Thomas Massie had been in Congress less than a year when a colleague approached him with a controversial plan. Rep. Ron DeSantis of Florida, himself a freshman, was urging Republican lawmakers on to the U.S. House floor to rail against a proposed Internet sales tax that had the strong support of retail giants and only muted GOP opposition.
DeSantis’ effort drew fierce pushback. Lawmakers were surprised to receive calls from irate lobbyists before the floor debate even ended, demanding they back off.
Yet the Florida Republican did not waver — a demonstration, Massie says, of how DeSantis responds to critics when his plans come under fire.
