Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) explained to children why climate change will not be "turned around" in the next decade and encouraged a constituent to run for the U.S. Senate to address the issue as she sees fit.
In a video shared widely on Twitter, a group of children met with the California senator and asked her to support the Green New Deal.
"We are trying to ask you to vote yes on the Green New Deal," one child said.
"OK, I'll tell you what. We have our own Green New Deal," Feinstein responded.
"Some scientists have said that we have 12 years to turn this around," another child said.
"Well, it's not going to get turned around in 10 years. What we can do is put ourselves —" Feinstein began.
"Senator, if this doesn't get turned around in 10 years, you're looking at the faces of the people who are going to be living with these consequences," an adult traveling with the children said.
Feinstein then explained that she has been in politics for decades and pointed out that she just won an election.
"You know what's interesting about this group is I've been doing this for 30 years. I know what I'm doing," Feinstein said. "You come in here and you say it has to be my way or the highway. I don't respond to that. I've gotten elected, I just ran. I was elected by almost a million vote plurality. And I know what I'm doing. So you know, maybe people should listen a little bit."
"I hear what you're saying, but we're the people who voted you. You're supposed to listen to us, that's your job," said an individual beneath the legal voting age.
When Feinstein asked this person her age, she admitted to being 16—and therefore unable to vote.
"Well, you didn't vote for me," Feinstein pointed out.
Later, Feinstein said she is trying to "write a responsible resolution."
The same adult from earlier argued that "bold, transformative action" is necessary.
Feinstein then encouraged her to run for the U.S. Senate.
"Well, you know better than I do. So I think one day you should run for the Senate and then you do it your way," Feinstein said.
Feinstein then reminder her visitors again that she "just won a big election."
The Green New Deal resolution, originally proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.), calls for "economic security to all who are unable or unwilling to work." It acknowledges challenges to "fully get[ting] rid of farting cows and airplanes" in 10 years and also seeks to replace or upgrade every building in America with green energy alternatives.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) said he asked Sen. Ed Markey (D., Mass.), one of the architects of the proposal, "What in the heck is this?" after reading it. Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) called the Green New Deal a "dream," but said he has "got to work with the realities."