President Trump has unloaded on Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) after the congressman held up the Senate’s $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill by threatening to raise a procedural objection. Lawmakers had largely left the Capitol and were expecting to do a voice vote, but Massie decided to express his displeasure with the bill by demanding a roll-call vote that would hold up the process. In a series of tweets on Friday, Massie confirmed that he would demand lawmakers be present for the vote. He said he opposed the bill, approved unanimously by the Senate on Wednesday, because he thought it added to the national debt, increased secrecy around the Federal Reserve and had unnecessary inclusions, like provisions for artists. “It shouldn’t be stuffed full of Nancy Pelosi’s pork,” he wrote. “I am not delaying the bill like Nancy Pelosi did last week... The bill that was worked on in the Senate late last week was much better before Speaker Pelosi showed up to destroy it and add days and days to the process.” He said more money should go to individuals, rather than corporations, and to expanding the availability of tests.
Trump exploded on Twitter on Friday, calling Massie a “third rate Grandstander” who should be expelled from the Republican Party. He called the delay “both dangerous and costly.” Several lawmakers begrudgingly returned to the Capitol on Friday to vote on the package.
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