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United States News Title: Who is Thomas Massie? ‘Masshole’ infuriates DC with coronavirus aid stunt WASHINGTON Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie made himself the most hated man in Washington and maybe the nation on Friday when he forced colleagues to return to vote in person for the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill. The bill easily passed after the libertarian Republican was shouted down by outraged colleagues. Massie said he was standing on principle. But his colleagues accused him of potentially harming their health by scuttling plans for a lightly attended voice vote to reduce risk of spreading COVID-19. Last week two House members tested positive for the virus. Amid an unnerving amount of coughing and sneezing from members of Congress in the House chamber Friday, Massie stood alone in the central aisle during debate on the bill, forbidden from explaining his actions by leaders of his own party who refused him time to speak. It was not cool, not cool at all, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) told The Post. Weve all got to wait 14 days to see what happens. Hopefully, none of us get ill. If it werent for him, we wouldnt have had to come [back]. He put people in jeopardy, theres no question about it. Massie, a 49-year-old engineer, has two degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and before Friday was best known for battling the DEA to free his states impounded hemp seeds and for sponsoring bills to curb government surveillance. Born in West Virginia, he later built his own solar-powered home in Kentucky with his wife, Rhonda, another MIT grad. But on Friday, Massie inspired rare bipartisanship with leaders of both parties coming together in hatred of him. President Trump tweeted that he wanted to throw Massie out of [the] Republican Party! and later complimented a nasty tweet from a Democrat, former Secretary of State John Kerry. Never knew John Kerry had such a good sense of humor! Very impressed! Trump wrote. Kerry wrote: Breaking news: Congressman Massie has tested positive for being an ass-. He must be quarantined to prevent the spread of his massive stupidity. Hes given new meaning to the term #Masshole. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) celebrated together after the bill passed, quickly moving to send it to the White House for Trumps signature. On Wednesday, the Senate unanimously passed the bill after days of protracted negotiations. With all eyes on him, Massie looked uncomfortable in the House chamber, ringed by peers he inconvenienced by blocking a planned voice vote pushed by Pelosi and Trump. Massie passed the morning glued to his phone, with brief conversations with colleagues. After Trump hammered him on Twitter, Massie leaned toward Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), who was sitting about 10 feet away. Gohmert stalled a previous large coronavirus package. Massie gesticulated with his hands and rolled his eyes during their talk. When it came time to force his point of order, suggesting 50 percent of lawmakers were not present as required for a voice vote, Massie was drowned out by peers. Look around! an angry colleague shouted. The room had filled with lawmakers, almost certainly passing the 215-person threshold. Fk you! another shouted at Massie. Massie explained on Twitter just before noon that the Constitution requires a quorum, and that he opposes the bill on substance too. This stimulus should go straight to the people rather than being funneled through banks and corporations like this bill is doing, Massie wrote. 2 trillion divided by 150 million workers is about $13,333.00 per person. Thats much more than the $1,200 per person check authorized by this bill. Many lawmakers, including from New York, the epicenter of the US outbreak, returned to Washington when Massie hinted he would force an in-person vote. Massie joins fellow libertarian Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.) as a Capitol Hill pariah. Amash left the GOP in July after saying the Mueller report outlined impeachable conduct by Trump. Amash later voted to impeach the president. The new coronavirus aid package creates a $500 billion loan program run by the Treasury Department to assist businesses struggling to stay afloat. A separate $350 billion loan program in the bill allows small businesses to receive loans forgivable if they dont lay off workers. A generous boost of $600 per week in unemployment pay could result in jobless workers actually getting more than 100 percent of their pay in some states. The package also authorizes $1,200 checks for all adults who earn up to $75,000, with $500 more per child. For a family of four, thats up to $3,400.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top Page Up Full Thread Page Down Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 7.
#1. To: Willie Green, Deckard (#0)
after the libertarian
loudly exclaims with no surprise this vocally staunch advocate for exposing the breed to be what they really are. As I recall, he once was one of TCs poster boys I could be wrong
Mark Levin stands with Massie.
#10. To: Hondo68 (#7)
I listened to Mark Levin's defense of Massie. Levin made perfect sense !!!
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