Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez has emphasized the importance of House Democrats not simply providing the votes for Republicans to pass a government funding bill, even if it leads to a potential shutdown next month. She highlighted the Republican majority in the House, Senate, and White House, stating that Republicans should gather their own votes to advance their agenda.
Ocasio-Cortez expressed concern over President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk's impact on the federal government, stating that Democrats should not facilitate their actions through their votes. She emphasized the need for strategic demands from Republicans, cautioning that any negotiations should not come at a low cost.
Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida echoed Ocasio-Cortez's sentiments, stating his opposition to a bill that would extend current spending levels beyond the March 14 deadline. Moskowitz stressed the importance of passing 12 individual appropriations bills to fund the government properly, indicating that failure to initiate this process could result in a government shutdown.
Moskowitz placed the responsibility on Speaker Johnson to kickstart the appropriations process promptly to avoid a shutdown. He warned that allowing Republicans to continue citing fraud and misuse of taxpayer funds through an extension would not be acceptable.
