McConnell plans vote on Green New Deal before August recess

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that he will force a vote on the progressive Green New Deal sometime before the August recess, arguing he thinks Democrats are trying to dodge the fight. 

McConnell said he had read with “some amusement” that some Democrats were discussing voting “present” on the anti-climate change plan, a move that would allow them to avoid taking a stance on the liberal resolution. 

{mosads}”The only thing I would ask is if this is such a popular thing to do and so necessary, why would one to dodge the vote. This is an opportunity to go on record. …. It’s a debate we’ll have in all likelihood sometime before the August break,” McConnell said. 

The Senate is scheduled to go on recess Aug. 5.

McConnell first announced earlier this month that he would force a vote on the resolution, introduced by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.). Republicans have seized on the Green New Deal as a wedge issue as they hunt for fodder for the 2020 election. 

Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican, pointed to the it as one example of how Democrats have shifted to the left. 

Sen. John Barrasso (Wyo.), a member of GOP leadership, argued that the proposal “drives a stake into the heart” of the U.S. economy and would result in a “gift” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

“The solution to climate change is not government regulation, it’s innovation, and that’s the way we ought to be heading,” Barrasso added. 

The Green New Deal, which strives for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the United States while creating millions of “good, high-wage jobs,” has zero chance of passing in the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to advance.

But it would force Democratic 2020 hopefuls to go on the record, which Republicans believe could pay dividends during the election. 

Though it’s been seized on by Republicans, it has split Democrats, with several moderates and even members of Senate Democratic leadership cool to saying they would support the Green New Deal. 

Some have floated voting “present,” which wouldn’t put them on the record as voting for or against the idea. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) told E&E News that voting “present” could be used to try to discourage McConnell from future “political theater.”

Democrats have tried to turn the tables by questioning what Republicans have done to combat climate change since taking over control of the Senate in 2015. 

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) blasted Republicans and the Trump administration from the floor earlier Tuesday. 

“It is long past time for President Trump and Republican leaders to admit that climate change is real, human activity contributes to it, and Congress must take action to counter it. So far, Leader McConnell and Republicans: when we ask them do you believe climate change is real? Silence. Do you believe humans cause it? Silence,” Schumer said.