WASHINGTON — Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Crescent Springs, says the last-ditch effort to keep the government open ahead of the holiday break amounts to Republicans “giving away the farm.”


What You Need To Know

  • Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Crescent Springs, says he won't back House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., keeping the gavel in January

  • Massie said a spending bill unveiled by Johnson to continue funding the government amounts to Republicans "giving away the farm"

  • The 1,500-page measure also includes $100 billion in disaster aid, $10 billion in additional relief for farmers and the first pay raise for Congress since 2009

  • Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, says though Republicans are already months behind on a budget, lawmakers must keep the government open

The bill would continue funding the government until March 14, 2025, avoiding a partial shutdown on Friday night.

But the 1,500-page measure also includes $100 billion in disaster aid, $10 billion in additional relief for farmers and the first pay raise for Congress since 2009.

“It’s not even just a spending bill,” Massie said Wednesday afternoon. “It’s worse than an omnibus and I think it’s shameful that Mike Johnson would do this after we received a mandate in the election. I know it’s a lame-duck session, but still, there’s no reason for us to capitulate when on Jan. 20, Trump’s going to be President and Jan. 3, we have the majority in the Senate.”

The move solidifies his decision to not back House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., keeping the gavel in January, Massie said.

He led a small, unsuccessful effort to oust Johnson from his position earlier this year, in part because of Johnson’s work with Democrats to pass billions in foreign aid.

“He doesn’t have my vote and I think he’s losing political capital by the second here,” Massie said Wednesday.  

Massie has long opposed Republican House leadership.

What is unclear is if a significant number of other House Republicans share his opposition to Johnson.

Unless they do, Massie’s opposition would have little effect on Johnson’s future.

Rep. James Comer. R-Tompkinsville, praised the bill’s inclusion of legislation that could lead to the redevelopment of the former home of Washington’s NFL team.

Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, says though Republicans are already months behind on a budget, lawmakers must keep the government open.

“We need to make sure that around the holidays in particular, we keep the government open, that core functions continue to operate, that people don’t miss paychecks,” he said. “It costs more money if we shut the government down.”

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., blasted Johnson in an online post, saying “I had hoped to see Speaker Johnson grow a spine, but this bill full of pork shows he is a weak, weak man.”