Washington – NY Area Lawmakers: House GOP Scraps Vote On Sandy Aid

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    Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., left, joined by other New York area-lawmakers affected by Superstorm Sandy, express their anger and disappointment after learning the House Republican leadership decided to allow the current term of Congress to end without holding a vote on aid for the storm's victims, at the Capitol in Washington, early Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)Washington – New York-area lawmakers in both parties erupted in anger after learning the House Republican leadership decided to allow the current term of Congress to end without holding a vote on aid for victims of Superstorm Sandy.

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    Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., said late Tuesday he was told by the office of Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia that Speaker John Boehner of Ohio had decided to abandon a vote this session.

    Cantor, who sets the House schedule, did not immediately comment. House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland told reporters that just before Tuesday evening’s vote on “fiscal cliff” legislation, Cantor told him that he was “99.9 percent confident that this bill would be on the floor, and that’s what he wanted.”

    A spokesman for Boehner, Michael Steel, said, “The speaker is committed to getting this bill passed this month.”

    In remarks on the House floor, King called the decision “absolutely inexcusable, absolutely indefensible. We cannot just walk away from our responsibilities.”

    The Senate approved a $60.4 billion measure Friday to help with recovery from the October storm that devastated parts of New York, New Jersey and nearby states. The House Appropriations Committee has drafted a smaller, $27 billion measure, and a vote had been expected before Congress’ term ends Thursday at noon.

    More than $2 billion in federal funds has been spent so far on relief efforts for 11 states and the District of Columbia struck by the storm, one of the worst ever to hit the Northeast. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund still has about $4.3 billion, enough to pay for recovery efforts into early spring, according to officials. The unspent FEMA money can only be used for emergency services, said Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J.

    New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, District of Columbia, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, New Hampshire, Delaware, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts are receiving federal aid.

    Sandy was blamed for at least 120 deaths and battered coastline areas from North Carolina to Maine. New York, New Jersey and Connecticut were the hardest hit states and suffered high winds, flooding and storm surges. The storm damaged or destroyed more than 72,000 homes and businesses in New Jersey. In New York, 305,000 housing units were damaged or destroyed and more than 265,000 businesses were affected.

    “This is an absolute disgrace and the speaker should hang his head in shame,” said Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y.

    “I’m here tonight saying to myself for the first time that I’m not proud of the decision my team has made,” said Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y. “It is the wrong decision, and I’ m going to be respectful and ask that the speaker reconsider his decision. Because it’s not about politics, it’s about human lives.”

    “I truly feel betrayed this evening,” said Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y.

    “We need to be there for all those in need now after Hurricane Sandy,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y.

    The House Democratic leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, said she didn’t know whether a decision has been made and added: “We cannot leave here doing nothing. That would be a disgrace.”


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    5 Comments
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    11 years ago

    Typical Republican action to screw the Northeast (blue) states. After promising a vote, the Boehner et. al. were so angry about losing to Obama and the Dems on the fiscal cliff they decided to “punish” the other side using the only tool they have left. The bill will pass when the new Congress comes in later this week but this only reinforces our view of these disgusting human beings (aka Right Wing Repubicans()

    InsideOne
    InsideOne
    11 years ago

    And still, come next election, I bet that most frum areas will still tilt Republican. Unreal.

    Reb Yid
    Reb Yid
    11 years ago

    Why is it that someone whose home was destroyed by Sandy deserve federal aid, while someone whose home was destroyed by fire or some non-Sandy flood is on his own?

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    11 years ago

    As #1 said, you will notice when areas from the Republican South were hit, Congress were quick with the money-shovel. Now, that Democratic north needs help, no so much.