Republican Congressman Thomas Massie voted against a critical paying act on Tuesday, even as US president Donald Trump attacked him on social media. The act, aimed at preventing a government shutdown, just passed 217-213, with Massie being the only Republican who opposed it.
Democrat member Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine ) on the other hand, supported the bill. Golden defended his determination, arguing that a shutdown would be worse than passing a short-term resources, writes The Hill.
Who is Thomas Massie?
- Massie, 54, has represented Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District since 2012.
- He is a powerful advocate for reducing state spending and has opposed many funds bills, arguing they do not properly address the growing national deficit.
- Massie and Trump have had a strained story. In 2020, Trump also called for Massie to be removed from the GOP.
Trump over Massie
Trump lashed had out at Massie in a Monday evening post on Truth Social, declaring that the representative” If be primaried” and comparing him to previous Rep. Liz Cheney, whom Trump recently targeted for voting to oust him. ” He’s just another grandstander who’s too much trouble”, Trump wrote.
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But Massie did not back down. He responded on X ( formerly Twitter ) by turning Trump’s attack into a fundraising opportunity and reaffirming his decision to vote against the bill. ” Unless I get a procedure Monday that causes me to miss what I’ve witnessed the prior 12 times, I’ll get a no on the CR this week”, he wrote.
Before Trump’s assault on Monday, the senator made it clear in a blog on X that he wasn’t worried about the risk of a major concern.
” One thinks they can manage my voting cards by threatening my re-election. Imagine what? Doesn’t labor on me. Three days I’ve had a opponent who tried to be more MAGA than me. Few busted 25 % because my electorate prefer clarity and rules over blind allegiance”, he wrote.
The act
The continuing resolution ( CR ) funds the government through September 30, buying Congress more time to negotiate a long-term budget. Massie, however, argued that for temporary measures merely delay true fiscal responsibility.
The act now moves to the Senate, where it faces a tough battle. It needs at least eight Democratic votes to pass, but many in the party oppose it due to proposed budget cuts.
