Senator, kids debate climate change

SAN FRANCISCO — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and a group of San Francisco Bay Area students squared off over climate change in an exchange captured on video and widely shared on social media.

The 15-minute video of the impromptu Friday meeting captures the students and Feinstein debating the merits of the Green New Deal, an ambitious Democratic plan to shift the U.S. economy from fossil fuels to renewable sources such as wind and solar power.

The students urged the California Democrat to support the legislation. But Feinstein, a 27-year veteran of the Senate, argued that the legislation had no chance of passing the Republican-controlled chamber.

“That resolution will not pass the Senate, and you can take that back to whoever sent you here and tell them,” Feinstein responded after the students insisted the legislation was badly needed.

Republicans have said the Green New Deal would drive the economy off a cliff and lead to a huge tax increase, calling it evidence of the creep of socialism in the Democratic Party.

The students are members of Sunrise Movement, an activist group that encourages children to combat climate change.

Later Friday, Feinstein issued a statement calling the debate a “spirited discussion” and said “I want the children to know they were heard loud and clear.”