Protesters from the Sunrise Movement, an environmental advocacy group, staged a protest inside House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) office. (Photo: Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Dec 19, 2018
In what critics denounced as a blatant attempt to shield fossil fuel executives and cripple Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D-N.Y.) proposed Green New Deal Select Committee before it even gets off the ground, incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters on Wednesday that--unlike other congressional committees--the new panel "will not have subpoena power" and will serve as a mere "recommendatory committee."
Hoyer's remarks immediately sparked fury from progressives, including Ocasio-Cortez herself, who noted that while the Select Committee isn't "our ultimate end goal," a "weak committee misses the point and endangers people."
\u201cOur ultimate end goal isn\u2019t a Select Committee.\n\nOur goal is to treat Climate Change like the serious, existential threat it is by drafting an ambitious solution on the scale necessary - aka a Green New Deal - to get it done.\n\nA weak committee misses the point & endangers people.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1545258036
In a statement, Sunrise Movement spokesperson Varshini Prakash condemned the expected decision to deny the Green New Deal Select Committee subpoena power as "an insult to the thousands of young people across the country who have been calling on the Democratic Party leadership to have the courage to stand up to fossil fuel billionaires and make sure our generation has a livable future."
"The sole purpose of this is protecting fossil fuel executives."
--Zach Carter, Huffington Post
While Hoyer--whose office has recently been targeted by youth-led climate protests and sit-ins--claimed to have no idea why the Green New Deal Select Committee would need subpoena power, critics were quick to point out that such authority would be necessary for the body to compel fossil fuel executives to testify and turn over crucial documents.
"The sole purpose of this is protecting fossil fuel executives," Huffington Post reporter Zach Carter said in response to Hoyer's remarks.
Waleed Shahid, spokesperson for Justice Democrats, argued that the Democratic leadership's move to create a toothless Green New Deal committee represents yet another glaring example of how out of touch the party establishment is with the surging support for bold climate action among the vast majority of the American public.
"The Democratic Party establishment never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity."
--Waleed Shahid, Justice Democrats
"The Democratic Party establishment never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity," Shahid declared in a statement. "They have failed to propose solutions that match the scale of the climate crisis and they have failed to fully hold fossil fuel billionaires accountable."
"Instead of seizing the opportunity right in front of them," he concluded, "they have decided to violate the norms of most select committees by stripping away its power to bring the barons of the industry to account."
\u201cWow. @WhipHoyer is protecting fossil fuel executives from being accountable to @Ocasio2018's potential subpoena power on a Select Committee for a #GreenNewDeal.\n\nIt might be because both parties still receive a ton of donations from fossil fuel companies.\u201d— Waleed Shahid (@Waleed Shahid) 1545259422
In order to adequately meet the task of developing a comprehensive plan to rapidly transition the U.S. economy to 100 percent renewable energy while creating millions of jobs, Ocasio-Cortez has proposed that the Green New Deal Select Committee must have the power to draft "detailed national, industrial, economic mobilization" legislation.
Speaking to The Hill on Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez spokesperson Corbin Trent raised alarm that the Democratic leadership is attempting to strip the committee of these basic powers before it is even officially formed.
"We think that the committee needs to have the authority and the capacity to develop a plan for a Green New Deal to transition our economy to a zero-carbon economy in a 10-year timeframe," Trent said. "Without subpoena power, without the ability to draft legislation, without the commitment to not put members in seats that are taking money from the fossil fuel industry, then we don't think we would have the capacity to do so."
Rising concerns that the Democratic leadership is working to undermine the proposed Green New Deal Select Committee comes as over 40 House members have backed the creation of the panel as a necessary step toward aligning climate policy-making with the latest science, which warns that global carbon emissions must be cut in half by 2040 to avert planetary catastrophe.
