Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, was among three Democrats to vote against the Green New Deal, an ambitious plan to curb climate change by fundamentally transforming American infrastructure and the country’s economy.
The legislation — a non-binding resolution — was proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell put the plan to a vote in what Democrats have characterized as a politically-motivated vote.
Jones voted no along Sens. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, who caucuses with the Democrats, also voted no.
The measure failed on a vote of 0-57. Forty-three Democrats voted present.
“I firmly believe that as a country, we need to act decisively to mitigate the effects of climate change,” Jones said. “While I do not believe that the Green New Deal is a feasible plan to combat this issue because it is too broad and goes too far, I hope that we can come together in a bipartisan way to find a path forward to secure our future.”
McConnell has said he wanted the vote in the Senate to get Democrats on the record on what he characterized as extreme legislation.
“Later today, the American people will see which of their senators can do the common-sense thing and vote ‘no’ on this destructive socialist daydream,” McConnell said on Twitter.
The vote would have failed in the Senate either way, where it would have needed 60 votes to advance. Republicans hold a majority there, and many Democrats announced plans to vote no or vote “present” ahead of time.
“We’re not going to stand for sham bills that the other side is all voting no on,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York. “They know what a trick and joke and sham that is, so does all the American people.”
Schumer said Republicans are not taking climate change as a serious threat.
Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, a Republican, also voted no.
