Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie stands alone in challenging Speaker Mike Johnson’s ‘clean’ government funding bill, highlighting fundamental disagreements over federal spending within the Republican Party.
Quick Takes
- Rep. Thomas Massie was the sole Republican to vote against the recent GOP budget resolution, criticizing it for increasing the deficit by $3 trillion over a decade.
- Massie opposes Speaker Johnson’s “clean” continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government through September 30 at current levels.
- The Kentucky congressman advocates for splitting funding into 12 separate bills and implementing a 1% spending cut provision.
- Despite President Trump’s support for Johnson’s funding bill, Massie maintains his fiscally conservative stance.
- The disagreement highlights deeper divisions within the GOP over spending priorities and deficit reduction strategies.
Massie’s Solitary Stand Against GOP Budget
Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky has once again established himself as an outlier within his party, being the only Republican to vote against the recent House GOP budget resolution. Known as “Mr. No” for his consistent opposition to legislation that increases federal spending, Massie has maintained his principled stance despite potential political consequences. His vote highlights a growing concern among fiscal conservatives about the trajectory of federal spending, even under Republican leadership. The Kentucky congressman has previously voted against major spending bills, including the $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package, consistently prioritizing deficit reduction over party loyalty.
Massie’s opposition centers on what he sees as fundamental flaws in the Republican approach to budgeting. While the GOP budget maintains the Trump-era tax cuts, it fails to implement corresponding spending reductions necessary to prevent significant deficit increases. This approach, according to Massie, essentially masks the true fiscal impact of current policies while doing little to address the growing national debt. His criticism extends beyond just the numbers to include the entire process by which Congress makes these consequential financial decisions.
I’ll vote against a clean CR that funds everything in 2025 at 2024 levels because:
1. @SpeakerJohnson isn’t following the provision in law that would have cut everything by 1% if the CR extended past April.
2. We should not fund the waste, fraud, and abuse that Doge has found.…
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 4, 2025
Rejecting Johnson’s “Clean” Continuing Resolution
Massie’s fiscal conservatism has led him to openly oppose Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan for a “clean” continuing resolution intended to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year. The proposed CR would maintain current spending levels through September 30, which Massie argues perpetuates wasteful spending and ignores legal provisions that could reduce expenditures. His position puts him at odds with not only Republican leadership but also President Trump, who has publicly backed Johnson’s approach to prevent a government shutdown by the March 14 deadline.
“I’ll vote against a clean CR that funds everything in 2025 at 2024 levels because: 1. @SpeakerJohnson isn’t following the provision in law that would have cut everything by 1% if the CR extended past April. 2. We should not fund the waste, fraud, and abuse that Doge has found. 3. These are supposed to be 12 separate bills. 4. We were told that the CR in December that got us to March would allow us to prioritize Trump’s agenda this March using the checkbook.”, Massie posted on his X account. Instead of a comprehensive funding bill, Massie advocates for dividing the budget into 12 separate appropriations bills, allowing for more targeted oversight and potentially greater efficiency. This approach, he argues, would enable Congress to better prioritize spending aligned with Republican priorities while eliminating waste and unnecessary programs. Critics, however, question whether such an approach is feasible given the current political climate and looming shutdown deadline.
Trump’s Support vs. Fiscal Conservatism
Trump has publicly urged Republicans to pass the clean CR, blaming the Biden administration for the current budget impasse. This puts Massie, who has survived previous primary challenges despite Trump’s opposition, in the position of contradicting the president on fiscal policy. Despite this potential political liability, Massie has maintained his stance, emphasizing his commitment to addressing the deficit over partisan loyalty.
Massie is not entirely alone in his concerns. Other Republican representatives, including Tony Gonzales, have expressed reservations about the clean CR approach, calling instead for a more conservative budget that addresses their priorities. Meanwhile, Democrats have criticized Republican leadership for abandoning bipartisan negotiations and potentially risking a government shutdown. With slim Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress, the path forward remains uncertain, particularly in the Senate where Democratic support will be essential for passing any funding measure.
Sources:
There appears to be one Republican serious about fixing government spending | Opinion
Republican Blasts Mike Johnson Over Government Funding Bill
