WASHINGTON _ Two prominent Democrats on Thursday will unveil a package of environmental legislative proposals that has become known as the Green New Deal.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, pointing out that President Donald Trump did not say the words "climate change" or "clean energy" in his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, said they will be outlining the principles of what their proposals "can and should accomplish."
The two politicians represent a contrasts in generations and experience _ Ocasio-Cortez quickly rose in progressive circles with her defeat of an entrenched incumbent last year, and Markey has been in Congress since the 1970s _ but both are strong advocates for stronger environmental laws.
Their plan aims to shift the nation away from fossil fuels and has already prompted strong opposition from Republicans and industry leaders who say it risks raising costs for consumers and costing thousands of jobs.
The legislation has been the subject of speculation and interest for weeks even as it has no chance of gaining support in the Republican-controlled Senate let alone being signed into law by Trump.
A draft of the proposal, which circulated earlier this week, did not have a pledge to eliminate fossil fuels altogether. That perhaps was intended to attract the support of moderates, but the omission was greeted with wariness by some environmental advocacy groups.
"While the resolutions contain bold and important proposals, they remain incomplete in addressing the climate crisis comprehensively due to their failure to address fossil fuel production," David Turnbull, a spokesman for the environmental group Oil Change International, said by email.
Conservative lawmakers, on the other hand, have seized on the idea as a product of out of touch liberals, with some price estimates ranging as high as $7 trillion.
"Americans deserve better than to foot the bill for the Green New Deal's reckless, expensive, and unattainable goals," said Rep. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican. "The Green New Deal, just like proposals for free college or Medicaid for All, is nothing but an empty promise that leaves American taxpayers on the hook."
