Arizona Democratic Party passes resolution criticizing Sinema on filibuster, reconciliation

The Arizona state Democratic Party overwhelmingly passed a resolution on Saturday that criticizes Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) for her opposition to eliminating the filibuster to pass legislation key to the party and for her stance on Democrats’ $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill.

The resolution passed in the committee in a 415-99 vote, according to Progress Arizona, an organization that advocates for progressives in the state.

The measure warned Sinema that the state party will “closely watch” her upcoming votes, and if she does not vote for the massive Democratic budget reconciliation package, it will “go officially on record” and “give Senate Sinema a vote of NO CONFIDENCE.”

The Arizona Democratic Party also called on Sinema to support ending the filibuster to allow the passage of voting rights  legislation, including the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. They urged her to nix the filibuster to help pass other “urgent legislation,” including the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, commonly referred to as the PRO Act.

The state party resolution authorizes a possible censure of Sinema if she does not meet the conditions set forth in the letter, adding that could come with “the clear understanding she could potentially lose support of the ADP in 2024.”

“We all are facing a critical crossroads and nothing less than our Democracy is at stake, and as all indicators show Democrats could lose both the House and Senate in 2022 if we do not “deliver the goods” by passing voting rights, healthcare, Medicare expansion, two year free college funding, immigration reform, specifically a path to citizenship for Dreamers, labor rights, green jobs, Climate Emergency /environmental protection legislation and more,” the resolution states.

Sinema previously said she opposes the $3.5 trillion price tag for the Democrats’ package — which includes investments in climate change and education, among other key party initiatives — contending that the topline number is too high.

Democrats are slowly gearing up to possibly vote on the massive package in coming days.

The Hill has reached out to Sinema’s office for comment.

Updated 11:17 p.m.