Rep.-elect Tom Barrett, R-Mich., says there is an “expectation” that the battle to fund the government coming up in March must be handled more smoothly than the pre-Christmas showdown Congress went through this week. Rep.-elect Tom Barrett, R-Mich., says there is an “expectation” that the battle to fund the government coming up in March must be handled more smoothly than the pre-Christmas showdown Congress went through this week.