CHRISTMAS IN JULY --- IT'S A REAL THING IF YOU'RE ON THOMAS MASSIE'S PAYROLL

Oooooooops! That's really our money.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R) KY-4

I began my last piece, TWO TRUE SCANDALS --- BOTH IGNORED, with this:

“This is a map of Kentucky’s six congressional districts and the counties that comprise those districts. Union is in CD-4 represented by Thomas Massie but more on that later.”

The point of ‘TWO TRUE SCANDALS’ was to highlight the depth and chutzpah of the swamp. If the swamp will attempt to bribe a candidate and hold drug and sex parties using our money - what then is off limits? Nothing. Not a thing. Not even stealing elections by illegally changing voting laws in key states or fraudulent mail in voting or rank choice voting or voting machines that provide internet access. It is no wonder that the routine “business” of Congress which is robbing us blind, is constantly over looked. This is just a glimpse of the misspending or your money by people not worthy of the office they occupy.

I have focused on Thomas Massive for two reasons. First, he represents my congressional district, KY-4. KY-4 is one of six congressional districts in the Commonwealth. Second, he is constantly waving the flag of his image as an uber-fiscal conservative who steadfastly refuses to vote for budget increases EVEN when the vote is non-binding. In fact, he is so dedicated to controlling federal spending that inside the halls of the House of Representatives he is often referred to as “Mr. No.”

But when it comes to the operations of his office he is no different than any of the five other Representatives from Kentucky, all of which but one touts themselves to be fiscal conservatives and budget hawks.

But before I burst your bubble about Libertarian America’s poster child for honesty in government and holding the line on spending you need to understand the federal budgeting process —- at least a little bit.

The Federal Budget And How Its Established: Cliff’s Notes version

The federal government operates on a fiscal year of 12 months divided into four quarters. The federal Fiscal Year begins in October of each calendar year which means that we are now in the Second Quarter. Why does it start in October and not January because about 40 years ago after constantly failing to pass a budget during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season Congress changed the Fiscal Year so that it ended well before preparations for the trip to grandma’s house and the visit by Santa Clause was a gleam in every child’s eye.

Of all those quarters the fourth, July - September, is the most important because that is when agencies establish the need for at least the same amount of money that they received in the prior Fiscal Year. Nine times out of nine — agencies and congress always ask for more. To justify more they must show that they spent every red cent that they were given in the prior Fiscal Year. And so July - September truly becomes Christmas in July because that is when money not spent in quarters 1-3 quickly finds new equipment, new contracts, new everything — except travel. Agency travel is restricted to set amount each year which cannot be increased. Except if you’re a member of Congress.

Bureaucrats love the 4th Quarter as much as die hard SanFrancisco fans love watching the 9’ers in the 4th quarter come back from a 17 point deficit to win a trip to the Super Bowl. The 4th quarter in football is “win it or lose it time”. In the federal government the 4th quarter is “spend it or lose it next year” time. I know this because I did it for 30 years. And I knew that if I didn’t do it, my boss would.

The 4th quarter in the federal government which does include Congress, is when junkets are taken, contracts are awarded, computers and other equipment are purchased, and in Thomas Massie’s case bonuses are given to his staff. Apparently, Mr. Massie thinks that we’re undervaluing his staff.

Congressional Budgeting: How Congress Pays For Itself

Congressional salaries and operating funds are established by law — by Congress.
Each of the congressional districts in KY has a population roughly between 740,000 and 760,000 hard working men and women and their children. Each Representative and Senator is given a sum of money which is to be used to do the work needed to support their constituents. In the case of Representatives this allocation is called the Members Representational Allowance (MRA).

The MRA is, of course, established by Congress. As are Congressional pay and benefits.

The MRA is to be used to pay for office space, utilities, personnel salaries and travel, supplies, equipment, yada, yada, yada. If you want to know how much your Representative spent in FY 2023 to “represent” you you can look here (Statement of Disbursements of the House). And it is in that document that you will find that your Representative spends more money in the fourth quarter than in all the other quarters. While this may not seem like a big deal ask yourself this question: IF Thomas Massie ( or your Representative) spent an average of $437, 373.56 in each of Quarters 1-3 WHY did he need to spend $495,414.98 in Quarter 4?

The Statement of Disbursements of the House gives us some insight because it places all of a representative’s spending into one of eight categories: Franked Mail; Personnel Compensation; Travel; Rent, Communications, Utilities; Printing and Reproduction; Other Services; Supplies and Materials; and Equipment.

In Mr. Massie’s case the bulk of his 4th Quarter increase in spending was in:

Personnel Costs: $15,265.19

Travel: $2485.49

Equipment: 1,949.33

Rent, Communications, and Utilities: $1,2215.91

To Mr. Massie’s credit he did save me $48.21 in Franked Mail costs and another $941.58 in Supplies and Materials.

I really don’t have much of a problem with spending $1900.00 on equipment; someone probably needed a new laptop. Or $1200.00 on Rent, Utilities, and Communications — sort of.

The Travel stuff looks a little squishy to me but the Personnel Costs really stand out. Why would personnel costs suddenly jump more than $15,000 in the 4th Quarter. Because Mr. Massie, “Mr. No”. Mr. small government; gave his staff bonuses.

Is this a matter of routine? No it is not. For example, Julia Letlow (R) LA actually spent a bit more than $36,000 less on personnel costs in Qt. 4. And Brett Guthrie, Representative (CD-2) Kentucky, spent about $5,000.00 less for his personnel costs in the 4th Qt than he spent on average for Qts. 1-3.

How do I know that Massie gave his staff bonuses? What else could “Other Compensation” possibly mean?

Had Massie’s staff arranged monthly Town Hall Meetings so that over the course of his 2 year term he could have made himself available to his constituents in each of the 20 counties he represents I’d say: Job well done you have exceeded expectations but I don’t remember Mr. Massie holding any Town Hall meetings in the all the time that he has represented Northern Kentucky. But his long time friend and District Director, Chris McCann received a $3,500 bonus. Or if there were monthly news letters in my mail box I might say: Hey, Thomas thanks for going the extra mile to keep us informed about what is going on in D.C. But there weren’t. Nevertheless, Mr. Massie’s Media Director, Johnathan Van Norman received a bonus of $3,000. OR if Thomas had brought jobs to KY-4 that would have been a really big deal. But he didn’t but that didn’t stop Mr. Massie from giving his Field Director, Stacie Rockaway a $2,000 bonus. In fact, neither Mr. Massie or any of his staff can point to a single legislative accomplishment that his name is attached to as “The Sponsor”. Not one. But apparently crafting legislation that becomes law isn’t required in order for his Legislative Counsel, Marshall Yates to receive a $5,000 bonus.

I am certain beyond a doubt that there are other members of Congress who have used our tax dollars to enrich their closest staff. And THAT is the problem. THAT is how a swamp grows and survives.

IF Thomas Massie (and others) wants true credibility as a Budget Hawk and a member of the Freedom Caucus then he needs to start showing us by managing his own house in a way that matches his rhetoric. Otherwise he’s just one more swamp dweller.

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew (The Tax Collector) 6:1

Union, Kentucky

2 February 2024