Marsha Blackburn: Green New Deal is a raw deal for Tennessee | Opinion
The Green New Deal will decimate the state’s most productive industries and destroy the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Tennesseans, writes U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
- Marsha Blackburn, R-Brentwood, is Tennesee's junior U.S. senator.
To hear politicians like New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey tell it, the “Green New Deal” recently introduced in Congress will create jobs, raise wages and improve the standard of living for all Americans.
In the immortal words of Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, that’s just a bunch of “bovine scatology.”
In truth, the Green New Deal is a raw deal for Tennessee: It will decimate our state’s most productive industries and destroy the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Tennesseans who work in those industries.
The economic drawbacks of this proposal are too numerous to list in just one column, but here are three lowlights that should fill all Tennesseans with dread.
Proposal would effectively ban cows
Enjoy that succulent ribeye steak and that flame-broiled quarter-pounder while you still can.
If the Green New Dealers have their way, cows would be effectively banned over concern that livestock “emissions” may contribute to global warming.
Cattle producers make up the single largest agriculture sector in Tennessee’s economy. About half of Tennessee’s 65,000 farms raise cattle, generating $735 million in sales annually.
Tennessee is one of the top beef-producing states in the nation with beef cattle produced in every one of our 95 counties. And it isn’t just beef cattle. The proposal’s cow ban would also eviscerate Tennessee’s dairy industry. It would shutter the six milk processing plants in our state.
Dairy products have brought in $118.9 million in cash receipts for Tennessee. Cattle and dairy are pillars of our state’s agriculture industry. The industry, as a whole, has a massive $74.8 billion economic impact in our state. Make no mistake about it: the Green New Deal is a war on American agricultural jobs.
Plan would drive up gas prices
Many people are surprised when they learn Tennessee has only one oil refinery. Valero’s Memphis Refinery employs about 310 people and helps to keeps gas prices in our state below the national average.
According to AAA, Tennesseans pay an average of $2.048 for a gallon of gas while the rest of the country pays an average of $2.281. Green New Dealers think this one refinery is one too many and would be happy to see the price of gas skyrocket so no Tennessean can afford to fill up his or her car.
They don’t see this as a bug in their plan, they see it as a feature. They want to use government coercion to do what the market will not do: make fossil fuels so expensive that most people cannot afford to use them. These strict government mandates will kill scores of blue collar jobs throughout the American energy sector from gas station attendants to rig workers to oil truck drivers.
Expansions for companies like FedEx would be imperiled
Recently, FedEx announced they will open a new logistics facility in Memphis, creating an estimated 680 new jobs.
FedEx already employs over 30,000 Tennesseans in the greater Memphis area. Iconic companies like FedEx, International Paper, General Motors, Volkswagen, Electrolux, and AutoZone are supported by large supply chains that employ countless Tennesseans.
Under the Green New Deal, these good-paying, family-supporting jobs would go up in smoke. In their zeal to destroy the internal combustion engine, these green dreamers seem not to realize – or care – they are also destroying the engines of economic growth in our region.
Green New Deal is 'socialist tripe'
Tennesseans and the American people deserve an honest debate focused on real ideas as to how we can further strengthen our economy and ensure its benefits are felt by more Americans.
Socialist tripe like the Green New Deal distract from such a debate and ought to be rejected.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is eager to bring the Green New Deal to the Senate floor for a vote so the American people can see exactly where their elected representatives stand.
I hope Leader McConnell asks us to vote on the Green New Deal as soon as possible. I will proudly be the first senator in line to vote against this ludicrous plan.
When it is defeated, I will celebrate with my family at Buckley’s by enjoying some juicy, delicious burgers.
Marsha Blackburn, R-Brentwood, is Tennesee's junior U.S. senator.