WASHINGTON – Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat, sided with Republicans and seven other senators from her party to vote down a change in the minimum wage increase to President Joe Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus aid bill. It was the way she did it that condemned social media condemnation and some comparisons to the late John McCain.
Cinema stood on the floor of the house and flashed his thumb down when her name was called to vote. While hand signals are not an uncommon way for senators to vote, some thought it was rude given the nature of the vote.
Hand gestures are more commonly used during the COVID-19 pandemic, while lawmakers wear masks under their voices. Senator Mark Kelly, Arizona’s second Democratic senator, used his thumbs up to register his support for the change Friday.
The biography’s actions reminded many of a similar move by the late Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., Whose thumbs down on a move by Republicans to overthrow the Affordable Care Act in 2017 became an iconic moment.
The cinema’s name was revealed on Twitter along with McCain’s on Friday. Some made comparisons between the legislature because they voted against their own parties. Others said China’s vote would hurt workers going into a challenging economy, as opposed to McCain’s vote to preserve health care for many.
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Movie theater said in a statement explains her voice that she believes the minimum wage increase should be worked on as an issue separate from the COVID-19 bill.
“No person working full time should live in poverty,” Sinema said. “Senators in both parties have shown support for raising the federal minimum wage, and the Senate should hold an open debate and amendment process on raising the minimum wage separate from the COVID-focused reconciliation proposal.”
The amendment was introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, IV. Supported by other progressive senators. He pushed the amendment forward Senate lawmakers ruled the poll could not be included. The lawmaker said the provision to raise wages from $ 7.25 to $ 15 by 2025 should be removed and considered as a stand-alone bill or as part of other legislation.
The other Democrats who voted against the change were Means. Chris Coons, D-Del. Tom Carper, D-Del.; Jon Tester, D-Man .; Jeanne Shaheen, DN.H .; Maggie Hassan, DN.H .; and Joe Manchin, WV Senator Angus King of Maine, an independent who speaks to Democrats, also voted against the change in minimum wage.
Has Sinema really voted against a minimum wage of $ 15 for 24 million people like this? pic.twitter.com/Jv0UXLKLHI
– Sawyer Hackett (@SawyerHackett) March 5, 2021
Critics said the cinema’s thumbs showed insensitivity. Some were confused by her voice as she had previously expressed support for a pay rise, including some progressive lawmakers.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Said China’s perceived change from a 2014 tweet supporting higher wages to “vote no is really disturbing.”
Going from this to joyfully voting no is really disturbing. https://t.co/Yv032ajytl
– Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 6, 2021
Imagine having the nerve, rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DN.Y., wrote on Twitter, “to go home and ask minimum wage workers to support you after going back on your own documented position to help crush their greatest chance of a wage hike during the race. of their longest drought with wage increases since the beginning of the law. “
“Has Sinema really voted against a $ 15 minimum wage for 24 million people like this?” asked Sawyer Hackett, senior adviser to former housing and urban development secretary Julián Castro.
– Kyrsten Cinema (@SenatorSinema) March 5, 2021
What do Republicans not like so much? The bid’s emergency bill does not receive the two-party support from previous stimulus packages.
The Senate halted for about nine hours Friday as senators negotiated proposed changes to the stimulus package’s unemployment benefit amid a vote on a stream of amendments called “vote-a-rama.” The chamber is ready to push forward after Manchin said he would support a compromise deal.
Contributions: Ledyard King, Nicholas Wu and Savannah Behrmann, USA TODAY; Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Republic of Arizona
This article was originally beaded in the US TODAY: Kyrsten Sinema thumbs down on raising minimum wage compared to McCain
