Watching Government: McConnell’s surprising tactic

Calling the Green New Deal to an early vote a day earlier showed that Democrats were not ready to go on record supporting the idea, US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a Mar. 27 floor speech. Forty-three Senate Democrats and Independent Bernard Sanders (Vt.) called the balloting a sham and voted “present” instead, causing it to fail 57-0.

McConnell introduced Senate Joint Resolution 8, which said the federal government has a duty to create a Green New Deal, on Feb. 13. “Yesterday, the vast majority of Senate Democrats could not dismiss something as crazy as ending the production of American oil, coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy within a decade,” he said 2 weeks later.

“[They] could not reject a plan to take more control over where Americans choose to live, how they choose to get around, and how they earn a living,” McConnell said.

Senate Democrats blasted McConnell’s maneuver. “The Green New Deal is all about giving the Congress a mission statement on climate change. It’s about recognizing the enormous threat and encouraging everyone to bring forward their best ideas to address it,” Ronald L. Wyden (Ore.) said before the vote.

“But it’s not a bill, it’s a resolution. That’s why I have to scratch my head when I hear all these far-fetched attacks on [it] in the media—and here on this floor!” he said.

Other senators from both sides of the aisle weighed in before the vote. “The Green New Deal is chock full of utopian ideas but completely devoid of concrete plans to implement any of its overreaching policies,” said John Cornyn (R-Tex.) “Even the name is a little disorienting because the Green New Deal is not just a new radical environmental policy. It encompasses much more than that.”

Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said, “I don’t accept the Republicans’ argument that boldly addressing climate change and having the world’s strongest economy are somehow incompatible. The exact opposite is true. Tackling our climate challenges will provide us with the opportunity to grow our economy and to protect public health.”

Not enough time

“Let’s be honest. The climate is changing. It requires a serious response. The Green New Deal is not that response,” said John A. Barrasso (R-Wyo.). “This plan would eliminate fossil fuels. It would require 100% renewable energy, carbon-free energy, in just 10 years.”