White House believes Sinema supports passing reconciliation bill this year

The White House believes Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) supports passing a large reconciliation package this year, press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday. 

“Our sense is she does,” Psaki said when asked if President Biden believes Sinema is in favor of moving a bill with various Democratic priorities.

Asked if the administration believes Sinema supports doing it this year, Psaki said: “That’s our sense.”

The comments are one of the clearest indicators yet the White House believes Sinema will ultimately be on board with a big spending bill that would contain Biden’s priorities on health care, education, family care and climate change.

Sinema has been difficult to pin down as the White House and Democratic leaders navigate how to pass a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and a larger package through the budget reconciliation process. She has yet to outline what she believes would be an acceptable overall price tag for the reconciliation package, though Sinema and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) have argued a proposal of $3.5 trillion is too high.

Biden has met with Sinema multiple times over the last few weeks, hosting her at the White House as recently as Tuesday. White House officials met with Sinema at the Capitol on Wednesday.

The White House must win over the support of all 50 Democrats in the Senate to pass the reconciliation bill with all 50 Republicans unified in opposition.