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“ ‘They are recommending that just let Nancy Pelosi pass it on her own — that we could all stay home. And I’m saying that’s not going to fly. It doesn’t fly with the Constitution — doesn’t fly for accountability to the taxpayers.’ ”
That remark Wednesday on Fox Business Network from Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky indicates that he’s willing to draw flak from many other Washington politicians again.
About two weeks ago, Massie managed to anger everyone from President Donald Trump to former Sen. John Kerry because of his maneuvers that forced House lawmakers to return to the Capitol building for a vote on a $2 trillion coronavirus aid bill.
This week, top Republicans and Democrats have been working to provide an additional $250 billion for a new Paycheck Protection Program that aims to help small businesses hurt by the coronavirus crisis. Congressional leaders have said the GOP-led Senate and Democratic-run House could provide approval through unanimous consent or voice vote by Thursday and Friday, respectively, while most lawmakers are back home on a long break.
Related:Small-business owners express confusion, fear over federal bailout fund
And see:Coronavirus small-business aid program could ultimately need $1.8 trillion in funding
Massie said he doesn’t like the upcoming bill or the way it may be approved. He said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat, should allow remote voting.
“Let’s enable remote voting. Don’t blame me. Ten days ago, I got blamed by everyone including the president for trying to delay the bill. I wasn’t trying to do that. I was just trying to get some accountability. And there’s a way to get some accountability without delaying the bill and without even making congressmen travel,” the Kentucky Republican told Fox Business Network. But he added: “I think they should travel.”
More legislators have voiced support for remote voting, but operating that way hasn’t been looking likely in the near term, with a House Rules Committee report recently pouring cold water on the idea.
“This change cannot be implemented overnight, and likely cannot be accomplished in time to address the current crisis,” said the report dated March 23. “Without complete consensus, which we do not currently have, it would also require us to come back to Washington to vote to change House rules to allow for remote voting.”
Massie’s moves last month weren’t universally panned, as they spurred donations to his re-election campaign. The campaign raked in more than $110,000 over a three-day period when he was in the spotlight for his failed bid to force a roll-call vote, according to an Associated Press report.
U.S. stocks DJIA, +3.44% SPX, +3.40% have been plunging for weeks on coronavirus-related worries but have pared some of their losses thanks in part to hopes surrounding Washington’s aid programs.
