Dec 20, 2018
As President Donald Trump continues to throw a temper tantrum and threaten a government shutdown if he doesn't get billions of dollars to build his infamous border wall, Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) turned to Twitter on Friday to challenge the GOP trope that the federal government simply doesn't have the money to implement bold progressive policies such as Medicare for All or a Green New Deal.
Spending legislation advanced by the Republican-controlled House Thursday night would allocate $5.7 billion to the wall, but that bill--at odds with a Senate-approved measure that lacks wall funding--seems unlikely to get through the upper chamber without Trump's favored "nuclear option" of changing the Senate rules.
As the threat of a government shutdown looms, the incoming congresswoman highlighted the other ways--from increasing teacher pay to replacing water pipes--that lawmakers could spend the money:
\u201cAnd just like that, GOP discovers $5.7 billion for a wall.\n\n$5.7 billion\n\nWhat if we instead added $5.7B in teacher pay?\nOr replacing water pipes?\nOr college tuition/prescription refill subsidies?\nOr green jobs?\n\nBut notice how no one\u2019s asking the GOP how they\u2019re paying for it.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1545356282
Stony Brook University public policy and economics professor Stephanie Kelton, a former chief economist on the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, responded to Ocasio-Cortez by homing in on one of the key policy items backed by the incoming representative, tweeting: "Congress authorizes the spending. Period. The mechanics of paying for a #GreenNewDeal are exactly the same."
\u201cNotice how it\u2019s all about finding the VOTES. It\u2019s how *everything* is paid for. Congress authorizes the spending. Period. The mechanics of paying for a #GreenNewDeal are exactly the same.\u201d— Stephanie Kelton (@Stephanie Kelton) 1545363903
A Green New Deal, supported by climate advocates nationwide and a growing number of House Democrats, would couple measures to address the global climate crisis with policies to create jobs and a more just economy. While Ocasio-Cortez has called for the creation of a House Select Committee to craft such a deal, top Democrats including presumptive House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (Md.) have been accused of trying to kill it.
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)--which endorsed Ocasio-Cortez's successful bid to oust long-time Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) last summer--responded to news of the potential $5.7 billion in border wall funding with a focus on healthcare. Along with a rising portion of the public, both DSA and Ocasio-Cortez support Medicare for All--a proposal championed by, among others, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would guarantee healthcare for all Americans.
\u201cMeanwhile, 30 million people still don\u2019t have healthcare\u201d— DSA for Medicare for All (@DSA for Medicare for All) 1545405398
Washington Post reporter Jeff Stein responded to Ocasio-Cortez with some figures--suggesting that the U.S. could implement universal pre-K or provide coverage to more than 800,000 uninsured Americans with the money the House GOP wants to give Trump to bolster his anti-immigrant policies and fulfill one of his key campaign promises:
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
ady barkanalexandria ocasio-cortezdemocratic socialists of americaeducationflintgreen new dealhealthcaremedicare for allmitch mcconnellpoliticssteny hoyerstephanie keltontrumpismus houseus senatewater
As President Donald Trump continues to throw a temper tantrum and threaten a government shutdown if he doesn't get billions of dollars to build his infamous border wall, Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) turned to Twitter on Friday to challenge the GOP trope that the federal government simply doesn't have the money to implement bold progressive policies such as Medicare for All or a Green New Deal.
Spending legislation advanced by the Republican-controlled House Thursday night would allocate $5.7 billion to the wall, but that bill--at odds with a Senate-approved measure that lacks wall funding--seems unlikely to get through the upper chamber without Trump's favored "nuclear option" of changing the Senate rules.
As the threat of a government shutdown looms, the incoming congresswoman highlighted the other ways--from increasing teacher pay to replacing water pipes--that lawmakers could spend the money:
\u201cAnd just like that, GOP discovers $5.7 billion for a wall.\n\n$5.7 billion\n\nWhat if we instead added $5.7B in teacher pay?\nOr replacing water pipes?\nOr college tuition/prescription refill subsidies?\nOr green jobs?\n\nBut notice how no one\u2019s asking the GOP how they\u2019re paying for it.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1545356282
Stony Brook University public policy and economics professor Stephanie Kelton, a former chief economist on the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, responded to Ocasio-Cortez by homing in on one of the key policy items backed by the incoming representative, tweeting: "Congress authorizes the spending. Period. The mechanics of paying for a #GreenNewDeal are exactly the same."
