Thomas Massie Leads Unprecedented Vote on Reigning in Federal Bureaucracy

Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) tried to attach an amendment to H.R. 5 (more commonly known as the Parents Bill of Rights) that would terminate the Department of Education’s programs and offices in elementary and secondary schools by December 31, 2023.

In his remarks in the House on the purpose of the amendment, Mr. Massie explained that “[t]hey have been at it for 40 years, and they get an F. Education has not improved, but spending has doubled per pupil. It is time to return the power back to the States, back to the people, and back to the school boards to allow them to make these decisions locally.” The amendment failed to pass but Massie took heart by noting that this was the first time since the creation of the Department of Education by President Jimmy Carter (D) that such a vote was done in Congress.

The Kentucky lawmaker tweeted on the lattermost score that “This week, for the first time since Jimmy Carter signed a bill nationalizing education, Congress will vote on whether the Dept of Education should have ANY authority to determine how or what your children learn.”

This week, for the first time since Jimmy Carter signed a bill nationalizing education,

Congress will vote on whether the Dept of Education should have ANY authority to determine how or what your children learn.

Thank you amdt cosponsors@RepKeithSelf@RepMattGaetz@RepBoebert pic.twitter.com/YdfpcYBcgR

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 22, 2023

Mr. Massie further went to social media to promote his amendment and the case for reform. He wrote in a thread that “[t]he House just voted on whether we should end the federal Department of Education’s authority to control elementary and secondary education. Removing federal red tape and unfunded mandates would empower parents, teachers, states, and school boards. Although this measure did not pass, I consider it a success that a majority of the majority (161 Republicans) recognized our children are best served when schools have more local control. Students win when parents can know and influence what’s being taught.”

The House just voted on whether we should end the federal Department of Education’s authority to control elementary and secondary education. Removing federal red tape and unfunded mandates would empower parents, teachers, states, and school boards. https://t.co/QF39BfZIGp pic.twitter.com/SQ0nhZ4z5X

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 24, 2023

The vote on the amendment itself garnered only 161 votes- all of them Republican- in its favor. 265 Congressional lawmakers, however, voted in opposition. Mr. Massie himself noted this breakdown when he tweeted that “[y]esterday the House voted on whether to End the US Department of Education’s control over local elementary and secondary education. 161 republicans voted YES, 60 republicans voted NO. All Dems voted NO.”

Yesterday the House voted on whether to End the US Department of Education’s control over local elementary and secondary education.

161 republicans voted YES, 60 republicans voted NO. All Dems voted NO. Here are the votes (Aye = Yea = abolish their power)https://t.co/XHj2Dk0nE5

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 25, 2023

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One Republican lawmaker, Stephanie Bice (R-OK), explained why she failed to vote in favor of the amendment. She simply wrote “I wanted it to be separate from this bill. I want a stand alone vote.”

Because I wanted it to be separate from this bill. I want a stand alone vote.

— Stephanie Bice (@stephaniebice) March 25, 2023

Mr. Massie has introduced such a stand alone bill to the House back in February . This short bill- H.R. 899– simply says that “[t]he Department of Education shall terminate on December 31, 2023.” It has been referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce where it has since languished.

The Parents Bill of Rights Act has passed the Republican House. It finds a less than cordial reception in the Democratic Senate. The Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pledged that “[t]his MAGA House Republican school control bill is Orwellian to the core. It will not see the light of day here in the Senate.”

This MAGA House Republican school control bill is Orwellian to the core.

It will not see the light of day here in the Senate.https://t.co/VrTXBo9pUN

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 24, 2023

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore