Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) was one of 7 Congressmen to vote on Friday against the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, which ensures back pay for federal bureaucrats after the end of the ongoing partial government shutdown.
“When you pass a law to pay ALL FUTURE government salaries regardless of whether the government is funded or not, then you’ve effectively moved the entire government payroll from discretionary to non-discretionary spending,” Massie wrote on Twitter “Today’s bill was fundamentally flawed and dangerous.”
“This bill makes it MORE likely that we will have MORE shutdowns. That’s why I voted No,” he added.
The bill ultimately passed by a 411-7 margin. The other members who voted against the bill were Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL), and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ). All but Grothman and Massie are members of the libertarian-leaning Freedom Caucus.
As of Monday, the partial government shutdown has gone on for 24 days, making it the longest in American history. President Donald Trump has made clear that he will not give in unless his demands for stricter border security measures, such as a wall or steel slats, are met by the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives. In the midst of rising discontent from disaffected bureaucrats, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced this legislation, which quickly passed the Senate by voice vote before proceeding to the House, meeting the 2/3 majority it requires to make it veto-proof.
