Speaker Nancy Pelosi avoided embracing the Green New Deal on Friday, suggesting that only parts of the progressive project will be discussed.
The Green New Deal, championed by the firebrand freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, has been embraced by several Democrats vying for the party’s presidential nomination in 2020, but held at a distance by several other established members, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California and Dick Durbin of Illinois.
The resolution is a sweeping declaration of what must be reformed in society in order to reach a zero-carbon emission economy, while also tackling economic disparities and other social justice priorities.
The House’s top Democrat stressed that she values the attention on climate change by highlighting the Select Committee on Climate Change she established this term. However, she appeared to trip over explaining how the party will deal with the resolution moving forward.
“The Green New Deal, some of the elements of that may be part of — it certainly will be a part of the discussion,” Mrs. Pelosi said. “Some of the considerations will be some considerations as we go forward — what does the best job that keeps us number one and protects children’s health and secures our nation and honors our values and does so in a way that gets results in a shorter period of time.”
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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