Members Of Arizona’s Congressional Delegation Defer Paychecks Amidst Shutdown

Published: Friday, January 11, 2019 - 4:27pm
Updated: Friday, January 11, 2019 - 6:11pm

Members of Arizona’s congressional delegation are deferring their paychecks as the partial federal government shutdown continues into a third week.

Republican Rep. David Schweikert said he knows times are tough for those not getting paid. “What’s going on right now is unfair to lots of really hard workers. But also, just throwing up your hands and quitting the fight to do the right thing also is unfair.”

Democratic representative and former Phoenix mayor Greg Stanton said the shutdown is absurd. “It’s affecting citizens that are trying to get the services that they paid for through their taxes, you know — their Social Security or working with the IRS.”

Republican Rep. Andy Biggs, Democratic Rep. Tom O’Halleran and Republican Sen. Martha McSally are also deferring their paychecks. 

Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema joined Sens. Mike Braun and Joe Manchin in sponsoring an act to withhold congressional pay until a budget is passed.