SNAKEBITE— 10.2.25— Congressional Wages During Shutdown— Robson Welcomes Schweikert's Challenge— Mayes, Planned Parenthood, AZ Laws, Much More...

Congressional Wages During Shutdown

Representatives Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and Eli Crane (R-AZ) are the latest Republicans to refuse their Congressional salaries during the government shutdown, which began Wednesday at midnight.

As we covered earlier, Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) was the first of a growing number of Congress members to request that their pay be withheld until the government is reopened, in a post to X (formerly Twitter).

Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) followed suit, announcing he would refuse his salary in a gesture of solidarity with "our troops, border agents, and air traffic controllers."

"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," Rep. Ciscomani said, later ripping Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) for suggesting he would continue to receive payment during the shutdown.

Ciscomani blasted Sen. Gallego's response as "typical behavior of the D.C. ruling class."

Rep. Biggs has since announced his own pay suspension on X, saying... READ MORE

AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes: The Trump administration likes to pretend they support crime victims – but from slashing critical survivor resources to ignoring the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, they've proven they do not stand with victims or with the rule of law. Press release here: azag.gov/press-release/

State Senator Janae Shamp: This is the change I voted for: a bold push for reform at HHS under @SecKennedy. No more blind "trust us"! Americans deserve transparency backed by data. Informed consent isn’t just a right; it’s a cornerstone of our healthcare that must be fiercely protected! Without access to unfiltered evidence—like the data behind Senator Cantwell’s vaccine impact chart—true consent is impossible. Secretary Kennedy’s call for open debate and scientific scrutiny is a step toward restoring integrity and trust in healthcare. Thank you, sir!

State Senator Jake Hoffman: NEVER FORGET: Schweikert joined Democrats to pass a 'National Vaccine Registry' bill in 2021 Even Doug Ducey came out 7+ months prior to Schweikert's vote & refused to do a vaccine registry Now he thinks he should be AZ Governor?! HELL NO! Schweikert is WRONG for Arizona!

State Senator Eva Diaz: I'm calling for Speaker Mike Johnson to swear in Congresswoman-Elect Adelita Grijalva swiftly. We need representation, accountability, and transparency in Congress.

State Representative Alma Hernandez: Arizona erases $40M in court fees for juvenile delinquents. YES WE DID! So proud of this. #azleg

State Representative Nick Kupper: Congress should be the first to go without pay in the event of a shutdown. Same for us state lawmakers if we shutdown our states.

Biggs, Crane Refuse Pay During Government Shutdown— By Cactus Politics' Grayson Bakich—

Juan Ciscomani Rips Gallego's Congressional Salary Remark— By Cactus Politics' Grayson Bakich— Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) ripped Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) for his remarks on X about losing Congressional salaries during the government shutdown.

Karrin Taylor Robson Welcomes David Schweikert's Gubernatorial Bid— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon— Karrin Taylor Robson issued a statement this week welcoming U.S. Rep. David Schweikert to the Republican primary for Arizona governor, while drawing sharp contrasts between her campaign and the newly announced candidate.

Kris Mayes Sues Zillow, Redfin Over Deal That Could Raise Rent Prices— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon— Attorney General Kris Mayes is teaming up with four other states to sue Zillow and Redfin. They say these two huge rental listing websites made a deal that's bad for renters and could make rent even more expensive.

Planned Parenthood Arizona Suspends Medicaid Services— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon— Planned Parenthood Arizona announced it will no longer provide services to patients using Medicaid. The decision affects cancer screenings, STI testing, birth control, and other family planning services.

88 Proposed Laws Threatened 660K Jobs, Could Have Reshaped Arizona's Economy— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon— Arizona's state legislature chose not to pass 88 bills during the 2025 session that could have had a significant impact on the state's economy and job market, according to a new report.

Janae Shamp, Julie Willoughby Demand Renegotiation of Arizona Healthcare Policies— By Cactus Politics' Grayson Bakich— State Senator Janae Shamp (R-29) and State Representative Julie Willoughby (R-13) are demanding the renegotiation of new healthcare policies set to take effect on October 1st.

David Schweikert Jumps Into Arizona Governor's Race— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon— U.S. Rep. David Schweikert announced his candidacy for Arizona governor this week, stating that he has given up on fixing Washington but believes his home state still holds hope.

Lawmakers Clash Over Government Shutdown as Residents Brace for Impact— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon— Arizona's congressional delegation is sharply divided as the federal government faces a potential shutdown beginning October 1st, with Republicans and Democrats blaming each other.

Quang Nguyen Wins National Recognition for Second Amendment Advocacy— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon— Arizona State Representative Quang Nguyen received one of the most prestigious honors for gun rights over the weekend, accepting the Legislator of the Year award from the Second Amendment Foundation at its 40th annual conference in Salt Lake City.

The Snakebite is written by Grayson Bakich and Javier Manjarres

Grayson Bakich

Florida born and raised, Grayson Bakich is a recent recipient of a Master’s Degree in Political Science at the University of Central Florida. His thesis examined recent trends in political polarization and how this leads into justification of violence.