The Intercept - The truth about Kyrsten Sinema

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is almost single-handedly blocking passage of some of the most popular parts of President Joe Biden’s entire agenda, including new spending on social welfare and climate change. She’s pledged to oppose any tax increases on either corporate or personal rates, essential pillars of the legislation.

Unlike Joe Manchin, Sinema doesn’t represent a state where Trump won by double digits. So what gives?

Kyrsten Sinema may be annoying her constituents, but she’s making some very wealthy and powerful friends. Last year she spent the summer interning at an upscale winery owned by a private equity baron — which then hosted a $5,000-per-guest fundraiser on Sinema’s behalf.

Her renewed opposition to tax hikes on the rich comes amid a major spending blitz to encourage her to stand against any tax increases on private equity executives or hedge funds.

The Intercept’s politics team starts by following the money: We broke the story about Sinema’s winery fundraiser, and we’re continuing to dig to uncover the network of big-money lobbyists and campaign contributors who are blocking progressive priorities.

But there are no corporate advertisers bankrolling this coverage. As congressional negotiations come down to the wire, our nonprofit newsroom depends on the generous support of readers like you to expose who stands to profit from blocking landmark progressive legislation — before it’s too late.

Last week, The Intercept reported that Sinema, during the summer of 2020, interned at an upscale winery in Sonoma, California, owned by Bill Price, co-founder of the private equity leviathan TPG Capital. Then, in August, the winery hosted a fundraiser for Sinema, rewarding her for her opposition to tax increases on billionaires like Price.

Tickets to the fundraiser cost $5,000 per guest, with contributions going toward both her own campaign committee and the Getting Things Done political action committee, a leadership PAC used to support fellow congressional moderates such as New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer. Sinema courted major donors that summer, including Lyft CEO Logan Green, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and of course Price himself.

The Intercept also uncovered an email from a Wall Street-funded dark-money group No Labels praising Sinema’s “heroic efforts” and coordinating efforts to applaud her.

Now, as it appears Sinema may fatally weaken or even completely torpedo the infrastructure bill, we’re continuing to report out the deals happening behind the scenes. Because the public has a right to know.

But as a nonprofit news outlet, we rely on donors from readers to help support all this critical reporting.

Will you make a donation today to help call out the corporate lobbyists trying to weaken the bill and the politicians doing their bidding?

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