>>24590865
>Massie is Asshole
#### Other Kentucky Politicians
| Politician | Key Connections | Details |
|--|---|-—-|
| Brett Guthrie (R-KY-2) | Trade oversight | As House Energy & Commerce member, supports Kentucky exports to China (e.g., autos); no personal ties. |
| Hal Rogers (R-KY-5) | Appropriations | Secures federal funds for KY-China trade infrastructure; criticized for earmarks but no direct China links. |
| John Yarmuth (D-KY-3, retired) | Limited | Focused on domestic issues; voted for anti-China bills like Uyghur Act. |
#### Summary
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Strongest Ties: McConnell/Chao via family business and donations—raising ethics concerns amid U.S.-China rivalry.
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State-Level Focus: Bevin drove proactive engagement; Beshear is more neutral, emphasizing diversified trade.
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Massie: Ideological critic of confrontation (e.g., opposes sanctions as ineffective), but no financial or personal connections. He warns of China's gains from U.S. foreign entanglements (e.g., Houthi strikes benefiting Beijing's shipping).
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Broader Context: Kentucky's China links are economic (trade deficit ~$5B in 2017), not ideological. No evidence of illicit activity, but Chao's case highlights potential conflicts.
Sources include NYT archives, FEC records, state economic reports, and Massie's X posts (searched via keyword: "from:RepThomasMassie China," latest 20 as of Nov 2025). For deeper dives, e.g., specific bills, let me know.
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votes re the wall
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did thomas massie vote to prevent building trumps wall?
### Thomas Massie's Voting Record on Trump's Border Wall
Thomas Massie (R-KY), a libertarian-leaning Republican, has a mixed record on border wall funding during Donald Trump's presidency and afterward. He has consistently supported building a border wall in principle, including co-sponsoring bills for it and voting to allocate billions for construction.However, he has voted against specific mechanisms to fund or advanceit when they conflicted with his strict constitutional views on congressional appropriations, executive overreach, or unrelated spending. This has led to accusations that he effectively "prevented" wall funding by blocking key Trump-backed efforts.
Here's a breakdown of his relevant votes, based on congressional records and public statements:
| Date | Bill/Resolution | Action | Massie's Vote | Outcome & Context | Source |
|--|---|--|---|---–|--|
| Dec 2018 | Consolidated Appropriations Act (omnibus including $5.7B for wall) | Final passage | Yes | Passed House (217-185). Massie supported this direct funding for wall construction, the full amount requested by Trump. He stated: "I support President Trump and I support the wall. In fact I voted to fund the wall for the full amount requested by @realDonaldTrump." | |
| Feb 2019 | H.J.Res. 46 (terminate Trump's national emergency for wall funding) | Final passage | Yes (with Democrats) | Passed House (245-182); Senate upheld Trump's veto. Massie was 1 of 13 GOP "yes" votes. He opposed the emergency declaration as executive overreach, arguing Congress controls funding: "If we violate the Constitution to build a wall, then the wall protects nothing." This blocked ~$8B in redirected funds for 234 miles of wall. | , , |
| Mar 2019 | S.J.Res. 7 (same emergency termination) | Final passage | Yes (3rd time voting to terminate) | Passed House (248-181); Senate failed veto override. Massie reiterated his constitutional stance, supporting wall funding but not via emergency powers. | |
| May 2023 | H.R. 2 (Secure the Border Act: wall construction, E-Verify, asylum limits) | Final passage | No (with Democrats) | Passed House (219-213). Massie was 1 of 2 GOP "no" votes. He opposed due to procedural issues and broader policy concerns, despite supporting wall elements. | |
| Apr 2024 | H.R. 3602 (End the Border Catastrophe Act: Trump-era policies including wall) | Procedural rule | Against (helped kill via opposition) | Failed under supermajority (no final vote). Massie opposed the rule, criticizing it as a "charade" without real leverage for border security over foreign aid. He has called for attaching border bills to Ukraine/Israel funding. | [post:43] |