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Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, tore the Democratic leadership apart on Saturday for what she described as an “inexcusable” failure to vote on a bipartisan infrastructure bill – a move she says betrays trust of the American people.
“The failure of the US House to hold a vote on the The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is inexcusable and deeply disappointing for communities across our country, ”the moderate Democrat said in a lengthy statement. “Denying Americans millions of well-paying jobs, safer roads, cleaner water, more reliable electricity, and better broadband only hurts everyday families.”
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The vote on bipartisan legislation in the House has been delayed as the far-left wing of the Democratic caucus refused to support the bill unless there is agreement on a separate budget reconciliation plan from $ 3.5 trillion containing left-wing spending priorities and tax increases.
Democrats conceded the votes weren’t there to pass the infrastructure bill, with talks still ongoing with moderate Democrats – including Sinema – to reach agreement on the reconciliation plan. The moderates have sought to bring down the huge price tag of the bill, which can be passed by the Senate without Republican obstruction if it can garner the support of the 50 Senate Democrats.
After the progressive wing showed its political strength to block the infrastructure package, Sinema criticized what she described as “an ineffective move to leverage a separate proposal.”
“My vote belongs to Arizona, and I don’t trade my vote for political favors – I vote only on what’s best for my state and the country,” she said. “I have never accepted and never would accept a deal that would hold one law hostage to another.”
The lawmaker said she had helped put the infrastructure bill in place, while engaging in “good faith” negotiations “on the reconciliation proposal.
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“Good faith negotiations, however, require trust,” she said. “During this year, Democratic leaders made conflicting promises that not all could be kept – and sometimes claimed that differences of opinion within our party did not exist, even when these disagreements were been clearly expressed on several occasions directly and publicly. “
“Canceling the vote on infrastructure further erodes that trust. More importantly, it betrays the trust the American people have placed in their elected leaders and denies our country critical investments to expand economic opportunities,” he said. she declared.
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Sinema’s statement came hours after President Biden said “everyone is frustrated” with the Democratic divide, but that he would “work like hell” to get the bills passed.
“I support them both. And I think we can do them both,” he said.
On Saturday, the White House also released a statement saying that Biden walked out of a meeting with the Democrats in the caucus on Friday “with the firm belief that there was a shared commitment of the entire Democratic caucus to serving the American people.”
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“The president and his team will continue to be in close contact with members of the House and Senate throughout the weekend,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. “And he looks forward not only to welcoming MPs to the White House next week, but also to travel the country defending his bold and ambitious agenda.”
In a letter on Saturday, Pelosi told Democrats she wanted the infrastructure bill passed before the end of October.
“There is a surface transport clearance deadline of October 31, after a critical 30-day extension went through last night. We have to pass. [Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework] long before – the sooner the better, to get the jobs there. “
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