Politics
Dem Senator Kyrsten Sinema slammed for bringing CAKE to Senate before giving thumbs down in $15 minimum wage vote
DEMOCRAT Senator Kyrsten Sinema has been slammed for bringing a cake to the Senate before giving a thumbs down in a $15 minimum wage vote.
Sinema, toting a LuluLemon bag and dressed nicely – reportedly carried in a large chocolate cake for the Senate floor staff – who had worked overnight.
Sinema reportedly carried in a large chocolate cake for the Senate floor staff on Friday, March 5, 2021 – who had worked overnight[/caption]
A video of Sinema giving the proposal a thumbs down made the rounds on Twitter[/caption]
Twitter users responded to Sinema bringing a cake to the Senate floor[/caption]
Politicians spent 10 hours and 43 minutes reading a 628-page bill during a hearing on Thursday as per Sen. Ron Johnson’s request, that finished at 2.04am ET.
After the long hours, the Senate returned to the floor at 9am on Friday to debate the bill for three hours before considering amendments.
The politicians then began voting on the $1.9trillion Covid relief package just before midday – resulting in the Senate voting 51-50 for the relief bill, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie.
And now a vote on final passage could come over the weekend.
However, Sinema – a 44-year-old who was elected to the Senate in 2018 after Jeff Flake announced he would be retiring – has been criticized for voting against a move to raise the minimum wage across the United States from $7.25 to $15.
A video of Sinema giving the proposal a thumbs down made the rounds on Twitter.
Sinema voted against an effort led by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, along with seven other Dems – who voted with Republicans.
Sinema is seen walking away after giving a thumbs down[/caption]
Sinema wrote to Twitter on Friday: ‘I understand what it is like to face tough choices while working to meet your family’s most basic needs’[/caption]
In response to a Huff Post political reporter’s tweet about the cake, Twitter users have blasted the Democrat senator.
One user responded: “Looks like she was finally able to get her hair done, wearing nice clothes and people can’t get 15 dollars an hour.
“All the people that voted no don’t care. Unbelievable.”
Another said: “Love the modern day Marie Antoinette, such a girlboss.”
Marie Antoinette was the Queen of France during the French Revolution and has been attributed to the phrase “Let them eat cake” – which in French is “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche.”
“And promptly rejects a Livable wage. Let them eat cake,” another Twitter user wrote.
Another twitter user said: “Remind me what happened to the last rich, powerful white woman who got a cutesy ‘let them eat cake’ attitude while her country was starving.”
In the aftermath of her cake appearance and the widespread social media backlash, Sinema took to Twitter to explain why she voted no[/caption]
In the aftermath of her cake appearance and the widespread social media backlash, Sinema took to Twitter to explain why she voted no.
She wrote: “I understand what it is like to face tough choices while working to meet your family’s most basic needs.
“I also know the difference better wages can make, which is why I helped lead Arizona’s effort to pass an indexed minimum wage in 2006, and strongly supported the voter-approved state minimum wage increase in 2016.”
Sinema added: “No person who works full time should live in poverty. Senators in both parties have shown support for raising the federal minimum wage and the Senate should hold an open debate and amendment process on raising the minimum wage, separate from the COVID-focused reconciliation bill.”
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Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has called for the stimulus bill with $1,400 checks to be passed “urgently” as the Senate debates in a vote-a-rama.
“Today’s jobs report shows that the American Rescue Plan is urgently needed,” Biden said on Friday.
“We can’t afford one step forward and two steps backward,” he said. “We need to beat the virus, provide a sense of relief and build an inclusive recovery. People need the help now.”
