By Ronald J. Hansen | Arizona Republic
Arizona’s two most conservative members of Congress stood on lonely ground Friday, voting against providing back pay for federal workers going unpaid during the ongoing government shutdown.
It was a position only seven members of the 435-member House of Representatives took and happened on the day an estimated 800,000 workers missed their first paycheck since the 21-day-old shutdown began on Dec. 22.
On Thursday, the Senae unanimously passed a measure to provide back pay for the furloughed and unpaid workers whenever the shutdown ends and would provide similar assurances to workers in any future government closures.
Reps. Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar, both of whom are Arizona Republicans, voted against it in the House, which passed it 411-7 with 16 members not voting. President Donald Trump indicated earlier this week he would sign the bill, spurring its passage in the Senate.
