NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!
Arizonans are wondering whether they think Sen. Kirsten Sinema, D-Ariz., should support the massive Democratic-backed welfare spending and tax bill that was negotiated as part of a deal between Sen. Joe Manchin, DW.Va., and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Sinema announced Thursday night that she would “move forward” with the bill, officially called the Inflation Reduction Act, after previously signaling that changes needed to be made before she could agree to support it.
Fox News Digital spoke with a number of residents on the streets of Arizona to find out their thoughts on the bill, as well as whether Sinema should go along with it, given that it will increase taxes on middle-class Americans.
“I believe we should, yes, if only because it would help the economy,” resident Willis Daychild said. “I’m all for it, because this inflation is pretty outrageous right now, and if they can do something to curb it in some way, then I’m all for it.”
IS BIDEN BACK? MEDIA BURST ‘SUCCESS’ AFTER SCHUMER-MANCHIN DEAL, WHILE CINEMA STILL DOESN’T SUPPORT CLIMATE BILL
Sen. Kirsten Sinema, D-Ariz., has announced she will support the Manchin-Schumer spending bill. (Stephanie Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Resident Gary Kuznia disagreed, saying, “No way,” and hinting that he feels so strongly about the bill that he’s deliberately keeping his language clean for the camera.
He predicted that the bill would do nothing to correct the massive level of inflation that Americans are currently facing and that it would lead to higher taxes on Americans despite promises that it would not.
“I hope he doesn’t give in. I really do. I like her. Even though I’m conservative, I really like her. I hope not,” he added.
Local resident Richard Carrillo said he’s not worried about the bill’s potential tax increase, saying Sinema should support it “if it’s going to help us.”
“Yes, I would. I would support it… I think she should support it,” he said.
MANCHIN BANKER FROM OUT-OF-STATE DONORS, ONLY 1% OF INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGN DONATIONS CAME FROM WEST VIRGINIA
Sen. Joe Manchin, DW.Va., surprised the political world by announcing his agreement on the spending bill with Chuck Schumer. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“As far as I’m concerned, you just don’t know if that much money is going to go to fight inflation,” said local resident Joseph Nunez. “But without solid, concrete evidence of how it’s going to work, I really don’t think she should support something that’s three-quarters of a trillion dollars.” That’s a lot of money.”
“I just don’t know if he should support it without the details of how that money is going to be spent and where it’s going to be spent so that it can flow to the places it needs to go,” he added.
Sinema’s support for the bill means it will likely pass the Senate on a narrow vote that could force Vice President Kamala Harris to break a 50-50 tie.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, said the Senate will move quickly to pass the spending bill. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Earlier Thursday, Schumer announced that the Senate would reconvene Saturday afternoon and vote to begin debate on the bill.
Fox News’ Jamie Brennan, Lance LaraLynn, Tyler Olson, Kelly Fares and Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
Brandon Gillespie is an associate editor at Fox News. Follow him on Twitter at @brandon_cg.
Add Comment