According to a survey published this week by Yale University's Program on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University, a Green New Deal is extremely popular among the American public. The new poll found that 81 percent of Americans--including 92 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of Republicans--support the ambitious proposal.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
alexandria ocasio-cortezbig oildemocratic partyenvironmentfossil fuelsgreen new dealjustice democratspoliticssteny hoyer
In what critics denounced as a blatant attempt to shield fossil fuel executives and cripple Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D-N.Y.) proposed Green New Deal Select Committee before it even gets off the ground, incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters on Wednesday that--unlike other congressional committees--the new panel "will not have subpoena power" and will serve as a mere "recommendatory committee."
Hoyer's remarks immediately sparked fury from progressives, including Ocasio-Cortez herself, who noted that while the Select Committee isn't "our ultimate end goal," a "weak committee misses the point and endangers people."
\u201cOur ultimate end goal isn\u2019t a Select Committee.\n\nOur goal is to treat Climate Change like the serious, existential threat it is by drafting an ambitious solution on the scale necessary - aka a Green New Deal - to get it done.\n\nA weak committee misses the point & endangers people.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1545258036
In a statement, Sunrise Movement spokesperson Varshini Prakash condemned the expected decision to deny the Green New Deal Select Committee subpoena power as "an insult to the thousands of young people across the country who have been calling on the Democratic Party leadership to have the courage to stand up to fossil fuel billionaires and make sure our generation has a livable future."
"The sole purpose of this is protecting fossil fuel executives."
--Zach Carter, Huffington Post
While Hoyer--whose office has recently been targeted by youth-led climate protests and sit-ins--claimed to have no idea why the Green New Deal Select Committee would need subpoena power, critics were quick to point out that such authority would be necessary for the body to compel fossil fuel executives to testify and turn over crucial documents.
"The sole purpose of this is protecting fossil fuel executives," Huffington Post reporter Zach Carter said in response to Hoyer's remarks.
Waleed Shahid, spokesperson for Justice Democrats, argued that the Democratic leadership's move to create a toothless Green New Deal committee represents yet another glaring example of how out of touch the party establishment is with the surging support for bold climate action among the vast majority of the American public.
"The Democratic Party establishment never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity."
--Waleed Shahid, Justice Democrats
"The Democratic Party establishment never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity," Shahid declared in a statement. "They have failed to propose solutions that match the scale of the climate crisis and they have failed to fully hold fossil fuel billionaires accountable."
"Instead of seizing the opportunity right in front of them," he concluded, "they have decided to violate the norms of most select committees by stripping away its power to bring the barons of the industry to account."
\u201cWow. @WhipHoyer is protecting fossil fuel executives from being accountable to @Ocasio2018's potential subpoena power on a Select Committee for a #GreenNewDeal.\n\nIt might be because both parties still receive a ton of donations from fossil fuel companies.\u201d— Waleed Shahid (@Waleed Shahid) 1545259422
In order to adequately meet the task of developing a comprehensive plan to rapidly transition the U.S. economy to 100 percent renewable energy while creating millions of jobs, Ocasio-Cortez has proposed that the Green New Deal Select Committee must have the power to draft "detailed national, industrial, economic mobilization" legislation.
Speaking to The Hill on Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez spokesperson Corbin Trent raised alarm that the Democratic leadership is attempting to strip the committee of these basic powers before it is even officially formed.
"We think that the committee needs to have the authority and the capacity to develop a plan for a Green New Deal to transition our economy to a zero-carbon economy in a 10-year timeframe," Trent said. "Without subpoena power, without the ability to draft legislation, without the commitment to not put members in seats that are taking money from the fossil fuel industry, then we don't think we would have the capacity to do so."
Rising concerns that the Democratic leadership is working to undermine the proposed Green New Deal Select Committee comes as over 40 House members have backed the creation of the panel as a necessary step toward aligning climate policy-making with the latest science, which warns that global carbon emissions must be cut in half by 2040 to avert planetary catastrophe.
According to a survey published this week by Yale University's Program on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University, a Green New Deal is extremely popular among the American public. The new poll found that 81 percent of Americans--including 92 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of Republicans--support the ambitious proposal.
