Top Democrats are zeroing in on the recent winter storm devastation in Texas, calling for investigations into Republicans’ handling of the crisis and amplifying their support for radical environmental policies like the Green New Deal.
“Governor Abbott thought Texas could run an electrical grid that ignored the climate crisis,” Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted. “It was not resilient.”
Schumer went on to call for a federal investigation to look into how the Republican governor’s policies “have failed and exacerbated the winter storm crisis.”
The Lone Star State was ravaged by a historic winter storm that has left millions without power after significant power outages. The Associated Press reports that the storm and resultant power outages have contributed to the deaths of at least 80 people.
President Biden recently approved a major disaster declaration, allowing more federal aid to pour into the state as it struggles to get back on its feet from the crisis. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has delivered more than 1 million meals to Texas and the Defense Department has delivered more than 4 million liters of water.
Former Senate candidate Beto O’Rouke pointed the blame at Republicans, saying “those in power have failed us.”
“As with Covid, a natural disaster has become far deadlier due to the inaction & ineptitude of Abbott and Texas’ Republican leadership,” he tweeted. “This didn’t have to happen and doesn’t have to continue.”
