AOC will not sign petition to force House vote on foreign funding bill

House Democrats have been attempting to gin up support for a discharge petition that would allow them to bypass Speaker Mike Johnson and force a vote on the $95 billion foreign aid package recently passed by the Senate, however their efforts have been hindered by progressive members of their own party, who have said they will not sign on due to the funding the bill provides to Israel.

Johnson has repeatedly stated that he will not allow a vote to take place, making the discharge petition Democrats' last hope of passing the bill, which provides financial assistance to Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel.

According to Semafor, among those who cited funding for the Jewish state in its war against Iranian-backed Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas as the reason they weren't adding their name to the discharge petition was Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez.

"Am I signing it? No," she told the outlet.

In order to successfully force a vote in the House, the petition requires 218 signatures, meaning Democrats would need to somehow convince a number of their Republican colleagues to switch sides.

"All options are on the table. We’re going to utilize every available legislative tool," House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries said.

Johnson has remained steadfast in his, and most of his party's, belief that no bill that doesn't include funding to solve the crisis at the southern border should be considered by the House.

"The Republican-led House will not be jammed or forced into passing a foreign aid bill that was opposed by most Republican senators and does nothing to secure our own border," he said on Wednesday. "It's time for Washington to start showing some love for Americans."

"On Valentine's Day, it's a good day to point this out," he continued. "We need to listen to the American people and their needs and take action, and that's why House leadership will continue to govern with Americans' interests at heart."