Conservative Democrat Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona has infuriated voters across the country with her refusal to end or reform the Senate filibuster and, most recently, her devotion to Big Pharma donors that's jeopardizing the ability of Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices—a key part of Biden's infrastructure package.
Sinema's vote for the infrastructure bill is vital for Democrats to pass the Build Back Better agenda in the Senate through reconciliation in an evenly divided Senate.
It was that frustration that led five veterans to announce their resignation from Sinema's advisory council in a scathing letter decrying her as an obstacle to progress.
The letter, obtained by the New York Times, reads in part:
"You have become one of the principal obstacles to progress, answering to big donors rather than your own people. ... We shouldn't have to buy representation from you, and your failure to stand by your people and see their urgent needs is alarming."
The letter marks the latest development in a whirlwind of criticism and outcry Sinema—and fellow conservative Democrat Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia—are facing for their bulwark against progress on even the most popular Democratic stances. Their inaction on the filibuster and voting rights represents a threat to Democratic enthusiasm in the 2022 midterms.
People shared the rage of the veterans who quit Sinema's council.
She makes my blood boil. https://t.co/zf889AlvQc— Scott Feinberg (@Scott Feinberg) 1634836219.0
When you’re inconsistent and unstable, people are usually repelled by your behavior. https://t.co/6wOudV1gPo— Highland Happenings (@Highland Happenings) 1634836782.0
More of this please! Her entire Staff should publicly resign! https://t.co/37BUPoCImy— Candy Corn Lover 🎃👻 (@Candy Corn Lover 🎃👻) 1634833757.0
If you don’t have the ability to add five or six zeros on checks to her, @SenatorSinema doesn’t care about your con… https://t.co/RvRq1L9we1— Jackson (@Jackson) 1634829347.0
I really want to understand how a woman who is in a state that just elected a Dem Senator and Dem president in reco… https://t.co/xrpBvJEqF0— Holly Golightly (@Holly Golightly) 1634836034.0
They are correct. https://t.co/u9xqrzSuEW— diana (@diana) 1634827898.0
They surmised Sinema is only in it for the money.
you really think she cares? She got her $$$$ Thats all its about https://t.co/Dz6vkL275z— TheBoneCollector (@TheBoneCollector) 1634828351.0
“Ms. Sinema has received about $400,000 from the pharmaceutical and health industries over the last five years, acc… https://t.co/br0IrId5cR— Steven Zekowski (@Steven Zekowski) 1634826583.0
shes laughing all the way to the bank https://t.co/g6jArnJzS5— Purplegirl ♐ (@Purplegirl ♐) 1634828223.0
Sinema's seat is safe until at least 2025.