A proposal by President Trump to dock the pay of air traffic controllers who called in sick during the federal government shutdown is being questioned by U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo. 6th District. He said he understands the president’s frustration, but he’s hesitant to endorse punishing controllers who called in sick during the shutdown.

“The problem with something like that is you really don’t know the circumstances,” Graves told Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph. “They may have actually been sick.”

Graves, who chairs the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, said air traffic controllers have a high-stress job and not getting paid during the shutdown did not help.

“You also can’t fault somebody who’s trying to make a car payment and a mortgage payment,” he sa

See Full Page