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The
Green New Deal, introduced last month by Democrats, marked the
first formal attempt by lawmakers to define legislation to
create big government-led investments in clean energy like wind
and solar power, infrastructure and social programs.
The goal of the non-binding resolution is to speed a transition
of the U.S. economy away from burning fossil fuels and emitting
greenhouse gases blamed for climate change, linked to more
intense storms, floods and droughts.
But the vote, slated for 4 p.m., is occurring before the plan
has had the chance for a national debate or hearings in
Congress.
Republicans have used the plan to try to sow discord within the
Democratic Party, painting their rivals as shifting far to the
left and embracing extreme policies.
Democratic Senator Edward Markey, who unveiled the plan with
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has called the vote a
"sham."
He said the Green New Deal was meant to spur debate during the
2020 presidential election campaign on the intricate problem of
how to tackle climate change while boosting the economy, not to
force the party to take sides in a quick vote. Markey will hold
a news conference at 11 a.m. on the vote with other lawmakers.
McConnell wrote in a message on Twitter on Monday: "I could not
be more glad that the American people will have the opportunity
to learn precisely where each one of their senators stand on the
'Green New Deal': a radical, top-down, socialist makeover of the
entire U.S. economy."
The name of the plan references Democratic President Franklin
Roosevelt's Depression-era New Deal program.
One prominent Democrat, Senator Dianne Feinstein of
environmentally conscious California, was criticized by Green
New Deal supporters after she was filmed last month telling
children she opposed the resolution because it was too
expensive.
Still, many Democrats plan to vote "present" at the procedural
vote on the resolution, instead of up or down, to show unity
among the party.
The plan has the backing of almost all the Democrats declared as
candidates seeking the party's 2020 presidential nomination.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Peter Cooney
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