Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) ripped Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) for his remarks on X about losing Congressional salaries during the government shutdown.
NBC News reported that members of Congress and the President still receive salaries during a government shutdown, yet a growing number of Republicans, including Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL), have vowed to have their salaries withheld until the government reopens.
Rep. Ciscomani followed suit. "If our troops, border agents, and air traffic controllers aren't paid in a shutdown, Congress shouldn't get paid either. I'll withhold my pay. Period," he shared on social media.
"But it should never come to this – Washington, specifically Senate Democrats, must do its job and keep the government open," Rep. Ciscomani added.
When asked if he would refuse his own pay, Sen. Gallego told NBC, "I'm not wealthy, and I have three kids. I would basically be missing, you know, mortgage payments, rent payments, child support. So it's not feasible, not gonna happen."
In response, Ciscomani questioned, "And you think our troops can miss a pay period?"
"You think our Border Patrol agents can? You think our forest rangers can?" the Arizona Congressman further questioned. "Voting for others to NOT get paid but WON'T sacrifice with them."
Ciscomani ultimately attributed Gallego's comments to the "typical behavior of the D.C. ruling class."
Arizona Republicans have been fiercely critical of Democrats leading up to the shutdown, with Representatives Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), and Eli Crane (R-AZ) stating last week on X that the shutdown would be the fault of the Democratic Party.
Similarly, Representative Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) said more recently that "Republicans passed the continuing resolution to keep the government open and funded through November 21. The Senate did not pass it, resulting in a potential shutdown."
However, Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ) argued that "Democrats want to keep government open. Right now, despite controlling Congress and the White House, Republicans don't have the votes to do it alone, so they need Democratic support to get it done."
