Ocasio-Cortez, other lawmakers criticize lack of time to review mammoth bill

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in a Monday tweet criticized the limited time lawmakers have been given to read the $2.5 trillion stimulus bill before they are expected to vote on Monday.

“Congress is expected to vote on the second largest bill in US history *today* – $2.5 trillion – and as of about 1pm, members don’t even have the legislative text of it yet,” Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter.

Congress is expected to vote on the second largest bill in US history *today* – $2.5 trillion – and as of about 1pm, members don’t even have the legislative text of it yet.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 21, 2020

Congress has been working for weeks on a coronavirus relief bill that is being packaged with an omnibus spending package for the next fiscal year.

Congressional leaders announced a deal on the package Sunday, and votes are expected Monday. The text of the legislation was posted Monday afternoon, giving lawmakers little time to review it.

Ocasio-Cortez was not the only lawmaker to express frustration. 

Republican Rep. Morgan Griffith (Va.) tweeted on Monday, “While waiting on the omnibus spending bill over the weekend, I asked if even just part of the text was available to read and was told no. I’ve gotten a bootleg back alley copy of the bill today to start reading.”

Griffith later added that his “bootleg” copy was just over 3,000 pages of the roughly 5,600-page bill.

While waiting on the omnibus spending bill over the weekend, I asked if even just part of the text was available to read and was told no. I’ve gotten a bootleg back alley copy of the bill today to start reading.

— Morgan Griffith (@RepMGriffith) December 21, 2020

“Looks like this is going to be another ‘we have to pass the bill to find out what’s in it’ kind of vote,” wrote Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) on Twitter with a video that appeared to show copies of the bill being pushed through the Capitol on a cart.

Looks like this is going to be another ”we have to pass the bill to find out what’s in it” kind of vote. https://t.co/nVsVrlggHl

— Congressman Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) December 21, 2020

“It’s not good enough to hear about what’s in the bill. Members of Congress need to see & read the bills we are expected to vote on,” wrote Ocasio-Cortez in another tweet. “I know it’s ‘controversial’ & I get in trouble for sharing things like this, but the people of this country deserve to know. They deserve better.”

It’s not good enough to hear about what’s in the bill. Members of Congress need to see & read the bills we are expected to vote on.

I know it’s “controversial” & I get in trouble for sharing things like this, but the people of this country deserve to know. They deserve better.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 21, 2020