Sen. Sinema issues statement opposing "Green New Deal" initiatives

WASHINGTON (FOX 10/AP) -- Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema issued a statement Tuesday that stated her opposition to the "Green New Deal" resolution that some Democratic politicians have been advocating.

In the statement, Sen. Sinema said the country needs to address a changing climate with "realistic, achievable solutions".

"Congress should stop the political games and work together on practical solutions that foster a healthy environment, grow our economy, and help Arizona families get ahead," Sen. Sinema wrote.

Announced to great fanfare in February, the Green New Deal calls for a "10-year national mobilization" on the scale of the original New Deal to shift the U.S. economy away from fossil fuels such as oil and coal and replace them with renewable sources such as wind and solar power. It calls for meeting "100 percent of the power demand in the United States through clean, renewable and zero-emission energy sources," including nuclear power.

The plan has broad support among Democratic activists, and all six of the 2020 presidential contenders serving in the Senate have signed on as co-sponsors, putting it at the forefront of the party's sprawling primary race.

Republicans have mocked the Green New Deal as a progressive pipedream that would drive the economy off a cliff and lead to a huge tax increase. They call it more evidence of the creep of "socialism" in the Democratic Party, along with "Medicare for All" and a sweeping elections reform package that would allow public financing of congressional campaigns.

The Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report. FOX 10 reported on this story from Phoenix.