While McConnell tries to rush Green New Deal vote, Senate Democrats vote ‘present’ to forestall Republican ploy

"This is about our lives, and this should not be partisan. Science should not be partisan."

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The Green New Deal failed to advance to a vote in the Senate, exactly as Democrats had planned. The progressive 10-year plan to address climate change was voted down 57-0 failing to get 60 votes to advance the measure to a final vote.

By voting “present,” Senate Democrats were victorious in forestalling “a Republican ploy to exploit disagreements within the party,” EcoWatch reported. Senate Majority Leader Mitch MocConnell was attempting to put the Green New Deal on the Senate floor for a vote and force Democrats to support or oppose the controversial measure ahead of the 2020 election, CNN reported.

But climate activist and House co-sponsor of the measure, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez “encouraged” Senate Democrats to vote “present” to stall McConnell from rushing the bill to a vote without hearings, mark ups and working through committee.

“The Senate vote is a perfect example of that kind of superficial approach to government,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “What McConnell’s doing is that he’s trying to rush this bill to the floor without a hearing, without any markups, without working through committee – because he doesn’t want to save our planet. Because he thinks we can drink oil in 30 years when all our water is poisoned.”

Fifty-three Republicans, three Democrats and one Independent senator voted “no” to the Green New Deal. Democrats who voted against the measure were Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Doug Jones of Alabama – all conservative-leaning states – EcoWatch reported.

Senate sponsor, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said that while the measure failed in the Senate, the Green New Deal has sparked national talk about climate change.

“This resolution has struck a powerful chord with the American people,” Markey said. “The Green New Deal was always designed to be an opening of a national discussion. And it has worked. In just six short weeks, everyone is debating a Green New Deal. There’s been more debate about climate change in the last six weeks than in the last six years.”

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