Rep. AOC slams Elon Musk for opposing Biden's climate spending bill

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) slammed Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for opposing President Joe Biden and the Democrats' budget reconciliation spending bill that includes tax incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles and additional tax credits for union-made EVs.

Musk said the entire Build Back Better Act should be thrown out, emphasizing that Congress ought to eliminate all federal subsidies. He noted that subsidies haven't been available for Tesla vehicles for two years but General Motors EVs are still eligible for subsidies. 

"He got his so now he's done with them, right? Yeah," Ocasio-Cortez said on Tuesday, reacting to Musk's criticism of the Democrats' legislation. "It's like subsidies for me, but not for thee."

Ocasio-Cortez also responded to Tesla's position in opposition of the Biden bill offering $4,500 on top of a $7,500 EV credit, specifically for union-made EVs. Honda and Toyota are also opposing the additional $4,500 credit for union-made EVs.

"It doesn't surprise me. He wants a union bust in his factory," Ocasio-Cortez said.

Biden's Build Back Better Act is estimated to cost $2.4 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. It includes new social programs and about $550 billion for climate change initiatives. The cost could double if its policies are made permanent, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.