Kyrsten Sinema criticizes Dems’ border funding approach.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema Slams Democratic Leadership for Unequal Funding Distribution
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) has strongly criticized Democratic leadership for prioritizing funding for New York over border communities when it comes to handling immigrants from the southern border. The issue arose after a $104.6 million grant from FEMA was announced by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) in June. Out of the $291 million allocated by FEMA in 2023, only a fraction, approximately $39 million, was directed towards communities in Arizona. Sinema, a former Democratic senator from Arizona who is now an independent, emphasized the importance of understanding why New York received more funds than her home state.
Questioning the Allocation Process
“It’s fairly obvious. I don’t know if you noticed, but the announcement about that $104 million came out first, in a joint press release from Schumer and Jeffries — not from the White House or from FEMA. The first news of it broke through their press release,” Sinema stated, referring to the funding granted to New York. She further questioned how this decision was made, highlighting the lack of transparency in the process.
New York has been grappling with the challenges posed by the influx of immigrants transported to the state from the southern border over the past year. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) recently expressed concerns about the strain on resources in New York, urging the White House to provide assistance. He warned that the Democrats’ failure to address this issue could jeopardize their chances of regaining control of the House in 2024.
Addressing the Imbalance
Sinema also voiced her frustration with the “lack of understanding” regarding the experiences of border communities and the undervaluation of their efforts. She emphasized the impact this has on the entire system and described it as “very frustrating.”
The White House has recently requested $600 million in emergency spending to alleviate the strain on immigrant shelters. However, the unequal distribution of funds remains a contentious issue.
While Sinema has not confirmed her candidacy for reelection to her Senate seat in 2024, she has taken steps to fundraise for a potential campaign. If she decides to run, she would likely face a three-way race, given her departure from the Democratic Party in December 2022.
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