'Green New Deal' Resolution Defeated as Expected

The Senate Tuesday voted 0-57 against the non-binding "Green New Deal" resolution (SJRes 8 (116)), with all Republicans voting against, joined by Democratic Sens. Joe Machin of West Virginia, Doug Jones of Alabama, and Krysten Sinema of Arizona, and Sen. Angus King, an Independent from Maine, who caucuses with the Democrats, also voted against the measure. But the remaining Democrats voted "present," protesting what they said was a political stunt by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who pushed the vote on the non-binding resolution. Those voting present included the author of the resolution and others who have expressed their support for the plan. Senate Ag Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., was among Republicans expressing dismay at the resolution. In remarks on the Senate floor, he touted the fact that farmers are the original environmentalists and are adapters of new technology. "Show me a farmer who does not practice conservation or does not have access to the very latest technology and I will show you a farmer in trouble," he remarked. Roberts said he could understand where those drawing up the "Green New Deal" were coming from, but called on them to "catch up with the agriculture committee and with farm country."