Sinema passed over for Appropriations after Democratic Party defection

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Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) did not end up on the powerful Appropriations Committee despite angling for a seat after she left the Democratic Party to become an independent late last year.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) released a list of Democratic committee assignments on Thursday afternoon, including assignments for independent senators who caucus with the Democrats. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), who previously served on the Appropriations Committee, will become the chairwoman after longtime Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) retired. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), who reluctantly took on the job of leading the Senate Democrats' campaign arm for a second campaign cycle, was the only new addition to the high-profile panel.

Sinema, the senior senator from Arizona who is up for reelection in 2024, left the party and became an independent in December after years of angering members of her own party by stalling more progressive aspects of their agenda.

KYRSTEN SINEMA REVEALS WHY SHE LEFT DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Sinema kept all her current committee assignments from last session. She will continue to serve as a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Veterans Affairs; and Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs panels.

“I mean, come on, what does she expect? The party was on cloud nine, having just won the Georgia runoff, and then Kyrsten Sinema has to say 'Hold my beer' and then take a big fat dump on everyone’s jubilation,” said Jon Reinish, a Democratic strategist and former aide to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

“So, then, does she expect that she’s going to get everything that she wants? No, of course that’s not going to happen. Though I see there are other committees she’s on that are prestigious and can be considered plum. But, no, she can’t have it both ways,” he added.

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Members in charge of the appropriations process can steer federal funding to their states. That influence also includes earmarks, which totaled $15.3 billion and funded more than 7,000 projects identified by lawmakers last year.

Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Jon Tester (D-MT), who both are among the most vulnerable Democrats up for reelection in 2024, were selected to serve on the panel, although they had previously served as members in the past. Both Manchin and Tester have yet to disclose whether they will run.

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Tags: Kyrsten Sinema, News, Senate, Appropriations Committee, Congress

Original Author: Samantha-Jo Roth

Original Location: Sinema passed over for Appropriations after Democratic Party defection