Rep. Athena Salman and Sen. Juan Mendez, both Democrats from Tempe and a married couple, have avoided the Legislature, citing the risk of exposing their newborn daughter to COVID-19/ASU.
By Mary Jo Pitzl | Arizona Republic
For two Arizona lawmakers who normally spend several months each year at the state Capitol, the building is one of the places they’ve seen least this year.
Absent since the start of the legislative session in January, Rep. Athena Salman and Sen. Juan Mendez, both Democrats from Tempe and a married couple, have avoided the Legislature, citing the risk of exposing their newborn daughter to COVID-19.
While it’s common for lawmakers to take an occasional day off for personal or other reasons, no one can recall absences that have endured for an entire legislation session, now in its fifth month.
Yet the two Democrats are not AWOL. Their absences are excused by GOP leaders in the House and Senate.
They continue to collect their $24,000 salary and the daily per diem pay, which amounted to $3,395 as of mid-April. On the rare days when they have ventured to the Capitol, they are entitled to payment for mileage.
Three other lawmakers have newborns but come to the Capitol to work. While there are some murmurings of discontent, no one really seems to care enough to do anything about it.
House Speaker Rusty Bowers said he was “shocked” that Salman would neglect her seat by not coming to the Capitol for committee hearings and votes. But he nonetheless has granted her excused absences.
“She chooses to do what is important to her, which is fine by us,’ said Bowers, R-Mesa.
