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Almost a year ago, Sinema and Manchin killed an attempt by other Senate Democrats to temporarily waive the "filibuster" rule, which requires a supermajority of 60 votes for most legislation to advance toward Senate passage.
That stymied Democrats' push, supported by Biden, for significant voting rights reforms.
With her close ties to the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, Sinema complicated Democrats' efforts to force lower prescription drug prices before finally settling on a narrow version of a bill that became law.
On tax policy, Sinema is more in line with Republicans, opposing Biden's moves to raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
© 2015 Mutual Fund Observer. All rights reserved.
© 2015 Mutual Fund Observer. All rights reserved. Powered by Vanilla
Comments
There's a body of political opinion suggesting that Sinema is concerned about being replaced by another Democrat in the next Arizona primary election, and that she is making a preemptive move to offset that possibility. Personally, while I'm a lifelong Democrat, I do respect politicians who don't feel comfortable in either party.
I kinda think she's angling for a nice cushy exec job in Big Pharma or private equity, given her role in weakening the tax and pharma negotiation pieces of the IRA.
Kyrsten Sinema and the Politics of Narcissism
"Had Republicans won the Senate, Sinema could have become an independent who caucused with Republicans, preserving her place in the majority. A red wave might have seemed to vindicate her aggressive centrism, especially if Senator Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat far more loyal to his party, had lost. But Kelly won and Democrats picked up a Senate seat. That meant Sinema could no longer hold the rest of the Democratic caucus hostage, or argue that only Democrats who defy their base are electable in her state. She was about to become a lot less relevant. Now she’s center stage again."