Green New Deal fails in Senate

WASHINGTON—Not a single U.S. senator voted for the Green New Deal on Tuesday evening, and most Democrats voted “present” in protest of the procedural vote on the sweeping climate change resolution. Democrats introduced the measure last month to address climate change by moving America to 100 percent “clean, renewable, and zero-emission” energy sources. The deal proposes upgrading or replacing every building in the United States and creating a high-speed rail system to eliminate air travel. Though the resolution does not include cost specifics, one analysis by the American Action Forum estimated implementation would cost between $51 trillion and $93 trillion over 10 years.

Republicans quickly slammed the resolution as unrealistic. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he held Tuesday’s procedural vote to give senators the chance to stake a position on what he called the “far left wish list that many of our Democratic colleagues have rushed to embrace.” The final vote was 57-0. Most Democrats called it a “sham” vote meant to avoid debate on the resolution. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), and Angus King (I-Maine) voted with Republicans against the deal.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., a co-sponsor of the resolution in the House, criticized McConnell for holding the vote and tweeted that she “encouraged [Democrats] to vote present. ... McConnell tried to rush the #GreenNewDeal straight to the floor without a hearing.”