Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) embraced the nickname “NostraThomas” after Republicans introduced a much-anticipated spending bill on Tuesday aimed at avoiding a government shutdown.
“Some call me ‘NostraThomas’ because I correctly foresaw @SpeakerJohnson using the Christmas recess to push a massive spending bill through Congress,” Massie remarked on X. He criticized Speaker Mike Johnson for adopting a long-standing Washington tradition of passing important legislation during the holiday season, despite previous assurances to the contrary.
The reference to Nostradamus, a French astrologer famous for his alleged ability to predict the future, was the inspiration for Massie’s moniker. In his post, Massie included a compilation video contrasting Johnson’s September pledge to avoid a “Christmas omnibus” with years of lawmakers scrambling to approve funding just before the holiday break.
Speaker Johnson faces criticism as Massie highlights Washington’s holiday habits
On Tuesday night, congressional leaders reached a bipartisan agreement to keep the government running beyond the December 20 deadline. This plan extends the funding deadline to March 14, although the deal has drawn criticism for its rushed timing.
The package includes various provisions, such as an extension of the farm bill, disaster relief, and financial assistance for farmers. Johnson prepared his colleagues for the spending bill, particularly conservative members who have advocated for offsetting new expenditures with cost-cutting measures.
In the video, Massie highlighted an earlier interview in which he anticipated that lawmakers would face pressure to pass the spending bill just days before the holiday recess.
“They always frame it as, ‘vote for this and go home to spend Christmas with your family, or don’t, and we’ll be stuck here,’” Massie commented, noting that the optics of staying in Washington over the holidays deter such outcomes. He added, “Nobody’s flying their family to D.C. for Christmas, so they make it feel like the Grinch’s work.”
Massie reiterated that his predictions weren’t unique, calling them an annual expectation in Washington. “This isn’t prophecy; it’s just how the swamp operates,” he stated. He quipped that Congress treating the December fiscal deadline as unexpected is as absurd as a florist being shocked by Valentine’s Day.
