It is no secret that the Green New Deal is a terrible deal for taxpayers, as even Senate Democrats, despite their public support, refused to match their votes with their words.

On March 26, 2019, the Senate voted down the motion to proceed on S. J. Res. 8, better known as the Green New Deal resolution, by a vote of 57-0.  Four Democrats voted no and the rest voted present, including Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) who is the sponsor of the original Green New Deal resolution.  The House companion to Sen. Markey’s bill was introduced by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

Democrats claim that they voted present because of a Republican “stunt.” But failing to vote for a plan they have touted so highly tells the American people exactly what Democrats intend to do with the Green New Deal: use it score political points, but not get it passed in Congress.

For months, Democrats have enthusiastically praised this unaffordable and outlandish proposal, including every Democratic senator running for President in 2020.  “You cannot go too far on the issue of climate change,” said Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) when discussing the proposal on ABC’s “The View” on March 1, 2019.  Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said at a campaign rally on February 22, 2019, “Green New Deal—I’m in all the way.”  But when the time came to vote, Sen. Warren could not bring herself to even dip her toe in the water.  Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) have all given fervent variations of these endorsements.

The Green New Deal aims to overhaul nearly every sector of the economy, from energy to healthcare, over 10 years.  While there is no definite price tag, cost estimates have reached $93 trillion, more than quadruple the national debt.  Based on the laundry list of unrealistic goals the plan sets out to accomplish, the price tag is not as shocking as it may seem.  An outline of the Green New Deal includes 100 percent renewable, zero-emission energy sources, infrastructure upgrades to all existing building for the purpose of energy efficiency, replacing airplanes with high-speed rail systems, guaranteed jobs for every American, economic support for all unable or unwilling to work, single-payer healthcare, and much more.  Implementing these massive goals in the projected 10-year window would be unprecedented.

Another concern about this socialist wishlist is the lack of a workable idea on how to pay for it.  “The question isn’t how will we pay for it, but what will we do with our new shared prosperity,” said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez on a blog on her website, which was swiftly deleted after it received heavy blowback.  With the national debt above $22 trillion and trillion-dollar deficits around the corner, that is the exact question Democrats should be asking themselves, and when they do, they will realize there are no viable answers.

The Green New Deal is a socialist fever-dream disguised as public policy.  Tuesday’s vote showed that when the cards are dealt, Democrats will fold on their own discombobulated proposal.  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would be wise to force their hand again with futures votes on the Green New Deal.