(CSPAN screenshot via AZ Central)
By Yvonne Wingett Sanchez | Arizona Republic
The success of President Joe Biden’s agenda — from immigration reform to another COVID-19 relief package — could rest heavily with centrist Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kellyin the new 50-50 Senate.
Arizona’s fragile status as a purple state and the relative caution of Sinema and Kelly, both Arizona Democrats, could mean they will help set the Senate’s consensus as the Biden administration seeks to implement an agenda that mixes the urgency of pandemic aid with the long-term goal of overhauling systemic problems.
Sinema essentially put an end to a partisan fight over the split Senate’s rules when she publicly reiterated Monday her opposition to eliminating the Senate’s filibuster, a procedural maneuver that requires a 60-vote supermajority to pass legislation.