Phoenix mayor: Government shutdown no time for politics

PHOENIX — Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton lashed out Tuesday at lawmakers who have failed to pass a clean budget, forcing a shutdown of the federal government.

“I’m pretty mad right now because there’s a lot of political gamesmanship,” he said. “A clean bill should have been passed with the regard to the budget to keep the government operating. There’s a time and a place to have a political debate over devisive issues, but shutting down the government shouldn’t be a result of a political dispute over public policy.”

Stanton is concerned that thousands of federal workers who reside in the Valley and across the state will have trouble paying bills since their paychecks are delayed. He also fears the shutdown will have a potentially devastating impact on Arizona’s economy.