Yahoo Finance Sen. Kyrsten Sinema Gave a Literal Thumbs-Down to the $15 Minimum-Wage Amendment
On Friday, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) joined Republicans and seven other Democrats to vote against the $15 minimum-wage increase amendment to President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill. The $15-wage increase was one of the most contested points of the relief bill, which passed the Senate today without the wage amendment.
Sinema's vote came in the form of a literal thumbs down, which was captured on video:
This is how Senator Krysten Sinema (D), who makes a $174,000 base salary (paid for by us, taxpayers) voted against a $15 minimum wage...
pic.twitter.com/xlsw5c5FgJ— Adnan Khan (@akhan1437) March 5, 2021
A tale of two AZ Senators: John McCain walked to the Senate floor for a thumbs down vote that saved 20 million people from losing their health care. Kyrsten Sinema walked to the Senate floor to give a thumbs down vote that prevented 39 million people from getting $15 an hour.
— American Life 🇺🇸🚴🏇🏃🏌️🤸⛹️🤾🏄💋 (@usambovu) March 6, 2021
As USA Today notes, Sinema's thumbs-down vote reminded some people of the iconic thumbs-down vote former Arizona senator John McCain gave to save the Affordable Care Act in 2017.
John McCain gave thumbs down vote to protect millions of people from losing health care.
Kyrsten Sinema gave the equivalent of a middle finger with her thumbs down vote by preventing 39M+ people from getting $15 an hour.
And she did it with an attitude...— 🖤🦋Rowan Moon🦋🖤 (@oXxRowanxXo) March 6, 2021
Arizona's other Senator, Democrat Mark Kelly, gave a thumbs up on Friday to vote for the wage-increase amendment.
BREAKING: $15 minimum wage bill has failed to pass the Senate by a vote of 58-42:
Eight democrats voted against the bill.
Joe Manchin (WV)
Jon Tester (MT)
Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
Maggie Hassan (NH)
Angus King (ME)
Kyrsten Sinema (AZ)
Tom Carper (DE)
Chris Coons (DE)— ACTforAmerica (@ACTforAmerica) March 5, 2021
Twitter was quick to point out the "tone deaf" nature of Sinema's vote:
This is how Senator Krysten Sinema (D), who makes a $174,000 base salary (paid for by us, taxpayers) voted against a $15 minimum wage...
pic.twitter.com/xlsw5c5FgJ— Adnan Khan (@akhan1437) March 5, 2021
And she did it with a "little dance"
How disgusting.
I cant even begin to say that this is pathetic...especially cause there is NO LOGICAL REASON.
Why can't people be willing to help those in poverty where they can.
AND THOSE VOTING AGAINST THIS CLAIM CHRISTIAN VALUES.— 🐍🦖Marian J P🐙🕸🧬🇬🇷 (@drbeba82) March 5, 2021
It’s not just that Sen. Sinema gave a thumbs-down to the $15 minimum wage, it’s that she seemed to do it with such pleasure.
— Steven Beschloss (@StevenBeschloss) March 6, 2021
Everybody said you HAD TO vote for Biden and other Dems down ballot, and what you get in return was Democratic senator Kyrsten Sinema doing a goddamn curtsy as she votes ‘no’ on raising the minimum wage not even to a living wage, but from a starvation wage to a poverty-level wage
— Petty Is Praxis (@rtyson82) March 5, 2021
As author Bess Kalb pointed out on Twitter, Sinema was carrying a Lululemon bag.
"I wish I could tell you it isn't true, but the bag is evidently called the 'Happy Hatha Hour' bag, and its manufacturer's intent was for the wearer to take it from yoga to cocktails. Goodnight and good luck," she wrote.
I am insane and zoomed in on another picture of her carrying and in the spirit of Edward R. Murrow-level journalism I'm humbled to announce in a parody of white feminism Krysten Sinema [sic] voted against a $15 living wage while carrying a giant Lululemon bag. pic.twitter.com/BCHVCbpvR2
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) March 5, 2021
FULL DISCLOSURE: My Madwell work bag costs roughly the same as this one. But when I was 8 months pregnant I was stranded in West Hollywood after an OBGYN appointment and waddled into a Lululemon to find a more comfortable bra and found one and it was $88 and I cried and left.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) March 5, 2021
She clarified: "Also! The media has long fixated on women's clothing and accessory choices as part of a sexist trope. This is especially true for female politicians. What's outrageous here is a woman actively fighting against economic justice WHILE flaunting privilege. Also Lulu fucking lemon. "
Medicare for all, forgive student debt, raise the minimum wage, have a nice day. 💞
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) March 6, 2021
Meanwhile, others pointed out this tweet from Sinema in 2014:
A full-time minimum-wage earner makes less than $16k a year. This one’s a no-brainer. Tell Congress to #RaiseTheWage! http://t.co/gmHYXGZzaT
— Kyrsten Sinema (@kyrstensinema) March 12, 2014
Just going to leave that there.
You Might Also Like
