WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Senator Mitch McConnell announced that, in a cynical political ploy, he will rush a vote on the Green New Deal resolution proposed by Senator Markey and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rather than allowing it to go through the hearings and legislative process it was intended to have. This news comes after McConnell pushed to keep a costly and unreliable coal plant open, at the expense of his own constituents.

In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:

“Mitch McConnell is once again playing games with the livelihoods of people across this country. Let’s be clear: McConnell does not care about tackling the climate crisis or inequity -- he cares about trying to distort reality for political purposes. After all, McConnell is the person who jammed through a tax scam for billionaires on the backs of working class people and, just 24 hours ago, pushed to bailout uneconomical and dangerous coal plants. McConnell may think this is a savvy political move to hurt his opponents, but the fact is the American people overwhelmingly support the vision of the Green New Deal. The public is demanding bold, meaningful action and visionary leadership on climate louder than ever before to tackle our country’s greatest challenges head on. Politicians who follow McConnell’s cynical lead may soon find themselves on the same downward trajectory as the fossil fuel industry they will do anything to support.”