As House Republicans face a pressing March 14 deadline to prevent a government shutdown, Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie has emerged as a vocal opponent to Speaker Mike Johnson’s “clean” funding bill, highlighting deepening divisions within the party over fiscal responsibility.
Key Takeaways
- Rep. Thomas Massie stands alone among House Republicans in opposing their budget resolution, cementing his reputation as “Mr. No” on spending matters
- Speaker Mike Johnson is pushing for a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government at current levels through September 30
- President Trump supports Johnson’s funding bill despite Massie’s objections about increased deficits
- Massie advocates for 12 separate appropriations bills instead of an omnibus approach, arguing it would enable better fiscal scrutiny
- The dispute highlights broader Republican struggles to balance deficit concerns with political realities ahead of the March 14 government funding deadline
Massie’s Lone Stand Against GOP Budget
Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie has cemented his reputation as “Mr. No” by becoming the sole Republican to vote against the party’s recent budget resolution. Known for his libertarian principles and fiscal conservatism, Massie has consistently opposed measures that increase federal spending regardless of which party controls Congress. His stance against the GOP budget stems from his calculation that it would add approximately $3 trillion to the deficit over the next decade, primarily by maintaining Trump-era tax cuts without corresponding spending reductions.
Massie’s position places him at odds with virtually the entire Republican conference, including Speaker Mike Johnson, who is pushing for a straightforward continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown before the March 14 deadline. This internal conflict highlights the broader tensions within the Republican party regarding fiscal responsibility and government funding strategies.
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
Johnson’s “Clean” CR Proposal
Speaker Johnson’s solution to the looming deadline is a “clean” continuing resolution that would fund government operations at current levels through September 30. With slim Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress, Johnson’s approach acknowledges the political reality that any funding measure will require Democratic support in the Senate. The Speaker has presented this strategy as the most practical approach to prevent a politically damaging government shutdown.
President Trump has also endorsed Johnson’s approach, writing on social media that Republicans should “pass a clean, temporary government funding Bill (‘CR’) by the end of September.” Trump’s support reflects the political calculus that avoiding a shutdown serves Republican interests, especially in an election year.
Massie’s Alternative Vision
Massie has articulated specific objections to the continuing resolution approach, arguing that it perpetuates wasteful spending and fails to implement even modest spending reductions. He points to a legal provision that would have triggered automatic 1% cuts if a CR extended past April, which Johnson’s proposal would bypass. According to Massie, the Republican leadership is missing an opportunity to address fiscal concerns while prioritizing the party’s policy agenda.
Instead of an omnibus approach, Massie advocates for breaking government funding into 12 separate appropriations bills. This method, he argues, would allow for more detailed scrutiny of spending categories and give Republicans greater leverage to advance their priorities. Massie’s position reflects a procedural concern as much as a fiscal one – he objects not only to how much is being spent but also to the consolidated process that limits congressional oversight.
Broader GOP Divisions
Massie is not entirely alone in his opposition to Johnson’s funding strategy. Other conservative Republicans, including Texas Representative Tony Gonzales, have expressed reservations about passing a clean CR without addressing conservative priorities. These internal tensions reflect the ongoing challenges Republican leadership faces in managing the diverse expectations within their conference while operating with a razor-thin House majority.
The current funding dispute continues a pattern for Massie, who has previously voted against major spending bills including the $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package. Despite sometimes opposing Trump-backed initiatives and surviving primary challenges, Massie’s Kentucky district has consistently returned him to Congress, suggesting his fiscal conservative stance resonates with constituents who value his principled approach to government spending, even when it places him at odds with party leadership.
Sources:
There appears to be one Republican serious about fixing government spending | Opinion
Republican Blasts Mike Johnson Over Government Funding Bill
