Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema calls her party's two-track legislative approach an 'ineffective stunt'
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) on Saturday came out strong against her party's decision — one backed by President Biden — to delay a vote on the Senate's bipartisan infrastructure bill until their larger, more sweeping reconciliation package is ready to go.
The centrist Sinema is not a fan of tying the two pieces of legislation together, as she reiterated in Saturday's statement. She called the dual-track approach "an ineffective stunt" and said she has "never, and would never, agree to any bargain that would hold one piece of legislation hostage to another."
While she didn't mention them by name, Sinema also appeared to take aim at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). "Over the course of this year, Democratic leaders have made conflicting promises that could not be kept — and have, at times, pretended that differences of opinion within our party did not exist," she said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The statement doesn't necessarily mean Sinema won't eventually reach an agreement with her colleagues on a scaled-down reconciliation bill, but it also probably isn't raising too many spirits during a contentious time within the party, either.
It's also worth noting that Sinema wasn't the only Democratic senator to express disappointment in how things have played out.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Best TV shows coming in 2025
The Week Recommends From Wild Cherry to The Bear, next year's most anticipated new and returning watches
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
Sudan's forgotten pyramids
Under the Radar Brutal civil war and widespread looting threatens African nation's ancient heritage
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Being more nuanced will not be easy for public health agencies'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Pentagon Discord leaker gets 15 years in prison
Speed Read Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guard member, leaked classified military documents
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Saudi crown prince slams Israeli 'genocide' in Gaza
Speed Read Mohammed bin Salman has condemned Israel’s actions
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump fills key slots, tapping Congress, MAGA loyalists
Speed Read The president-elect continues to fill his administration with new foreign policy, environment and immigration roles assigned
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Haiti council fires prime minister, boosting chaos
Speed Read Prime Minister Garry Conille was replaced with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump tells next Senate GOP leader to skip confirmations
Speed Read The president-elect said the next Senate majority leader must allow him to make recess appointments
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Fed cuts rates, chair says he won't quit if Trump asks
Speed Read Jerome Powell was noncommittal on future rate cuts that were expected before Trump won the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'The problem with deliverism is that it presumes voters will notice'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Judge revives plea deal for 9/11 suspects
Speed Read A military judge has ruled to restore the plea deals struck by 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-conspirators
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published