GOP blames environmental efforts, but Democrats see public health problems with stimulus

Senate Republicans and Democrats identified different sticking points Monday as they failed to reach agreement on a coronavirus-spurred stimulus package, with GOP lawmakers repeatedly arguing environmental efforts should not be included in the bill.

But Democrats argued in various floor speeches that the hold up on the bill was largely over their concerns it fails to address the public health crisis by sufficiently bolstering the health care system and neglects some of the most vulnerable segments of society.

“We’re here trying to fight for the man and woman on the street in our hometowns, and yet they’re fighting for the Green New Deal,” Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said on the Senate floor Monday.

Environmentalists have been pushing hard to secure a variety of environmental measures in the stimulus package, fighting funding that might go to the oil and gas industry while pushing for tax incentives for renewables and tougher emissions requirements on airlines. 

But most of those options haven’t secured any clear path forward, and only the House stimulus bill would force carbon reduction measures on the airline industry in exchange for a bailout.

Measures included in the Green New Deal, such as moving to 100 percent clean electricity or guaranteeing universal health care, have not been included in any proposals.

Still, Republicans have largely framed their opposition to any Senate deal as a matter of fighting environmental measures they don’t see as germane.

“Emissions standards? What’s that got to do with the virus? Nothing,” Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) said on the floor Monday evening. 

Meanwhile Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) blamed Democrats for being “willing to extort a crisis to try to advance their political agenda,” specifically citing his opposition to tax credits for the wind industry. 

But Democrats said the alarmism over environmental measures was misleading. 

“I keep hearing about the House wanting a Green New Deal as part of this emergency package. That’s a total red herring,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-M.D.) said. 

“There’s no Green New Deal in this thing, so let’s get real.”

Democrats have argued the Senate stimulus package simply doesn’t contain enough support for health care systems or their employees. 

“Yes, we don’t think it’s wise to spend $2 trillion if the bill doesn’t stop the public health epidemic,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said.