Senate fails to advance Green New Deal as Democrats protest McConnell 'sham vote'

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday failed to advance the Green New Deal, the ambitious plan to combat climate change proposed by Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, after what Democrats said was an politically-motivated show vote.

The measure, which needed 60 votes to clear a procedural hurdle, failed in a 0-57 vote, with 43 Democrats voting present.

The resolution was doomed both because Republicans hold the majority in the Senate and because many Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., were expected to vote "present" in protest of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's tactics.

Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Doug Jones of Alabama and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona voted with Republicans.

In remarks on the Senate floor before the vote, Schumer said that Republicans are not taking the warnings of climate change seriously.

"We're not going to stand for sham bills that the other side is all voting no on. They know what a trick and joke and sham that is, so does all the American people," Schumer said in a speech on the Senate flor just before the vote began. "But we are finally talking about the issue, and that is great because climate change is not a joke. It's not a hoax, it's a crisis and that why we're doing these things."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/senate-fails-to-advance-green-new-deal-as-democrats-protest-mcconnell-sham-vote/ar-BBVgx9t?li=BBnb7Kz