Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) on Wednesday called voting on the Green New Deal resolution a "sham."
"I heard Leader McConnell knocking the Green New Deal," Schumer said during a speech on the Senate floor. "I would ask the leader—and we're going to keep asking him, and every Republican in this chamber—what they would do about climate change, about global warming. So Leader McConnell, do you believe that climate change, global warming, is real? Yes or no? Second, do you believe that climate change, global warming, is caused by humans? And three, do you believe that Congress should take immediate action to deal with the problem?"
Schumer said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) and Republican lawmakers were playing meaningless "games" by bringing the Democrat-backed resolution to a vote.
"This is not a debate. It's a diversion. It's a sham," he said.
He went on to say Democrats would be introducing another resolution focused on climate change, despite the fact the Green New Deal resolution was already introduced by Democratic lawmaker Ed Markey (Mass.) and co-sponsored by all Democratic presidential candidates in the Senate.
"Democrats will be introducing a resolution in a few days shortly that says ... we believe in these three things, and we will be asking our Republicans do they support or oppose that resolution," he said.
On Tuesday, McConnell said he would force a vote on the Democrats' Green New Deal proposal prior to the Senate's August recess. The plan aims to overhaul the U.S. economic and energy systems, all while implementing an array of progressive agenda items.
A study found the Green New Deal proposed by Markey, as well as by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) in the House, could cost up to $94 trillion. A document released in conjunction with the resolution called for economic security for those "unwilling to work," as well as eliminating air travel and "farting cows."
Markey also criticized McConnell earlier this month for saying he would bring the resolution to a vote.
During an interview with Rolling Stone published Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said the Green New Deal as it is conceived is "not what we hope to achieve." Other Democrats have also expressed skepticism. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) said he told Markey "what in the heck is this" when he first read the resolution.