Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown over the weekend by passing a stopgap spending bill to fund the federal government through Nov. 17.
Arizona’s three Democratic congressmen and two U.S. senators all supported the 45-day spending plan, while most of the state’s Republican delegation voted against the deal to keep the government open.
That includes Rep. David Schweiker, who told reporters he couldn’t support the stopgap proposal because it continues government spending at current levels.
“It’s a crappy way to run the government,” Schweikert said, “and my instinct is to expect more of this.”
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs took a swipe Monday morning at Schweikert and the other four Republicans — Reps. Eli Crane, Andy Biggs, Debbie Lesko and Paul Gosar — who all voted against the stopgap spending deal.
But she took a swipe Monday morning at the five Republicans in Arizona’s congressional delegation — Reps. David Schweikert, Eli Crane, Andy Biggs, Debbie Lesko and Paul Gosar — who voted against the stopgap spending deal.
“It should be a priority for the members of Arizona’s delegation who continue to rail on the border, and then five of them voted against the CR and were willing to shut down the government over it,” Hobbs said.
Rep. Juan Ciscomani was the lone Republican from Arizona to support the continuing resolution.
“We had to avoid the shutdown,” Ciscomani said, “so I’ll continue to work with anyone that wants to work on these solutions, across the aisle and within our caucus, to make sure that we do not shut down the government.
Congress now has less than two months to craft a permanent funding plan or, as Schweikert warned, pass another stopgap measure.
