House Republican plans discharge petition on Green New Deal

Conservative Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.) plans to introduce a discharge petition on the progressive-backed Green New Deal on Wednesday.

The push to bypass Democratic leadership and force a Green New Deal vote on the House floor is the latest attempt by GOP lawmakers to get Democrats on the record on the controversial legislation.

Republicans are working to get signatures from Democrats to utilize the procedural tool.

{mosads}“I’m looking forward to it — the American people need to know where their representatives stand by the Green New Deal, and I’m hopeful we’ll be able to gather 218 votes and give that choice to the people of America,” Hice told The Hill.

“Ninety-two of them are signed onto it now as far as cosponsoring, so hopefully at least 20 of them will have the guts to say, yeah let’s vote on it.”

The resolution — which has garnered national attention amid its support from progressive firebrands such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — calls for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, which proponents argue will lead to high-paying jobs. But despite receiving broad support from the far-left flank of the party and endorsements from multiple Democratic presidential hopefuls, a number of centrists and fiscally conservative Democrats have expressed concerns over costs, attempting to separate themselves from the proposal.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) is leading the whipping effort on the proposal, which could potentially place Democrats in swing districts in a difficult position.

The GOP has repeatedly highlighted the Green New Deal in their messaging strategy while attempting to paint Democrats as a party shifting further to the left.

“The more that you see Pelosi’s new majority promoting far-left socialist policies, it’s sparking a strong debate on both sides. But I think most people in this country are alarmed that there is such a move toward socialism by this new Congress,” Scalise told The Hill on Monday.

“Their policies are out of step with the American people. And frankly, everybody ought to take a position.”

The move comes in the wake of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) having brought the resolution up for a politically-motivated vote which failed to advance with the majority of Democrats having voted present in late-March.

House Republicans will face an uphill battle in gaining Democratic support on the discharge petition. Ocasio-Cortez previously encouraged Senate Democrats to vote present on the measure when that chamber’s GOP leadership similarly forced a floor vote, accusing Republicans of political theater.