Chuck Schumer seeks Kyrsten Sinema's support on spending bill
Senate Majority Leader is reportedly talking to Democratic Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema to secure her support for a compromise legislative package he negotiated with West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.
“We’re in touch with Sen. Sinema, we’re in touch with all of the members, and we’re hopeful — I’m very hopeful — we’re all gonna stay united and pass this bill,” Schumer told reporters on Tuesday, according to The Hill.
Manchin announced in late July that he and Schumer had reached an agreement to include environmental and tax reform provisions to advance the Biden administration's legislative agenda.
The West Virginia senator indicated on Monday that he was also planning to encourage Sinema to support the plan. She has, however, previously expressed opposition to one of its key components: the elimination of the carried interest tax loophole. Manchin considers this provision essential to the compromise.
In an evenly divided Senate, Sinema's opposition could prevent the plan's passage in the absence of Republican support.
The Arizona senator has long stood against a range of the Biden administration's more radical policies, often pairing with Manchin to prevent aggressive legislative moves such as eliminating the filibuster.