Sen. Sinema / Getty Images
By Kevin Stone | KTAR
Democratic U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona doesn’t think a provision to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 belongs in the next COVID relief package.
“What’s important is whether or not it’s directly related to short-term COVID relief. And if it’s not, then I am not going to support it in this legislation,” Sinema told Politico in a recent phone interview.
“The minimum wage provision is not appropriate for the reconciliation process. It is not a budget item. And it shouldn’t be in there.”
Her comments were posted Friday in a story with the headline: “The most influential Democrat you never hear from.”
It remains to be seen whether the wage increase will remain in President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan.
With her party holding slim Senate majority, Sinema’s lack of support for the wage item could be significant.
“Bipartisanship is always my first choice,” she said. “I also want to make sure that we’re getting stuff done for Arizonans,” Sinema told Politico.
