Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s (Arizona) office is resisting criticism of her Friday vote to reject a $ 15 minimum wage bill, with a spokesman for the senator commenting on how she gave your sexist vote.
Sinema was among eight Democrats who voted against the legislation, which was sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersSinema backs down criticism of its vote against the minimum wage, suggesting it is sexist Biden turns the victory around after the Senate approves coronavirus relief package Schumer insists that Democrats have come together after a chaotic coronavirus debate (I-Vt.) In an effort to raise the federal minimum wage to $ 15 an hour.
The Senate voted 58 to 42 against an attempt to waive a procedural objection against the addition of the wage provision to the $ 1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, which the Senate narrowly approved on Saturday.
Democratic lawmakers and others used Twitter to condemn Sinema’s vote, with Rep. Marie Newman (D-Ill.) Retweeting a 2014 Sinema tweet in which she wrote: “Anyone who earns a full-time minimum wage earns less than $ 16,000 a year. This is a no-brainer. Tell Congress to #RaiseTheWage! “
“To be clear, her state, Arizona desperately wants & 15 / h,” Newman tweeted Friday night.
To be clear, your state, Arizona desperately wants & 15 / hr. https://t.co/knKM2T17J5
– Marie Newman (@ Marie4Congress) March 6, 2021
However, others commented on how Sinema cast her vote.
The Arizona senator rose to the Senate floor and gave a thumbs down, the common signal used by lawmakers to vote against a bill, while a thumbs up indicates support.
Some Twitter users focused specifically on Sinema’s mannerisms, for example, how she shook her head, lowered her shoulders and bent her knee before getting up and walking away.
Others also focused on their clothes and purse, claiming it indicated that the moderate Democrat was out of touch with Americans who support a salary increase.
Did Sinema really vote against a $ 15 minimum wage for 24 million people like this? pic.twitter.com/Jv0UXLKLHI
– Sawyer Hackett (@SawyerHackett) March 5, 2021
No one should be so happy to vote against lifting people out of poverty. Here is Senator Sinema voting not at the $ 15 minimum wage. Https://t.co/qNfYy8co4m
– Rashida Tlaib
Rashida Harbi TlaibSinema backs down criticism of its vote against the minimum wage, suggesting that it is sexist. Progressives pressure the White House to overturn the wage decision Six ways to envision a divided America MORE (@RashidaTlaib) March 6, 2021
I have a thumbs down for you Kyrsten Sinema # 15Now #JobsAndCare pic.twitter.com/ioECzVWl6l
– Nelini Seal (@NelStamp) March 5, 2021
Hannah Hurley, a spokeswoman for Sinema, resisted this comment, however, saying in a statement to The Huffington Post Friday night, “Comments about a senator’s body language, clothing or physical behavior do not belong to a serious medium.”
Hurley doubled his sexism claims in a tweet on Friday, repeating his statement to the Post and adding, “I stick to what I said.”
I stick to what I said: comments about a senator’s body language, clothing or physical behavior do not belong to a serious media outlet.
– Hannah L. Hurley (@HannahLHurley) March 6, 2021
The Hill contacted Hurley for comment.
In a statement defending his vote on Friday, Sinema pointed out that he supported minimum wage increases in his state in 2006 and 2016, but added: “the Senate should hold an open debate and an amendment process on raising the minimum wage, separate from the reconciliation project focused on COVID. ”
“I understand what it’s like to face difficult choices while working to meet your family’s most basic needs. I also know the difference that better wages can make, ”he added. “I will continue to work with colleagues on both sides to ensure that Americans can access well-paid jobs, quality education and skills training to build economically safer lives for themselves and their families.”