President Trump and prominent Democrats are united in harsh criticism of Thomas Massie, who is threatening to delay a vote on the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package.
Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican congressman who represents a northern Kentucky district, has said that he will vote “no” on the package and could prevent the chamber from quickly passing the package by a voice vote.
“Looks like a third rate Grandstander named @RepThomasMassie, a Congressman from, unfortunately, a truly GREAT State, Kentucky, wants to vote against the new Save Our Workers Bill in Congress,” Trump tweeted on Friday. “He just wants the publicity. He can’t stop it, only delay, which is both dangerous & costly. Workers & small businesses need money now in order to survive. Virus wasn’t their fault.”
Trump went so far as to call for ousting Massie, 49, from the Republican Party.
“It is ‘HELL’ dealing with the Dems, had to give up some stupid things in order to get the ‘big picture’ done. 90% GREAT! WIN BACK HOUSE, but throw Massie out of Republican Party!” Trump said.
…& costly. Workers & small businesses need money now in order to survive. Virus wasn’t their fault. It is “HELL” dealing with the Dems, had to give up some stupid things in order to get the “big picture” done. 90% GREAT! WIN BACK HOUSE, but throw Massie out of Republican Party!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2020
Massie faces a primary challenge from attorney Todd McMurtry, a lawyer who represented Covington Catholic students in a defamation lawsuit against major media companies.
Former Secretary of State John Kerry agreed with the president in a profanity-laced tweet.
“Breaking news: Congressman Massie has tested positive for being an asshole,” Kerry said. “He must be quarantined to prevent the spread of his massive stupidity. He’s given new meaning to the term #Masshole. (Finally, something the president and I can agree on!).”
Breaking news: Congressman Massie has tested positive for being an asshole. He must be quarantined to prevent the spread of his massive stupidity. He’s given new meaning to the term #Masshole. (Finally, something the president and I can agree on!) https://t.co/N1CNLPsZjc
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) March 27, 2020
Democratic New York Rep. Max Rose had even harsher words for Massie.
“Thomas Massie, this is disgusting. This is inhumane. You aren’t a libertarian, you’re un-American,” the freshman representative said on Fox News Friday. “If we push this back 24 hours, there will be blood on Thomas Massie’s hands — anyone else who steps in the way of this, blood on their hands.”
The Kentucky representative tweeted the constitutional requirement for a quorum on Thursday, which requires at least half of the members present. If no one calls for a quorum, it is assumed one exists. But Massie’s call for a roll-call vote and a quorum would force other House members self-isolating in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus to come back to Washington for a vote and delay passage of the package by hours or days.
Because of Massie’s threat, many members decided to travel to Washington when they would have otherwise stayed home to prevent the spread of the respiratory disease.
“Heading to Washington to vote on pandemic legislation. Because of one Member of Congress refusing to allow emergency action entire Congress must be called back to vote in House,” veteran Republican New York Rep. Peter King tweeted Friday. “Risk of infection and risk of legislation being delayed. Disgraceful. Irresponsible.”
Massie was first elected to the House in 2012. He earned B.A. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 2015, Massie said he holds 29 patents.
