Former Arizona Attorney General says Kyrsten Sinema is 'attracted' to the idea of being a 'maverick' like McCain in approach to governing

Time spoke with Grant Woods, an ex-Ariz. Attorney General who said that Sinema would like to be compared to McCain.
He told the magazine that he believed she would want her legacy to be "the maverick" like him.

Although the senator rejected the $3.5 trillion infrastructure price tag she has not yet set a spending limit.

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Kyrsten Sinema, a progressive Arizona state legislator, has transformed into a moderate US senator who is now a problem for Democrats trying to pass a $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill.

Although most of the senators' Democratic Senate counterparts want to bring the reconciliation bill to a vote, Sen. Joe Manchin, a moderate Senator from West Virginia, has rejected the price tag. This would have prevented critical investments in healthcare and higher education as well as climate initiatives.

Many Democratic lawmakers, however, are unaware of Sinema's spending limits.

Many aren't sure what Sinema is trying to do. However, Grant Woods, former Arizona Attorney General, has stated that she would like to be compared to John McCain, the late Republican Senator.

He told Time magazine that he believed she would want her legacy to be "the maverick" like him. He was naturally drawn to do the opposite of what was expected and was taught. That image is definitely what she's attracted to."

Throughout her time in Washington, DC, Sinema has been very vocal about her admiration for McCain.

Sinema worked hard to help Republicans pass legislation during her time in the House. She also made no apologies for making friends with people from different ideologies.

She mentioned McCain when she won the Arizona Senate race against Martha McSally, then-GOP Rep. in November 2018.

"Arizona rejected the things that have become too common in our country: name calling, petty attacks, and doing and saying what it takes to get elected," she stated at the time. "We can accept differences and still find common ground."

"[McCain’s] example shines light on our path forward," she said. Senator John McCain stood up for all that we Arizonans stand for: fighting for what we believe in, standing up to what's right, even if it's not your decision, and serving a cause greater than oneself.

Sinema is not seen in the same light by every Democrat as McCain.

"She wants to be John McCain's heir." McCain was known for standing up for his party and all that," a top national Democrat said to Time. But McCain, you understood his values. His vision for the country was never in doubt. Kyrsten can't really answer that question.

Time was also informed by a source familiar with discussions around infrastructure talks that Sinema's strategy to move forward with the $3.5 billion spending bill is still unclear.

The individual stated that she was either playing and operating three-dimensional chess in a way that no one else understands, or she is just fumbling around. It's difficult to understand what she is trying to achieve from this.