New York Democrat Pushes Back Against Green New Deal

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks as Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) (R) and other Congressional Democrats listen during a news conference in front of the U.S. Capitol February, 2019 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Getty Images

A New York Democrat is pushing back against his own party’s growing support for the Green New Deal, revealing in an interview that he does not agree with the “massive socialist” ideas in the deal.

On April 2, Sen. Max Rose (D-N.Y.) explained to WNET’s “MetroFocus” why he believes the new deal is unwarranted. Rose, who represents Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, said that there needs to be some action taken to address the environment, including emissions trading programs, advancement of alternatives to fossil fuels, and even reentering the Paris Agreement. “But with that being said, though, nothing about what I just said would provide a justification for a massive socialist economic policy platform,” he said. “Just not needed.”

The Green New Deal calls for a 10-year mobilization that would, by one estimate, cost U.S. taxpayers as much as $93 trillion. As a comparison, the total projected government spending for the next decade is $66 trillion. In addition to vague promises of universal access to food and nature, the resolution calls for the removal of all gas-engine cars and upgrading or replacing every building in the country.

“Job guarantees, housing guarantees: things that on its face sound good, but I just do not believe are possible; they’re not economically feasible,” he said. “There’s no need to lie to voters right now.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is one of the most vocal proponents of the deal.

When Rose was asked about how Ocasio-Cortez is keeping a list of centrist Democrats for future primary challengers, the congressman said he welcomed any nomination challenge.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) hold a news conference for their proposed "Green New Deal" at the Capitol in Washington, on Feb. 7, 2019. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

“This is very simple because I’m not one to deal in subtleties. I think it’s best not to be passive-aggressive. If she wants to primary me, if the Justice Democrats want to primary me, I’ll lay out the red carpet,” he said.

“We can settle this at the polls.”

His comments are not the first time he has publicly disagreed with Ocasio-Cortez. The congressman made similar criticisms of the Green New Deal last month, according to USA Today, and also disagreed with some Twitter Posts from Ocasio-Cortez who questioned the decision to invade Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Of the 2020 Democratic candidates who are polling at 1 percent or more, seven out of eight support Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is the exception among the field, although even she views both policies as key long-term goals.

President Donald Trump speaks prior to awarding a posthumous Medal of Honor for US Army Staff Sergeant Travis Atkins during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington March 27, 2019. SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

The increasing talk of socialism has caught the attention of Trump and Republicans, who have recently ramped up their opposition. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in early March, Trump said that nothing is more radical than the Green New Deal.

“When the wind stops blowing, that’s the end of your electric. It would force the destruction or renovation of virtually every structure in the United States,” he said. “Perhaps nothing is more extreme than the Democrat plan to take over American energy.”

In February, Trump made the case against socialism in a landmark speech on Venezuela: “The twilight hour of socialism has arrived in our hemisphere,” he said. And at this year’s State of the Union speech, he said, “America will never become a socialist country.”