With the August 22nd meeting of the Democratic National
Committee fast approaching, DNC chair Tom
Perez has filed a resolution to
block
the establishment of a Democratic presidential debate focused on climate
change. Spurred by youth climate activists, nearly every
candidate
supports such a debate.
The Perez resolution argues that the climate town-hall forums scheduled by CNN and MSNBC for September, in which candidates would be interviewed separately, are a sufficient substitute for a debate.
The resolution concludes:
WHEREAS, Democratic candidates for President of the United States are demonstrating their commitment to tackling the issue of climate change, having already scheduled two televised forums on CNN and MSNBC to discuss the issue, and debating the issue during each of the DNC-sanctioned presidential primary debates;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Democrats will address the serious threat of climate change through bold and inclusive solutions that grow the clean energy economy and expand America’s middle class.
Perez was backed by Barack Obama to block environmental-justice leader Keith Ellison from becoming chair.
The full text of the resolution is below:
The following Resolution will be considered by the Resolutions Committee at its meeting in San Francisco, CA on August 22, 2019.
Submitted by: Tom Perez, DNC Chair/Maryland
Resolution Recommitting the Democratic Party to the Work of Combating Climate Change and Creating Jobs by Growing our Clean Energy Economy
WHEREAS, Democrats recognize that climate change is a present, urgent, and growing threat to our economy, our national security, and our future; and
WHEREAS, fighting climate change is both a moral imperative and one of the biggest economic opportunities of our time; and
WHEREAS, workers, communities of color and low-income Americans suffer disproportionately from environmental degradation and climate change; and
WHEREAS, the Trump administration and many Republican lawmakers continue to roll back essential protections for our environment, climate, and public health; and
WHEREAS, President Trump betrayed American workers when he pulled out of the Paris Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Trump promised voters that he would be “the greatest jobs president God ever created!’ and instead opened the door for China to create millions of clean energy jobs that would have otherwise been based in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Trump installed a former coal lobbyist as head of the Environmental Protection Agency; and
WHEREAS, we must protect our planet from the threat of climate change while creating good jobs, raising labor standards, and organizing in clean energy sectors; and
WHEREAS, Democrats are committed to addressing the impact climate change can have on workers, families, and entire communities, while putting millions of Americans hack to work in load-paying union jobs that provide high wages, secure retirements, and safe workplaces: and
WHEREAS, Democratic candidates for President of the United States are demonstrating their commitment to tackling the issue of climate change, having already scheduled two televised forums on CNN and MSNBC to discuss the issue, and debating the issue during each of the DNC-sanctioned presidential primary debates;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Democrats will address the serious threat of climate change through bold and inclusive solutions that grow the clean energy economy and expand America’s middle class.