Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) speaks briefly to reporters as she boards an elevator following votes at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 20, 2021. Sinema told the White House if the House delays its scheduled Sept. 27 vote on the bipartisan infrastructure plan, or if the vote fails, she won’t be backing a reconciliation bill. Photo by Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images
There is likely no other Democrat that has taken more fire from her party this last year than Arizona Sen. Krysten Sinema.
Sinema won the ire of progressives because of her insistence on preserving an archaic Senate rule that has historically been used to hamper civil rights: the filibuster. Democrats fear the filibuster will prevent any hope of passing major election reforms. Reforms needed because of the continued assault on voting rights in conservative states across the country, including Arizona.
I’ve taken a swing at Sinema, as well, commenting on more than one occasion that real mavericks don’t simply say “no” to their party, they get stuff done.
Sinema has the potential to put a huge feather in her cap and show naysayers like myself and other progressives that Congress isn’t broken, and bipartisanship is possible on some issues, such as the infrastructure bill she helped craft and shepherd through the first stages of congressional approval.