In what critics denounced as a blatant attempt to shield fossil fuel executives and cripple Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D-N.Y.) proposed Green New Deal Select Committee before it even gets off the ground, incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters on Wednesday that--unlike other congressional committees--the new panel "will not have subpoena power" and will serve as a mere "recommendatory committee."
Hoyer's remarks immediately sparked fury from progressives, including Ocasio-Cortez herself, who noted that while the Select Committee isn't "our ultimate end goal," a "weak committee misses the point and endangers people."
\u201cOur ultimate end goal isn\u2019t a Select Committee.\n\nOur goal is to treat Climate Change like the serious, existential threat it is by drafting an ambitious solution on the scale necessary - aka a Green New Deal - to get it done.\n\nA weak committee misses the point & endangers people.\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1545258036
In a statement, Sunrise Movement spokesperson Varshini Prakash condemned the expected decision to deny the Green New Deal Select Committee subpoena power as "an insult to the thousands of young people across the country who have been calling on the Democratic Party leadership to have the courage to stand up to fossil fuel billionaires and make sure our generation has a livable future."
"The sole purpose of this is protecting fossil fuel executives."
--Zach Carter, Huffington Post
While Hoyer--whose office has recently been targeted by youth-led climate protests and sit-ins--claimed to have no idea why the Green New Deal Select Committee would need subpoena power, critics were quick to point out that such authority would be necessary for the body to compel fossil fuel executives to testify and turn over crucial documents.
"The sole purpose of this is protecting fossil fuel executives," Huffington Post reporter Zach Carter said in response to Hoyer's remarks.
Waleed Shahid, spokesperson for Justice Democrats, argued that the Democratic leadership's move to create a toothless Green New Deal committee represents yet another glaring example of how out of touch the party establishment is with the surging support for bold climate action among the vast majority of the American public.
"The Democratic Party establishment never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity."
--Waleed Shahid, Justice Democrats
"The Democratic Party establishment never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity," Shahid declared in a statement. "They have failed to propose solutions that match the scale of the climate crisis and they have failed to fully hold fossil fuel billionaires accountable."
"Instead of seizing the opportunity right in front of them," he concluded, "they have decided to violate the norms of most select committees by stripping away its power to bring the barons of the industry to account."
\u201cWow. @WhipHoyer is protecting fossil fuel executives from being accountable to @Ocasio2018's potential subpoena power on a Select Committee for a #GreenNewDeal.\n\nIt might be because both parties still receive a ton of donations from fossil fuel companies.\u201d— Waleed Shahid (@Waleed Shahid) 1545259422
In order to adequately meet the task of developing a comprehensive plan to rapidly transition the U.S. economy to 100 percent renewable energy while creating millions of jobs, Ocasio-Cortez has proposed that the Green New Deal Select Committee must have the power to draft "detailed national, industrial, economic mobilization" legislation.
Speaking to The Hill on Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez spokesperson Corbin Trent raised alarm that the Democratic leadership is attempting to strip the committee of these basic powers before it is even officially formed.
"We think that the committee needs to have the authority and the capacity to develop a plan for a Green New Deal to transition our economy to a zero-carbon economy in a 10-year timeframe," Trent said. "Without subpoena power, without the ability to draft legislation, without the commitment to not put members in seats that are taking money from the fossil fuel industry, then we don't think we would have the capacity to do so."
Rising concerns that the Democratic leadership is working to undermine the proposed Green New Deal Select Committee comes as over 40 House members have backed the creation of the panel as a necessary step toward aligning climate policy-making with the latest science, which warns that global carbon emissions must be cut in half by 2040 to avert planetary catastrophe.
According to a survey published this week by Yale University's Program on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University, a Green New Deal is extremely popular among the American public. The new poll found that 81 percent of Americans--including 92 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of Republicans--support the ambitious proposal.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.