House rebels blame GOP leaders for falling contributions

FILE - In this Nov. 13, 2012 file photo, House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, left, administers the House oath during a mock swearing in ceremony for Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., right, with his wife Rhonda Massie, on Capitol Hill in Washington. As he began his first re-election run in early 2013, Massis had no trouble raising money from the business community. Through March, he reported $46,000 rolling in from tobacco, trucking, health care and other business groups. And then came 2015. For the first three months of this year, that figure is down to zero. The sole donation he listed from political action committees _ organizations representing business, labor or ideological interests _ is $1,000 from the conservative Eagle Forum. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) FILE - In this Nov. 13, 2012 file photo, House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, left, administers the House oath during a mock swearing in ceremony for Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., right, with his wife Rhonda Massie, on Capitol Hill in Washington. As he began his first re-election run in early 2013, Massis had no trouble raising money from the business community. Through March, he reported $46,000 rolling in from tobacco, trucking, health care and other business groups. And then came 2015. For the first three months of this year, that figure is down to zero. The sole donation he listed from political action committees _ organizations representing business, labor or ideological interests _ is $1,000 from the conservative Eagle Forum. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

By Associated Press April 27, 2015 5 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – As he began his first re-election run in early 2013, tea party Rep. Thomas Massie had no trouble raising money from business interests.

Then came 2015.

The Kentucky Republican voted against returning John Boehner, R-Ohio, to the speaker’s job and opposed an effort by GOP leaders to avoid a standoff with President Barack Obama over immigration that threatened to shut down the Department of Homeland Security.

In the first three months of 2013, Massie reported $46,000 rolling in from tobacco, trucking, health care and other industries. During the first quarter of 2015, Massie has collected just $1,000 from political action committees, which funnel contributions to candidates from business, labor or ideological interests. That money came from the conservative Eagle Forum.

Massie and some other conservatives say the reason their business contributions have fallen is simple: GOP leaders are retaliating for their defiance.