Democratic Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announced Wednesday that she will not support the $3.5 trillion infrastructure package that her party’s leadership hopes to pass via reconciliation.
“I do not support a bill that costs $3.5 trillion—and in the coming months, I will work in good faith to develop this legislation with my colleagues and the administration to strengthen Arizona’s economy and help Arizona’s everyday families get ahead,” she told The Arizona Republic. Sinema added that she will vote to begin debate on the reconciliation package.
NEW: “Sen. Kyrsten Sinema doesn’t support Democrats’ $3.5 trillion bill, clinches bipartisan infrastructure deal.” (via @yvonnewingett) https://t.co/wmCTZL6847
— Dan Nowicki (@dannowicki) July 28, 2021
The announcement is a major setback for the furthest-left members of the Democratic Party, who have frequently criticized Sinema for her efforts to forge a bipartisan bill on infrastructure and support for the filibuster. Sinema met Tuesday with President Joe Biden to discuss the bipartisan infrastructure deal, describing their discussion as “productive.”
Sinema has worked alongside Republican Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Rob Portman of Ohio on the infrastructure agreement.
“We didn’t elect Sinema as President and we won’t let her obstruction put a Republican in the Oval Office in 2024. It’s the reconciliation bill or GOP controlling every level of government again, period,” Democratic Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib responded.
Time for the White House to play hardball. We didn’t elect Sinema as President and we won’t let her obstruction put a Republican in the Oval Office in 2024. It’s the reconciliation bill or GOP controlling every level of government again, period. https://t.co/fA04JEQe7F
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) July 28, 2021
Biden announced in June that he will only support the bipartisan agreement “in tandem” with a reconciliation package. That approach has been endorsed by prominent left-wing Democrats, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Tlaib’s fellow ‘Squad’ member Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar. (RELATED: Ocasio-Cortez Accuses Biden Of ‘Playing Patty-Cake’ With Republicans While They Are ‘Setting The Planet On Fire’)
With the Senate tied 50-50 and Democrats holding only an eight seat advantage in the House of Representatives, party leadership can not afford to lose any votes in the Senate or more than three in the House.
