‘Time is running out’: Internet agrees as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claims Democrats aren’t doing enough with their Senate majority

WASHINGTON, DC: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a member of the House Oversight Committee, is of the view that despite holding a 51-seat majority in the Senate, the Democratic party is not utilizing its power effectively.

Ocasio-Cortez has suggested that her party should make more assertive use of the tools of oversight, per Business Insider.

The Democrat lawmaker told Brian Beutler, the author of the progressive Off Message newsletter, “I would love if the Senate gavels were put to use, and all of them need to be put to use.”

What did Ocasio-Cortez reveal in her conversation with Brian?

"I don't know if most people in the country even know what party is in the Senate majority at times," the congresswoman representing New York’s 14th congressional district remarked.

Rep Ocasio-Cortez cited the Senate's reputation for bipartisan conviviality and "clubbiness" — as opposed to the clamoring House, where members frequently clash with one another — as contributing factors to the problem.

After the 2022 midterm elections, the Democrats' Senate majority expanded, granting them complete authority over committees and the power to issue subpoenas on party-line votes.

This was something they lacked during the first two years of Joe Biden's presidency due to the 50-50 majority.

"I think the Senate sometimes, often times, fears anything that could be seen as partisan," the 34-year-old claimed.

Ocasio-Cortez mentioned Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont as an example of an effective overseer.

As the Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Sen Sanders has successfully compelled CEOs of major pharmaceutical companies to testify before the committee, by threatening them with subpoenas.

"When people see us scrapping and actually fighting in governance the way we promised we would in campaigns and in elections, it actually strengthens our hand, it emboldens our hand, and we actually gain support," she asserted.

The New York representative stated that Democrats should "go after" the Supreme Court more aggressively, using hearings and subpoenas to "explore the entire network of issues that are most important to everyday Americans," such as dark money and abortion rights.

In November last year, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to authorize subpoenas for conservative judicial activist Leonard Leo and Republican megadonor Harlan Crow.

It should be noted, however, that enforcement of these subpoenas would require 60 votes, a task unlikely to be accomplished given the opposition from Republican members.

Despite hearings on ethics issues at the Supreme Court, Rep Ocasio-Cortez has expressed dissatisfaction with the limited scope of these efforts.

She has cited her party's frequent reliance on the Senate's 60-vote “filibuster” rule as a hindrance to further action.

"There are results that we can get that can completely bypass the legislative gridlock and constraints that we have solely through the power of oversight and hearings," she added.

"This has nothing to do with the filibuster. This is an entire battleground that we are ceding, and there's no excuse for it."

Internet sides with AOC and slams Democratic party

People on X agreed with Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's point of view when critiquing her party's shortcomings when it comes to being effective with what they've got.

One X user remarked: "Why aren’t the Senate Dems using their power of oversight, @SenSchumer? @SenBlumenthal? Time is running out."

Another user said: "They really are too old school and not facing the challenge presented by today's Republican Party. I say that as an old person."

One user wrote: "Absolutely Voters really don’t want bipartisanship. They say they do because they think that they’re supposed to, that it’s virtuous, ethical, aspirational. But what they really want is for their side to win, pass stuff they like and keep winning."

One user claimed: "She’s absolutely right. And Republicans count on Dems reluctance to investigate. They know Dems are afraid of their own shadows in the Senate."

Another X user remarked: "Schumer needs to be replaced"

Finally, this user tweeted: "Democrats are playing for ties and Republicans are playing to win."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.