California knows about fault lines. And political observers in the Golden State say the Democrats’ proposed Green New Deal may be a fault line that splits the party’s support – in California and elsewhere.
The environmental high-mindedness of the plan for combatting climate change – put forth by Democratic U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ed Markey of Massachusetts – appeals to the “elite” professionals the party has been courting for years.
But the potential disruption for the American labor, in which untold numbers of employees might have to transition from “old economy” jobs to “green economy” jobs, may be offputting for many blue-collar workers – potentially turning many of them away from Democratic candidates at the polls, some political observers say.
“Unlike the Mueller report — and impeachment and indictment — people vote on whether or not they’re going to lose their job,” Jessica Levinson, a professor of politics and ethics at Loyola Law School, told Politico.
“Unlike the Mueller report — and impeachment and indictment — people vote on whether or not they’re going to lose their job.”
Breaking: UAE Has Been Secretly Striking Iran, Fighting Alongside US and Israel
John Cornyn under fire from MAGA base over anti-Trump post
San Antonio Spurs Superstar Ejected After Vicious Hit – Should the NBA Suspend Him?
Trump ‘seriously considering’ plan to make Venezuela and its $40 trillion in oil permanent part of USA
Mega-mansion built on Manson murder site now a luxury rental after years of failing to find buyer
Maine progressive says he won’t back Schumer even after Democrats unite behind Collins challenger
Trump Scorches 2 SCOTUS Justices by Name: ‘Democrats don’t really need to “PACK THE COURT”‘
More than 25 charged in nationwide Tren de Aragua crackdown involving guns, drugs and cash
Watch: Trump Blasts NFL Over Possible Amazon, Netflix Deal – Says Many Fans ‘Don’t Make Enough Money to Pay’
ActBlue scrutiny fuels new GOP bills to tighten election donation rules
Alabama AG makes Supreme Court play that could deal decisive blow in redistricting war
GOP lawmaker unveils historic move to ‘expunge’ both ‘maliciously false’ impeachments against Trump
Trump says Iran’s latest proposal reneges on giving up enriched material: ‘Are they stupid people?’
Developing: Virginia Dems Plotting Overthrow of Entire State Supreme Court to Save Redistricting Scheme
Two Israeli Soldiers Sentenced to Prison for Desecration of Mary Statue
In addition, Levinson said, many people who’ve spent years working in blue-collar union jobs “don’t necessarily want to be retrained” for so-called “green jobs.”
Signaling a potential blue-collar backlash, chants of “Garcetti’s gotta go” greeted Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in April when he launched his “Green New Deal LA” plan, Politico reported.
“[Garcetti’s] got the big corporations with him, and he’s not thinking of the effects on the common people,’’ Paul Valdez, 58, a building trades worker from Thousand Oaks, told Politico. “If they start taking away our jobs, who’s going to pay our bills?”
“[Garcetti’s] got the big corporations with him, and he’s not thinking of the effects on the common people.’’
Similarly, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio – a Democrat who’s now running for president – was openly mocked in May when he launched his local version of the Green New Deal.
Breaking: UAE Has Been Secretly Striking Iran, Fighting Alongside US and Israel
John Cornyn under fire from MAGA base over anti-Trump post
San Antonio Spurs Superstar Ejected After Vicious Hit – Should the NBA Suspend Him?
Trump ‘seriously considering’ plan to make Venezuela and its $40 trillion in oil permanent part of USA
Mega-mansion built on Manson murder site now a luxury rental after years of failing to find buyer
Maine progressive says he won’t back Schumer even after Democrats unite behind Collins challenger
Trump Scorches 2 SCOTUS Justices by Name: ‘Democrats don’t really need to “PACK THE COURT”‘
More than 25 charged in nationwide Tren de Aragua crackdown involving guns, drugs and cash
Watch: Trump Blasts NFL Over Possible Amazon, Netflix Deal – Says Many Fans ‘Don’t Make Enough Money to Pay’
ActBlue scrutiny fuels new GOP bills to tighten election donation rules
Alabama AG makes Supreme Court play that could deal decisive blow in redistricting war
GOP lawmaker unveils historic move to ‘expunge’ both ‘maliciously false’ impeachments against Trump
Trump says Iran’s latest proposal reneges on giving up enriched material: ‘Are they stupid people?’
Developing: Virginia Dems Plotting Overthrow of Entire State Supreme Court to Save Redistricting Scheme
Two Israeli Soldiers Sentenced to Prison for Desecration of Mary Statue
The mayor was forced to shout for much of his speech amid jeers from a crowd of about a dozen protesters inside the lobby of Trump Tower, which also had music blasting over the speakers. A number of protesters rode up and down the escalator behind de Blasio carrying cardboard signs with slogans like “Worst Mayor Ever,” “Failed Mayor,” and “Trump 2020.”
“They’re scared of the truth,” the mayor said. “Anyone that has a problem with saving the planet, I have a problem with them.”
