Senate Democrats can still make progress on a few things despite Mitch McConnell’s shameless and incessant abuse of the filibuster.

But only if they stick together.

Which brings us to Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.

For some reason — maybe to satisfy her wealthy funders or just because she craves attention — Sinema is blocking progress that would help not only her constituents in Arizona but also working people and senior citizens all across America.

• Last week, Sinema went on record *against* a commonsense plan that would lower prescription drug costs for millions upon millions of Americans by letting Medicare use its vast buying power to challenge Big Pharma’s outrageous price-gouging.

• That’s such an about-face from what Sinema said when campaigning in 2018 — “we need to ... lower prescription drug prices” — it makes you wonder how she didn’t break her neck.

• By the way, over 80% of Arizonans — you know, the people Sinema is supposed to be representing in the Senate — want Medicare to have the power to negotiate fairer prices from Big Pharma.

• But Sinema has chosen instead to carry water for Big Pharma, which — not coincidentally — was running ads in Arizona earlier this month touting her as an “independent voice.”

• “Independent” from what, her own party? Her constituents? The millions of everyday Americans who can’t afford the medicines they need?

• Meanwhile, Sinema is threatening to blow up negotiations over President Biden’s Build Back Better plan — a 10-year investment to confront climate change and to help everyday Americans in a way our country hasn’t seen since the New Deal era almost a century ago — saying it’s too expensive.

• The Build Back Better plan would cost an average of $350 billion per year. That’s less than half of the $768 billion Congress just approved for the Pentagon for next year and less than 2% of our nation’s current GDP.

• Earlier this year, Sinema (in)famously strutted onto the floor of the Senate and voted with a haughty thumbs-down against including an increase to the federal minimum wage in coronavirus relief legislation.

A few facts:

Since entering politics, Sinema has taken over $750,000 (and counting) from Big Pharma and medical device manufacturers.

For the 2021-2022 congressional cycle, Sinema has taken more money from the pharmaceutical and medical device industries than all but just seven other senators.

Sinema’s chief of staff used to be a top lobbyist for pharmaceutical and health insurance corporations.

Tell Senator Kyrsten Sinema:

What’s the point of being a senator if all you’re going to do is stand in the way of getting people the help they need? With all due respect — which isn’t much right now, to be honest — knock it off. Get behind your colleagues and get busy passing desperately needed legislation to help working people in Arizona and all across America.

Add your name.

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For progress,

- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen
 
 
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