Gabbard’s Climate Stance Gets Her Listed As A Presidential Contender
An environmental publication lumped the Hawaii congresswoman into a field of possible Democratic challengers to President Donald Trump.
WASHINGTON — It seems the Tulsi Gabbard 2020 presidential talk just won’t stop.
The latest comes from E&E News, a Washington, D.C.-based news publication that covers energy and the environment.
On Monday, E&E News published a piece that looked at seven Democrats who might build a presidential platform based on climate change.
Gabbard made the list along with several other high-profile Democrats and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont.
Here’s what the publication had to say about Gabbard:
The first Hindu member of Congress, the representative hails from Hawaii, where politicians tend to be bluer than the ocean.
Gabbard sponsored the “Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future Act,” an ambitious climate bill that would phase out fossil fuel energy sources by 2035. It also calls for an end to subsidies for drilling, mining and refining companies. And it would establish programs to help fossil fuel workers get jobs in renewable energy industries.
In 1996, she co-founded the Healthy Hawaii Coalition with her father, Mike Gabbard, a Democratic state lawmaker. The group teaches about pollution, the environment and health.
A member of the Progressive Caucus, Gabbard broke with the (Democratic National Committee), which she vice-chaired, so she could endorse Sanders for president.
Gabbard has a 96 percent lifetime score from (League of Conservation Voters).
The congresswoman’s fossil fuels bill hasn’t gained much traction as Republicans control the House, the Senate and the presidency.
Gabbard introduced the legislation in September 2017 with four Democratic co-sponsors, including Jamie Raskin of Maryland and California lawmakers Barbara Lee, Nanette Diaz Barragan and Ted Lieu.
Since then more than three dozen Democrats have signed on to the legislation, the latest being U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist of Florida who became a co-sponsor on Aug. 3.
Gabbard’s political ambitions have been the subject of much speculation in recent years.
In November, The New Yorker published a lengthy profile on the congresswoman entitled “What Does Tulsi Gabbard Believe?” She’s also writing a book, something many consider a prerequisite for those aiming for higher office.
Thoughts on this or any other story? Write a Letter to the Editor. Send to news@civilbeat.org and put Letter in the subject line. 200 words max. You need to use your name and city and include a contact phone for verification purposes. And you can still comment on stories on our Facebook page.
