Kyrsten Sinema slams House progressives for ‘inexcusable’ delay in infrastructure vote

Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema on Saturday criticized progressive House Democrats for delaying the vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, calling the delay “inexcusable.”

The bipartisan $ 1.2 trillion bill enjoys broad support among Democrats and some Republicans. It includes funding for roads and bridges, high-speed internet, railways and public transport, drinking water improvements and other priorities designed to consolidate the country’s crumbling infrastructure.

The $ 3.5 trillion bill, which was pushed by progressives, funds “human infrastructure,” such as tackling climate change, expanding medicare and establishing a college. community free.

The delay came after Progressive and Moderate Democrats failed to come to an agreement on the two bills. Progressives have said they will not vote to pass the $ 1.2 trillion bill unless it is tied to the $ 3.5 trillion bill. Up to 50 House Democrats have reportedly voted to repeal the legislation, said Progressive Congressional Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal.

Meanwhile, moderate Democrats have pledged to vote against the fiscal reconciliation needed to pass the $ 3.5 trillion bill, unless the House votes for the $ 1.2 trillion bill first. dollars.

Sinema, who has previously expressed skepticism about the $ 3.5 trillion price tag, said in a statement that she would never accept “a deal that holds one piece of legislation hostage to another.”

“The failure of the United States House to vote on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is inexcusable and deeply disappointing for communities in our country,” the statement said. “Denying Americans millions of well-paying jobs, safer roads, cleaner water, more reliable electricity and better broadband only hurts everyday families.

She criticized the Democratic leaders, who she said “made contradictory promises that not all could be kept – and sometimes claimed that the differences of opinion within our party did not exist, even when those disagreements were made. were clearly expressed repeatedly, directly and publicly. “

She added that the cancellation of the infrastructure vote “betrays” the confidence of the American people.

Progressive and centrist Democrats have sought to blame each other for the delayed vote.

Representative Josh Gottheimer, a centrist Democrat who represents a district in northern New Jersey, released a statement Friday criticizing Progressives for withholding their vote.

“A small far-left faction in the House of Representatives has undermined this deal and blocked a critical vote on the president’s historic bipartisan infrastructure bill,” he wrote.

Progressives, including Representative Mondaire Jones of New York, have responded. Jones wrote on Friday night: “What a weird way of saying ‘I am embarrassed by my unsuccessful attempt to impose an arbitrary deadline in direct disregard of the plan originally announced by the President. I will stop holding the American people hostage to go. forward.'”

The bipartisan bill was passed by the Senate with bipartisan support in August. Nineteen Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the bill.

The $ 3.5 trillion bill faces a tall order in the Senate, where Sinema and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, another centrist Democrat, have raised concerns about it.

In Arizona, Sinema faces opposition from Democrats who have threatened to back a main challenger against her. Representative Ruben Gallego has been named a potential challenger.

News week contacted Sinema’s office for comment, but did not receive a response until the time of publication.