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Showing Original Post only (View all)Veteran Democrats wary of climate push by Ocasio-Cortez and her allies [View all]
Source: Politico
Veteran Democratic lawmakers are closing ranks against new members pushing the party to the left on climate change.
Incoming chairmen say they want to address climate change, but they are bristling at the tactics of Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and other newly elected Democrats who say the party needs to come up with a "Green New Deal" that would decarbonize the economy within a decade.
The idea that in five years or 10 years were not going to consume any more fossil fuels is technologically impossible, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), whose in line to lead the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told POLITICO. We can have grand goals but lets be realistic about how we get there.
Ocasio-Cortez is working with other liberal members and youth climate activists to expand the scope of a select committee on climate change that Nancy Pelosi wants to relaunch if elected speaker. But several older members say they think even creating a new panel would be a distraction and could delay action by the existing committees with jurisdiction over the issue.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/16/veteran-democrats-wary-leftward-push-climate-977988