Maryland lawmakers address government shutdown concerns during telephone town hall

As the uncertainty continues over when the federal government shutdown will end, two state lawmakers held a telephone town hall to answer questions from Marylanders regarding it.

Maryland Democratic Sens. Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen held the town hall Monday evening. They provided updates on their efforts to end what they called a “Republican government shutdown.”

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With Congress currently at an impasse, the town hall featured questions and answers that largely followed partisan lines. Participants raised various issues related to the shutdown, including back pay for federal workers.

“Your back pay is guaranteed by law,” Van Hollen said.

Another caller expressed concerns about