Sinema fundraising in Europe as reconciliation talks ‘ongoing’: report

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) is fundraising in Europe this week as discussions over Democrats’ reconciliation bill continue, The New York Times reported.

Sinema took part in fundraising efforts for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), a spokesman for the Arizona Democrat told the newspaper. One of those fundraising events occurred in Paris, one source told the Times, and Sinema was also reportedly planning meetings in London.

Her office, however, declined to say if she would be fundraising for her own campaign as well, where she would be going in Europe or for how long, and how the trip was being paid for, according to the Times. 

The newspaper reported that Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who chairs the DSCC, was also fundraising this week in Europe. It is unclear if the two are participating in events together, though the Times noted that a copy of an invitation for one event hosted by Peters did not include Sinema’s name on it.

John LaBombard, a spokesperson for Sinema, told the Times that the Arizona Democrat has continued to be involved in conversations over the party’s reconciliation bill, which she and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) oppose in its current size.

“So far this week, Senator Sinema has held several calls — including with President Biden, the White House team, Senator Schumer’s team, and other Senate and House colleagues — to continue discussions on the proposed budget reconciliation package,” LaBombard told the Times, referring to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). “Those conversations are ongoing.”

Democrats are seeking to break an impasse on two pieces of legislation: a bipartisan infrastructure bill and the much larger reconciliation bill, which is currently priced at around $3.5 trillion. Sinema, who helped negotiate the bipartisan infrastructure bill, expressed frustration earlier this month after several attempts to bring the legislation to the floor were punted by Democratic leaders.

“Over the course of this year, Democratic leaders have made conflicting promises that could not all be kept — and have, at times, pretended that differences of opinion within our party did not exist, even when those disagreements were repeatedly made clear directly and publicly,” Sinema said in a statement.

“Canceling the infrastructure vote further erodes that trust. More importantly, it betrays the trust the American people have placed in their elected leaders and denies our country crucial investments to expand economic opportunities,” Sinema continued.

However, fellow Democrats are frustrated with Sinema for failing to make her demands clear for supporting the reconciliation bill. While Manchin has indicated he’s open to a figure between $1.9 trillion to $2.2 trillion, Sinema has offered no such window. 

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