Kyrsten Sinema Blocks Democrats’ Plan To Spend $3.5 Trillion On Infrastructure, Setting Up Major Cuts

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona on Wednesday came out in opposition to Democrats’ $3.5 trillion spending bill, which may force her party to make substantial cuts in order for it to pass.

In a statement to The Arizona Republic, Sinema said while she supported certain elements of the bloated infrastructure plan, she believed the bill was too large.

“I have also made clear that while I will support beginning this process, I do not support a bill that costs $3.5 trillion – and in the coming months, I will work in good faith to develop this legislation with my colleagues and the administration to strengthen Arizona’s economy and help Arizona’s everyday families get ahead,” she said. 

Sinema’s opposition will likely letdown many other Senate Democrats, who ultimately agreed on a $3.5 trillion spending plan earlier this month. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the chair of the Senate Budget Committee, had pushed for a much larger spending proposal but later settled on $3.5 trillion. Earlier on July 28, hopes for the bill were raised for the left as key Republican senators reached an agreement with the White House.