With Budget Bill Passed, Schumer Wins Applause and Sinema Gets More Hate
Arizona Democrat shielded wealthy taxpayers at the last minute
Passing major new budget legislation with the tie-breaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Democrats are on the verge of passing major legislation which seemed unthinkable only weeks ago.
The victory won tepid applause for the legislation itself, as well as louder acclaim for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Sen Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, the last Democrat to sign onto the bill — and did so only after forcing the 11th-hour removal of a key provision to tax ultra-wealthy hedge fund managers — continued to attract opobrium, however.
The Senate approved the Inflation Reduction Act Sunday by a bare vote of 51-50, with all Democrats in favor — including the tie-breaking vote by the vice president — and all Republicans voting against.
It moves to the House, where it's expected to be approved.
Among its provisions would be the largest US investment in combating global climate change in history.
“The Inflation Reduction Act is half a loaf, and it doesn’t touch the Sinema tax loophole for fat-cat private equity and hedge-fund partners. But half a loaf is damned better than a Republican sour pickle,” tweeted progressive influencer and former labor secretary Robert Reich.
“It's been a long time coming, but the Senate has finally advanced transformative climate legislation. Thank you to Senators Schumer and Manchin and to every Senator who fought to ensure that climate action was a priority in this bill. Now to the House and to the President's desk!” tweeted former vice president and Nobel Prize winner Al Gore.
Sen Kyrsten Sinema, who signed onto the deal, after protecting some of the wealthiest Americans, has not come out looking so good.
The Donald Trump/Paul Ryan/Mitch McConnell 2017 Republican tax law remains almost entirely intact even if the Senate bill becomes law, mostly because of Kyrsten Sinema's demands, according to Bloomberg reporter Steven Dennis, with one Arizona voter commenting, “I shouldn’t have voted for @SenatorSinema and I never will again.”
Meanwhile, an Arizona congressman seen as likely to make a Democratic primary challenge against Sinema criticized her position.
“At a minimum if Sinema is such a ‘smart negotiator’ why didn’t she trade a a cap on insulin for working families in exchange for protecting her rich Wall Street friends? Clearer than ever that saving money for Arizonans is not her focus,” posted Rep Ruben Gallego.
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