02/14/2019
The “Green New Deal” could get a vote in the Senate. FOX’s Chad Pergram has more in today’s “Speaker’s Lobby.”
I’m Chad Pergram with the Speaker’s Lobby.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell opposes the Green New Deal and dislikes show votes.
But in this case, McConnell wants to show where Democrats stand on the proposal by Democratic New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
McConnell’s putting the plan on the floor to get everyone on the record.
But this vote is all about politics and the 2020 Senate Democratic presidential hopefuls.
McConnell’s wants aim the Green New Deal back at Democrats running for President.
Republicans could highlight Democrats who support the idea portraying them as dangerous.
And if Democrats flee the Green New Deal, Republicans would undercut the package as lacking Democratic support.
But there’s risk for Republicans too.
Such a vote would force Republicans like Cory Gardner of Colorado and Susan Collins of Maine to weigh in as well.
Both face challenging re-election bids next year.
Two years ago, Republicans tried to pin down Democratic senators on how they’d vote on Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for all plan.
However, the effort backfired.
The vote was zero yeas and 57 nays. That’s because all Democrats avoided taking a position they voting present.
With the Speaker’s Lobby, Chad Pergram. Fox News.