\u201cNotice how it\u2019s all about finding the VOTES. It\u2019s how *everything* is paid for. Congress authorizes the spending. Period. The mechanics of paying for a #GreenNewDeal are exactly the same.\u201d— Stephanie Kelton (@Stephanie Kelton) 1545363903
A Green New Deal, supported by climate advocates nationwide and a growing number of House Democrats, would couple measures to address the global climate crisis with policies to create jobs and a more just economy. While Ocasio-Cortez has called for the creation of a House Select Committee to craft such a deal, top Democrats including presumptive House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (Md.) have been accused of trying to kill it.
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)--which endorsed Ocasio-Cortez's successful bid to oust long-time Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) last summer--responded to news of the potential $5.7 billion in border wall funding with a focus on healthcare. Along with a rising portion of the public, both DSA and Ocasio-Cortez support Medicare for All--a proposal championed by, among others, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would guarantee healthcare for all Americans.
\u201cMeanwhile, 30 million people still don\u2019t have healthcare\u201d— DSA for Medicare for All (@DSA for Medicare for All) 1545405398
Washington Post reporter Jeff Stein responded to Ocasio-Cortez with some figures--suggesting that the U.S. could implement universal pre-K or provide coverage to more than 800,000 uninsured Americans with the money the House GOP wants to give Trump to bolster his anti-immigrant policies and fulfill one of his key campaign promises:
As President Donald Trump continues to throw a temper tantrum and threaten a government shutdown if he doesn't get billions of dollars to build his infamous border wall, Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) turned to Twitter on Friday to challenge the GOP trope that the federal government simply doesn't have the money to implement bold progressive policies such as Medicare for All or a Green New Deal.
Spending legislation advanced by the Republican-controlled House Thursday night would allocate $5.7 billion to the wall, but that bill--at odds with a Senate-approved measure that lacks wall funding--seems unlikely to get through the upper chamber without Trump's favored "nuclear option" of changing the Senate rules.
As the threat of a government shutdown looms, the incoming congresswoman highlighted the other ways--from increasing teacher pay to replacing water pipes--that lawmakers could spend the money:
\u201cAnd just like that, GOP discovers $5.7 billion for a wall.\n\n$5.7 billion\n\nWhat if we instead added $5.7B in teacher pay?\nOr replacing water pipes?\nOr college tuition/prescription refill subsidies?\nOr green jobs?\n\nBut notice how no one\u2019s asking the GOP how they\u2019re paying for it.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1545356282
Stony Brook University public policy and economics professor Stephanie Kelton, a former chief economist on the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, responded to Ocasio-Cortez by homing in on one of the key policy items backed by the incoming representative, tweeting: "Congress authorizes the spending. Period. The mechanics of paying for a #GreenNewDeal are exactly the same."
\u201cNotice how it\u2019s all about finding the VOTES. It\u2019s how *everything* is paid for. Congress authorizes the spending. Period. The mechanics of paying for a #GreenNewDeal are exactly the same.\u201d— Stephanie Kelton (@Stephanie Kelton) 1545363903
A Green New Deal, supported by climate advocates nationwide and a growing number of House Democrats, would couple measures to address the global climate crisis with policies to create jobs and a more just economy. While Ocasio-Cortez has called for the creation of a House Select Committee to craft such a deal, top Democrats including presumptive House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (Md.) have been accused of trying to kill it.
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)--which endorsed Ocasio-Cortez's successful bid to oust long-time Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) last summer--responded to news of the potential $5.7 billion in border wall funding with a focus on healthcare. Along with a rising portion of the public, both DSA and Ocasio-Cortez support Medicare for All--a proposal championed by, among others, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would guarantee healthcare for all Americans.
\u201cMeanwhile, 30 million people still don\u2019t have healthcare\u201d— DSA for Medicare for All (@DSA for Medicare for All) 1545405398
Washington Post reporter Jeff Stein responded to Ocasio-Cortez with some figures--suggesting that the U.S. could implement universal pre-K or provide coverage to more than 800,000 uninsured Americans with the money the House GOP wants to give Trump to bolster his anti-immigrant policies and fulfill one of his key campaign promises:
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.