Rep. Thomas Massie fights back against sneaky attempt to suspend Congress' war powers
by Ryan Girdusky
December 20, 2018
Only a few House members remained in the chamber late Wednesday night, preparing to vote on dozens of bills that would pass by voice vote. After six hours on the floor, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., stood up and demanded that a quorum is in effect.
It seems like demanding a record of the vote is a small act, but Massie’s defiance against Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., had more profound implications. Massie took a stand against Ryan after House leadership added an amendment to the Farm Bill that suspended Congress’ war powers. Massie’s demand for Congress to reassert its constitutional powers and know what they’re voting on has caused a headache for the House GOP.
“Every year that I’ve been in Congress I’ve watched, with great frustration, the flood of bills that pass in the final week by voice vote and Unanimous Consent. Forcing roll call votes here draws the wrath of lots of my colleagues who just want to go home and who prefer not to be on the record,” Massie said in an email. “I decided this year to start objecting until the Speaker restores our War Powers privileges he suspended last week in the farm bill vote and until we get a complete list of bills they plan to pass. I think it’s pretty reasonable ask.”
In response to Massie’s efforts, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced that Congress would be voting on 35 bills on Thursday. Those bills included Veterans and Small Business Enhancement Act, Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act of 2019, Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018, Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions Act, No Cyber Cooperation with Russia Act, Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018, and the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018.
All of those bills were about to pass the House without so much as a debate or a record of which congressmen actually supported it.
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