AOC says she'll likely oppose new 'small' stimulus package, suggests tax-hikes to fund her additions

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez say she may oppose the next coronavirus aid package if it fails include items such as recurring direct payments of $2,000 to those impacted by the illness.

The White House and GOP leadership have spent the last week pushing for a quarter-trillion dollar replenishment of the Paycheck Protection Program, which ran out of money last week.

Senate Democrats have blocked the supplemental bill in a big to secure an additional $250 billion for hospitals and state and local governments.

The self-proclaimed democratic socialist from New York suggested offsetting the increased cost of her spending plan by raising taxes.

“If you’re worried about the deficit and if you’re worried about our national debt, let’s raise some taxes,” she said Monday during an online press conference.

President Trump has said that he would support additional direct payments to U.S. citizens, though in separate legislation.

“I’m willing to come halfway, let’s raise some taxes so that we can bring down the deficit – I’m happy with that,” continued Ocasio-Cortez, offering a compromise to her less-progressive Democratic colleagues.

“We have not seen the final text of this bill. But what I can say is that if it matches up with what has been reported, I will not support this bill,” the freshman congresswoman also said.

Ocasio-Cortez thinks amount proposed in the new bill might be too small to meaningfully assist the communities that have been hardest hit by the pandemic, which include residents in her New York City district.

“If we’re going to say that this new bill is going to give us $5 and then Congress is gonna peace out for another month-long recess, I’m here to say that that’s not going to help our communities,” she said.

The 95-member Congressional Progressive Caucus is hoping they’ll be able to influence discussions on the bill once the text is released later this week.