Does Rep. Raja have the courage to fight the climate crisis? Lobbying in IL-08 for Green New Deal.

With June breaking records as the hottest month in history, it shouldn't take much to convince our Representatives we need action now on the climate crisis. Floods, fires, ocean acidification; the science is undeniable. If we don't reduce emission 45% in the next 11~ years and get off carbon completely in the next 30 we will cross a temperature threshold where millions will die and we face potential planetary extinction.

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi knows the climate crisis is real, and he knows the scientific statistics. As the Democratic Congressman from Illinois 8th district, Raja is founder of the Solar Caucus, a bipartisan Congressional group focused on finding solutions to issues facing solar companies. With this type of background, you would expect Raja to be the first of the four Illinois Democrats to sign the Green New Deal so far, along with Mike Quigley, Danny Davis, Jan Schaowski, Chuy Garcia. But instead, 103 House Democrats have signed on before Raja, unfortunately for our district and our planet.

We lobbied Raja back in December on the "Select Committee for a Green New Deal," an effort by Sunrise Movement and Justice Democrats to push Speaker Pelosi to support a Climate Committee that had no fossil fuel influence and subpoena power. Andrew, the staff member in Raja's office we met with, told us we were the "100th or 200th people who have called or reached out" in some way on the Green New Deal, and that there had been other groups to show up at the office that very day on the subject. He also told us they'd been getting calls from individuals from all over the country. This news made us SO proud because we had been running a Facebook ad campaign to get his phone ringing on this issue.

At the time of our December sit-down, Andrew said Raja was reviewing a lot of information and taking those calls seriously. He wanted to ensure the Deal includes the best responses, best resources. We were dissatisfied with that answer, and I informed Andrew that what we are looking for is a Select Committee, to build the legislation now, so that we can be up and running in 2020. Andrew assured me that going forward Raja will address this issue.

Since that sit-down, Andrew and Raja were true to their word and sent me the following via email:

“For the Green New Deal, Congressman Krishnamoorthi hasn’t taken a public position but is supportive of creating the Select Committee in the 116th that AOC is promoting. He is a strong supporter of environmental reforms. Among many pro-environment steps, he is the founder of the Solar Caucus, member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, the first bill he ever introduced related to the Paris Climate Accord, strong supporter of clean energy jobs and reducing emissions.”

While this felt like a great victory at the time, a few weeks later Nancy Pelosi killed the Select Committee despite vows to listen to the desires of the Sunrise Movement who protested in her office with leaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. So while we were happy for Raja's support, it lead to no action.

On July 3rd, Congressman Raja hosted a town hall in Addison, and our progressive coalition let his office know we would be there, and we would be holding a rally in advance to educate the public on GND. Raja's office made time in the Congressman's schedule to meet with us in advance of the town hall. Our goal was to convert his support on the 'Select Committee' into support of the resolution. I was joined by local activist Patrick Gordon, Mary Shesgreen, Jacopo Demarinis and Mavis Bates.

During the meeting Raja told us he had read the resolution and was familiar with the science. He quoted the global temperature threshold information and details of the IPCC report before we did. We asked where he stood on GND and he let us know he was not in favor, citing the old standby: "how do we pay for it?" We easily countered this question with facts about how much more NOT combating the crisis will cost (both financially and in human life), as well as the fact that this is a non-binding resolution that costs $0 but instead commits to meeting the demands of science.

Unfortunately that wasn't enough for Raja, he pushed back further saying this resolution didn't have bipartisan support, and so it would go no where and he could not endorse it. This was a very disappointing response for a man who claims to be a champion of the environment. We elected Raja to be a leader, and leaders work to inform and advance the agenda that is best for the people. Refusing to stand up for what is right because it might not have support with a group that doesn't even believe the threat is real... is not leadership. In fact, inaction on the climate crisis, at this point, is just as dangerous as those who claim science isn't real.

We spent the remainder of our 30 minutes with the Congressman pleading the science and proving the urgency, showing him that only the bold action outlined in the resolution will do enough to meet crisis before us. Then we got the most disappointing response from Raja of the meeting, when we asked, "If we came back to you with 51% in-distinct support, as a petition or a poll, would you support the GND?" and the Congressman said "No." As a constituent, it was hard not to feel betrayed by this sort of disloyalty to his district's voters.

While Raja remained open to working with our group on incremental change, we left the meeting with him declining to take the steps necessary to save us from the environmental emergency. With heavy hearts, we turned from the meeting to the Rally before the town hall.

The rally went amazingly. We spoke to nearly everyone entering the town hall and gathered dozens of petition signatures for GND. Even if Raja told us he wouldn't move with majority constituent support, we are determined to get it anyway so he can tell us all to our faces he won't represent us. Sign the petition: Ask Raja to support a Green New Deal! Many constituents where there to speak about the situation at the border and we shared wishes of solidarity with them while educating on the GND resolution.

At the town hall we represented four of the questions lobbed at the Congressman during the event. The crowd applauded Patrick Gordon as he made the case for Green New Deal during his time with the mic. Another round of applause came for Elaniz Mojica as she shared her art and made her case to end the poison of fracking. Unfortunately though, the Congressman remains unmoved.

We need your help! Please join Our Revolution Buffalo Grove as we continue to lobby Raja. Call his office at (847) 413-1959 to let him know you expect him to support GND! Please sign and share the petition, and if you want to get in the trenches join us on Slack and Trello to keep the pressure up and get this Resolution through the House!