Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) reignited his criticisms of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) after he reintroduced the government funding bill pulled from the House floor last week.
“@SpeakerJohnson is a neocon,” Massie bluntly stated.
“He will not dispute what I’ve said,” he added.
.@SpeakerJohnson is a neocon.
He will not dispute what I’ve said.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) September 17, 2024
Here’s a screenshot:
“Congress has an immediate obligation to do two things: responsibly fund the federal government, and ensure the security of our elections. Because we owe this to our constituents, we will move forward on Wednesday with a vote on the 6-month CR with the SAVE Act attached,” Johnson said Tuesday.
“I urge all of my colleagues to do what the overwhelming majority of the people of this county rightfully demand and deserve – prevent non-American citizens from voting in American elections,” he added.
“Your bill does NOT responsibly fund government. It’s 12 bills rolled into one bill that continues the profligate spending that’s ruining our country. The fact that you’ve added a 13th bill to it does not make it a serious solution. Please quit insulting our constituents,” Massie responded.
Your bill does NOT responsibly fund government.
It’s 12 bills rolled into one bill that continues the profligate spending that’s ruining our country.
The fact that you’ve added a 13th bill to it does not make it a serious solution.
Please quit insulting our constituents.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) September 17, 2024
From The Hill:
The Kentucky Republican is one of a number members in the GOP conference who have come out against the Speaker’s funding strategy to keep the government open past Sept. 30, amid some skepticism in the party of the effort’s chances of success.
He also previously joined Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) in an effort to oust Johnson from his top spot earlier this year.
Massie’s comments came shortly after Johnson announced plans to move forward with a stopgap plan to kick the September funding deadline into March, while also attaching a partisan bill pushing for stricter proof-of-citizenship requirements in elections.
“Like an undead but doomed zombie, the CR+Save Act is back. Speaker Johnson is fake fighting by attaching a bright shiny object (that he will later abandon) to a bill that continues our path of destructive spending. I won’t be any part of this insulting charade. I’m a h*** no,” Massie said.
Like an undead but doomed zombie, the CR+Save Act is back.
Speaker Johnson is fake fighting by attaching a bright shiny object (that he will later abandon) to a bill that continues our path of destructive spending.
I won’t be any part of this insulting charade. I’m a hell no. https://t.co/oY0LHVpYO4
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) September 17, 2024
Johnson delayed the vote on the 6-month CR with the SAVE Act attached last week due to Republican opposition in the House.
🚨Just in: Speaker Mike Johnson calls off House vote on six-month government funding bill. pic.twitter.com/iC3pyNo6o8
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) September 11, 2024
“This week’s production of failure theater has been postponed! CR vote canceled this week. Thank you to everyone who shared my speech Monday,” Massie said.
This week’s production of failure theater has been postponed! CR vote canceled this week. Thank you to everyone who shared my speech Monday. https://t.co/883lyglpl8
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) September 11, 2024
“I refuse to be a thespian in the Speaker’s failure theater. The 6 month continuing resolution with the SAVE Act attached is an insult to Americans’ intelligence. The CR doesn’t cut spending, and the shiny object attached to it will be dropped like a hot potato before passage,” Massie said.
WATCH:
I refuse to be a thespian in the Speaker’s failure theater.
The 6 month continuing resolution with the SAVE Act attached is an insult to Americans’ intelligence.
The CR doesn’t cut spending, and the shiny object attached to it will be dropped like a hot potato before passage. pic.twitter.com/0FdHRYTm1q
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) September 9, 2024
Daily Caller reports:
The SAVE Act was initially spearheaded by Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship to register as voters. The bill already passed the House in July, with five vulnerable Democrats defecting and voting alongside 216 Republicans to support it.
“The only way to make the SAVE Act a law would be to refuse to pass a CR until the Senate agrees to pass the SAVE Act and Biden agrees to sign it into law,” Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said in a post on X. “This would force a Gov shutdown on Oct 1 because Biden and Schumer both said they will shutdown the government as they are that adamant against the SAVE Act.”
“I refuse to lie to anyone that this plan will work and it’s already DOA this week,” Greene continued. “Speaker Johnson needs to go to the Democrats, who he has worked with the entire time, to get the votes he needs to do what he is already planning to do.”
Massie and Greene, as well as Republican Reps. Beth Van Duyne of Texas, Wesley Hunt of Texas, Greg Steube of Florida, Jim Banks of Indiana, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Matt Rosendale of Montana, Cory Mills of Florida and House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers had all confirmed their initial opposition to the CR before Johnson decided to shelve the bill.