‘An Opportunity To Go On Record’

Will Senate Democrats Vote For The Green New Deal That Nearly All Of Their Presidential Candidates Have Rushed To Endorse?

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “I’ve been reading with some amusement that our friends on the other side seem to be reluctant to vote on the ‘Green New Deal.’ … The only question I would ask is if this is such a popular thing to do and so necessary why would one want to dodge the vote? This is an opportunity to go on record …” (Sen. McConnell, Press Conference, 2/26/2019)

“‘He’s trying to bully the party, and he’s banking on people not being courageous,’ [Rep. Alexandria] Ocasio-Cortez [D-NY] said Tuesday of McConnell’s plans [to hold a vote on the Green New Deal]. ‘I think people should call his bluff.’” (“‘You Can Feel It Now’: New Democrats Push Party, And 2020 Candidates, To The Left On Divisive Issues,” The Washington Post, 2/12/2019)

Far-Left Sunrise Movement’s Communications Director Stephen O’Hanlon: “It’s a litmus test for Democrats …” (“Progressive Demands Put New Pressures On Democrats,” The Hill, 3/21/2019)

“Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster, says it won’t be easy for presidential contenders to vote against the Green New Deal because it’s very popular with a base that expects candidates to stand by their principles…. Polling by her firm, Lake Research Partners, found that 76 percent of likely Democratic primary and caucus voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada have a favorable view of the Green New Deal, and 47 percent have a very favorable view.” (“Green New Deal Vote Tests Dem Unity In Senate,” The Hill, 3/25/2019)

The Green New Deal Resolution Is Co-Sponsored By All The Democrat Senators Running For President And Other Dem Presidential Aspirants Have Expressed Support For It

REP. ALEXANDRA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): “The Green New Deal that we introduced two weeks ago, which was an amazing step forward … And then the first day, we were able to introduce a resolution in both chambers co-sponsored by … every Democratic presidential candidate and 65 House members.” (Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Remarks, 2/16/2019)

Sen. Ed Markey’s (D-MA) bill is cosponsored by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). (S. Res. 59, 116^th Congress)

A total of 12 Senate Democrats have signed on to sponsor or cosponsor the Green New Deal. (S. Res. 59, 116^th Congress)

THE VIEW’S SUNNY HOSTIN: “Does the Green New Deal go too far?”

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): “No. You cannot go too far on the issue of climate change.” (“Sanders Says Green New Deal Doesn’t Go Too Far: You Can’t Go ‘Too Far’ on Climate Change,” Mediaite, 3/01/2019)

“Sanders will in the next few months also introduce a proposal to fight climate change through a ‘Green New Deal,’ which will similarly aim to slash emissions with an enormous public works program …The effort is moving on a parallel track to that announced earlier [in February] by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and a number of 2020 presidential candidates in the Senate, including Sanders, Booker, and Sens. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).” (The Washington Post, 2/19/2019)

SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (D-NY): “I’m calling for a Green New Deal …” (Sen. Gillibrand, @SenGillibrand, Twitter, 2/22/2019)

SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA): “I wanted to share some really important news with you: I’m proud to announce that I’ve signed on as an original co-sponsor of the Green New Deal in the Senate.” (Kamala Harris, “Green New Deal,” Medium, 2/07/2019)

SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA): “I’m in all the way for a #GreenNewDeal.” (Sen. Warren, @ewarren, Twitter, 2/22/2019)

SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ): “Excited to support a #GreenNewDeal.” (Sen. Booker, @CoryBooker, Twitter, 12/14/2018)

FOX NEWS’ BRET BAIER: “Here’s the Green New Deal, if the Senate Majority Leader brings it to the floor, how do you vote on it?”

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN): “The Green New Deal? … I would vote yes …” (Fox News’ “Special Report w/ Bret Baier,” 2/12/2019)

FORMER REP. BETO O’ROURKE (D-TX): “The goal of converting to 100 percent renewable energy within a decade, I love…. It’s ambitious. It captures your imagination.” (“Beto O’Rourke: ‘I’m Just Born to Be In It,’” Vanity Fair, 3/13/2019)

“Pressed on his national-policy positions, O’Rourke says … [h]e supports Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal in spirit, if not every letter.” (“Beto O’Rourke: ‘I’m Just Born to Be In It,’” Vanity Fair, 3/13/2019)

CNN’S JAKE TAPPER: “Do you endorse the Markey/Ocasio-Cortez Green New Deal?

MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG: “Yes, I think it’s the right beginning.” (CNN’s “State of the Union,” 2/10/2019)

FORMER HUD SECRETARY JULIAN CASTRO: “We’re gonna say … yes to passing a Green New Deal.” (Julian Castro, @JulianCastro, Twitter, 1/12/2019)

FORMER GOV. JOHN HICKENLOOPER (D-CO): “I’m going to guess that 99 percent of what’s in the Green New Deal I will be happy to embrace.” (Fox News, 2/14/2019)

VOX’S DAVID ROBERTS: “The Green New Deal takes the approach of tying climate policy together with economic renewal, jobs, and justice…. Do you believe all those policies belong together?”

GOV. JAY INSLEE (D-WA): “We should do what I said we should do in my book: a major industrial transformation to decarbonize the US economy … So no, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this approach. I think it’s necessary and suitable to the times.” (“Meet The First Democrat Running For President On Climate Change,” Vox, 3/01/2019)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

Related Issues: Senate Democrats, Green New Deal

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