A satirical balloon of a baby US President Donald Trump is seen through the US-Mexico border fence during a demonstration against him prior to his visit to Calexico, California, as seen from Mexicali, Baja California state, Mexico, on April 5, 2019. – President Donald Trump flew Friday to visit newly built fencing on the Mexican border, even as he retreated from a threat to shut the frontier over what he says is an out-of-control influx of migrants and drugs. (Photo by Guillermo Arias / AFP) (Photo by GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Border-state Democrats are frustrated to see New York claim most of a recent migrant relief infusion. But Arizona’s formerly Democratic senator is speaking out the loudest.
By BURGESS EVERETT
Politico
When the Biden administration doled out millions in border relief money recently, it gave more to New York — the home of Congress’ two top Democratic leaders — than to Arizona.
And now the Copper State’s most famous former Democrat is calling out her old party’s leaders.
Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is on the warpath over what she and border-state Democrats decry as Arizona’s disproportionately small share of an $800 million pot aimed at alleviating overcrowded migrant holding facilities. She’s not alone in crying foul about Arizona getting short shrift when compared to the Empire State — her potential 2024 opponent Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is also speaking out on the imbroglio.
But only Sinema is aiming specific complaints at Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the Biden administration.
Earlier this month in Yuma, Ariz., Sinema said she’s “livid” about her state’s treatment, singling out Schumer and Jeffries for steering border money to their state. She expanded on her ire in a lengthy interview with POLITICO, explaining that it’s “important for people to know” why New York leapfrogged Arizona.
“It’s fairly obvious. I don’t know if you noticed, but the announcement about that $104 million came out first, in a joint press release from Schumer and Jeffries — not from the White House or from FEMA. The first news of it broke by their press release,” Sinema said, referring to the amount of the pot granted to New York.
With a hint of sarcasm, she added: “Now, how did that happen?”
The funding dispute is complex and multi-faceted, pitting Sinema and her Democratic border-state colleagues against the clout that New York’s two congressional Democratic leaders wield within the Biden administration. It also further bolsters the image Sinema has sought to build, that of an unorthodox legislator willing to oppose either party’s leaders as she mulls whether to seek another term.
