As negotiations continue in Washington over Democrats’ $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, one of the main obstacles to the bill’s passage, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is in Europe for a fundraiser.
A spokesperson for Sinema told the New York Times that she is raising funds for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). Sinema has already attended a fundraising event in Paris and was also planning meetings in London.
It is not clear where she was going in Europe of how long she’ll be there. Her office also declined to say if she would be fundraising for her own campaign. However, the Times reported that Sen. Gary Peters (D. Mich.), the chairman of the Senate campaign committee was also fundraising in Europe. A copy of an invitation to an event hosted by Peters did not include Sinema’s name on it.
President Biden’s agenda which includes a $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill is stalled in Congress due to Sen. Sinema and West Virginia’s Joe Manchin.
While Manchin has indicated he will support a package with a lower price tag, between $1.9–$ 2.2 trillion, Sinema is yet to make her demands clear adding to Democrats’ frustration.
John LaBombard, a spokesperson for Sinema, told the Times that she is still involved in talks over the party’s reconciliation bill while in Europe.
“So far this week, Senator Sinema has held several calls — including with President Biden, the White House team, Senator Schumer’s team, and other Senate and House colleagues — to continue discussions on the proposed budget reconciliation package,” LaBombard told the Times. “Those conversations are ongoing.”
