'She's as smart as the devil': Joe Biden finally reveals Kyrsten Sinema is 'very supportive' of his environmental agenda but refuses to raise a 'single penny' of taxes on the wealthy
President Joe Biden took steps during a prime time town hall Thursday to reveal several of Kyrsten Sinema's policy positions – after the Arizona Senator infuriated liberals by holding back her criticisms of his $3.5 trillion Build Back Better plan.
'First of all she’s smart as the devil,' Biden responded when interviewere Anderson Cooper asked her about Sinema, who has been in the spotlight with Biden's plans hanging in the balance.
Biden described the enigmatic lawmaker as backing environmental and 'family' provisions in the package – but confirmed press reports that she is ruling out tax hikes on the wealthy.
'She’s very supportive of the environmental agenda in my legislation. Very supportive,' Biden claimed.
President Joe Biden made several comments that may flush out positions from Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.)
That is in keeping with a few cryptic tweets Sinema has posted amid negotiations expressing general environmentalist views. That came despite fellow centrist Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia weighing in against a new proposal dealing with power plants.
'She’s supportive of almost all the things I’ve mentioned relating to everything from family care to all those issues,' Biden said, after talking up provisions on universal pre-K, family leave, and extending an expanded child tax credit.
'Where she’s not supportive is she says she will not raise a single penny in taxes on the corporate side and/or on wealthy people, period,' Biden said. 'And so that’s where it sort of breaks down. And there are a few other issues it breaks down on.'
Biden confirmed that Sinema is against the tax hikes on the wealthy
'Joe’s not a bad guy he’s a friend,' Biden said of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.
Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) leaves the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., October 21, 2021
Biden made the comments – the most revealing about her posture despite being general in nature – after deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to confirm press reports that Sinema said she won't go along with the tax hikes.
Jean-Pierre also said Sinema was negotiating in 'good faith' and gushed about her as a negotiating partner – even as she and Manchin have the president's economic and social agenda teetering.
'Yes, we believe that Senator Sinema is negotiating in good faith,' she said. 'Let me just say that the president considers Senator Sinema an important partner in getting his economic agenda passed, and he values her work, her engagement, and her commitment to working with him to deliver for the American people.'
Biden's plan hikes the top corporate rate, the top individual rate, and taxes on capital gains. All are major revenue-raisers that can offset major social investments.
Biden insists his plan will not raise taxes on anyone earning less than $400,000.
Sinema has been the subject of protests and angry attacks from progressives, and a few activists even followed her into a bathroom. Senior democrats have been more gentle with Joe Manchin, who entertains lawmakers on his houseboat, and has made public statements about provisions he likes and doesn't like.
Speaking about Manchin, Biden said: 'Joe’s not a bad guy he’s a friend.'
Manchin has also called for rolling back the plan or even delaying it, saying in a clash with Sen. Bernie Sanders that he was comfortable with a plan spending zero for now, according to reports Thursday.
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