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.
The politicians then began voting on the just before midday - resulting in the Senate voting 51-50 for the relief bill, with breaking the tie.
And now a vote on final passage could come over the weekend.
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."
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."
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.
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"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."