“They’re scared of the truth. Anyone that has a problem with saving the planet, I have a problem with them.”
The Garcetti and de Blasio plans were part of an effort by Green New Deal backers to push the effort through left-leaning local and state governments rather than face the Republican-led U.S. Senate and the veto pen of President Trump.
In New Mexico, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed her state’s version of the plan, the Energy Transition Act, into law in March.
“This is a really big deal,” Grisham said in a statement at the time. “In every corner of this state, advocates, utilities, young adults, unions, elected officials and families came together to push for and, today, enact this transformational law. The Energy Transition Act fundamentally changes the dynamic in New Mexico. This legislation is a promise to future generations of New Mexicans, who will benefit from both a cleaner environment and a more robust energy economy with exciting career and job opportunities.”
Breaking: UAE Has Been Secretly Striking Iran, Fighting Alongside US and Israel
John Cornyn under fire from MAGA base over anti-Trump post
San Antonio Spurs Superstar Ejected After Vicious Hit – Should the NBA Suspend Him?
Trump ‘seriously considering’ plan to make Venezuela and its $40 trillion in oil permanent part of USA
Mega-mansion built on Manson murder site now a luxury rental after years of failing to find buyer
Maine progressive says he won’t back Schumer even after Democrats unite behind Collins challenger
Trump Scorches 2 SCOTUS Justices by Name: ‘Democrats don’t really need to “PACK THE COURT”‘
More than 25 charged in nationwide Tren de Aragua crackdown involving guns, drugs and cash
Watch: Trump Blasts NFL Over Possible Amazon, Netflix Deal – Says Many Fans ‘Don’t Make Enough Money to Pay’
ActBlue scrutiny fuels new GOP bills to tighten election donation rules
Alabama AG makes Supreme Court play that could deal decisive blow in redistricting war
GOP lawmaker unveils historic move to ‘expunge’ both ‘maliciously false’ impeachments against Trump
Trump says Iran’s latest proposal reneges on giving up enriched material: ‘Are they stupid people?’
Developing: Virginia Dems Plotting Overthrow of Entire State Supreme Court to Save Redistricting Scheme
Two Israeli Soldiers Sentenced to Prison for Desecration of Mary Statue
“The Energy Transition Act fundamentally changes the dynamic in New Mexico. This legislation is a promise to future generations of New Mexicans, who will benefit from both a cleaner environment and a more robust energy economy with exciting career and job opportunities.”
But not all workers find a potential transition to be exciting.
On Saturday, dozens of members of California’s Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents more than 400,000 workers, planned a “Blue Collar Revolution” demonstration at the California Democratic Party Convention site in San Francisco.
Robbie Hunter, president of the labor group, told Politico what the Green New Deal represented to the group’s members.
“All it does is do what the Democratic Party seems to be very good at lately — which is export our jobs, while doing nothing for the end game, which is the environmental,’’ Hunter said.
Breaking: UAE Has Been Secretly Striking Iran, Fighting Alongside US and Israel
John Cornyn under fire from MAGA base over anti-Trump post
San Antonio Spurs Superstar Ejected After Vicious Hit – Should the NBA Suspend Him?
Trump ‘seriously considering’ plan to make Venezuela and its $40 trillion in oil permanent part of USA
Mega-mansion built on Manson murder site now a luxury rental after years of failing to find buyer
Maine progressive says he won’t back Schumer even after Democrats unite behind Collins challenger
Trump Scorches 2 SCOTUS Justices by Name: ‘Democrats don’t really need to “PACK THE COURT”‘
More than 25 charged in nationwide Tren de Aragua crackdown involving guns, drugs and cash
Watch: Trump Blasts NFL Over Possible Amazon, Netflix Deal – Says Many Fans ‘Don’t Make Enough Money to Pay’
ActBlue scrutiny fuels new GOP bills to tighten election donation rules
Alabama AG makes Supreme Court play that could deal decisive blow in redistricting war
GOP lawmaker unveils historic move to ‘expunge’ both ‘maliciously false’ impeachments against Trump
Trump says Iran’s latest proposal reneges on giving up enriched material: ‘Are they stupid people?’
Developing: Virginia Dems Plotting Overthrow of Entire State Supreme Court to Save Redistricting Scheme
Two Israeli Soldiers Sentenced to Prison for Desecration of Mary Statue
Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College in California, says Democrats should heed a lesson from West Virginia.
“West Virginia, until 2000, was considered solidly blue,” Pitney told Politico, until the George W. Bush campaign reminded the state’s coal miners of opponent Al Gore’s ties to the environmental movement, which the miners viewed as a threat to their jobs. The state’s voters ended up backing Bush, 52 percent to 46 percent.
“So yes,” Pitney told the magazine, “this is a real hazard for Democrats, something that somebody from a state with extractive industries may want to recognize.”
Story cited here.
