, a more than $2 trillion proposal that the progressive firebrand says does not go far enough in addressing America's needs.

"This is not nearly enough. The important context here is that it’s $2.25T spread out over 10 years," Ocasio-Cortez said on Tuesday. "For context, the COVID package was $1.9T for this year *alone,* with some provisions lasting 2 years."

The Democrat added that Biden's infrastructure package "needs to be way bigger."

Link to tweet

The infrastructure plan, branded by the administration as the "American Jobs Plan," would allocate additional funding for roads, bridges, broadband internet and other utilities across the country.

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/545694-ocasio-cortez-on-biden-infrastructure-plan-not-nearly-enough

[aocommunalpunch]

1. Agreed.

Shoot high and negotiate from there. Not our strength, I know, but it bears repeating.

[Bettie]

6. Wait! What? You can ask for more

than the minimum you could possible accept and start negotiations from there?

I know, right? Ask for everything to start, then you have stuff you can give up. Negotiation 101.

[myohmy2]

8. +1

...if we can do it, DO IT!!

...God Bless America...

[Hortensis]

19. Lol, we AREN'T shooting high? This is the biggest thing since the New Deal.

The big reason for this Ocasio-Cortez statement is that her faction always has to claim a position "superior" to that of the progressive party or lose their reason for political existence.

Possible, impossible, what the people want and will vote for are all irrelevant because they don't ever have to come through on the phony bars they set for Democrats.

Portraying Democrats as always inadequate is the game.

This giant human, physical, and climate infrastructure plan is OURS.

Are we GREAT or what?!

[dlk]

2. It's a start

Once this bill proves successful, Democrats can build on that success, and subsequent infrastructure bills can be passed more easily. It’s not a one and done situation. It may sound trite, but progress, not perfection could easily apply here.

[Wounded Bear]

3. This is part 1. Biden announced they were breaking the whole plan into 2 parts...

[grantcart]

20. Exactly

[Aristus]

4. I like AOC a lot. But I think she missed the mark on this one.

President Biden could use her support in building on this beginning. And the plan is going to be sneered at by Republicans anyway. Why not work to make this one a success?

Once the American people respond positively, PB can expand on the current plan.

[gratuitous]

7. You have a point

But I think Rep. Ocasio-Cortez's comments provide a counterweight to the Republican carping. I don't think there's much doubt that she will support the bill when it comes up for a vote. But it's also important to keep in mind that this proposal isn't the magic bullet solution to everything that ails the country, and her remarks make that point.

[Aristus]

9. Of course not. There is no "magic bullet".

Joe Biden, coming from a working class background, knows that as well as anyone.

Restoring an economy doesn't call for magic bullets. It calls for smart legislation that will put people to work, put money in their pockets, and improve the national infrastructure, which will result in people going back to work, people having money in their pockets, and so on.

This bill is about how good legislation builds on itself, starting a ripple effect that improves everything it touches.

Bad legislation, OTOH, destroys everything in its path. Let's start with the good legislation PB is proposing. Let's not hang so many ornaments on the Christmas tree that it falls over...

[PatSeg]

10. Good analogy

"Let's not hang so many ornaments on the Christmas tree that it falls over..."

So many progressive programs started out fairly modest and were built on over the years. The key is to keep Democrats in power long enough for that to happen. It is better to get "some" now than nothing at all.

[Aristus]

12. Thank you. The analogy is not original with me.

I first heard it on an episode of "The West Wing."

[gratuitous]

13. I didn't mean to offend

I was making a general statement about the public's response when legislation gets passed. "Oh, didn't we deal with all that back in 2021? Why are they coming back this year asking for more?"

I remember NAFTA was sold to the public in the mid 90s as the beginning of a free trade zone that would provide wealth for all. People who were concerned about the absence of environmental and labor considerations were told to just wait, those "side agreements" would be addressed at a later (unspecified) date. But when those side agreements were brought up in the years afterward, those concerned were told that it wasn't quite the right time, be patient, we'll get to that, just wait.

When this proposal gets through Congress and signed into law by President Biden, there's going to be a reaction from the usual corners that "Okay, that's done with. Let us speak of it no more, until it's time once again, to cut taxes on the wealthy." I see Rep. Ocasio-Cortez's remarks as a hedge against that premature complacency and a reinforcement of the notion that this is just the beginning.

[Aristus]

15. You didn't offend me.

We're just having a discussion.

I think there is some merit in what you say. My own example is "Fair Pay" legislation. It seems like every Democratic administration passes some form of an 'equal pay for women' act. And yet, there is still gender-based income disparity. Even I have begun to ask "This again?" when a Democratic President rolls out the bill. When are we going to solve it once and for all?

So yeah, I can see AOC's point now. If she has ideas as how to make the bill better, I'm sure PB will take her call.

[Bettie]

5. Agree with her

She is right to ask for more, but in the end, she'll vote for it because something needs to be done.

Nothing wrong with asking for more.

[mvd]

17. Agreed

She’ll vote for it in the end, which is what matters.

Personally I would like to see recurring checks, raising the minimum wage and Medicare eligibility at age 55-60 added (if the latter two can get past reconciliation). Also it could use more infrastructure spending per year. But what AOC is asking for might not get some Dem support.

[honest.abe]

11. The problem with this statement is that she appears to be dismissing the Biden plan as ineffective.

This will turn off many on the left who look up to AOC for leadership. That will not help get this bill passed through Congress.

This bill will be difficult enough to get passed without those on left hammering it as meaningless.

[comradebillyboy]

14. Well it's not like she has ever been a Biden supporter.

She gave Biden minimal and grudging support in the recent election.

She tweets a lot but I don't see any actual legislation coming from AOC. I don't see any coalition building from her. I see a very divisive figure.

[Me.]

16. I'm Sure THe Biden Team Has Experts Who Have Spent A Great DEal Of Time

putting together a package which is effectively possible. I bet if they thought they could do more they would.

[BannonsLiver]

18. If it were $50 trillion there would be people saying it's not enough.