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Subscribe to RSSNew Jersey Governor Chris Christie criticizes Congress for delaying relief funds for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
The House GOP came under a blistering bipartisan assault Wednesday for punting on Sandy relief, with Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie complaining he couldn’t even get Speaker John Boehner to return his calls.
Fallout from the surprise vote pullback on a $60 billion aid package mounted by the hour with cries of outrage and calls for revenge.
By late afternoon, it seemed like the onslaught was having an effect. The House scheduled a Friday vote on $9 billion in flood insurance funds, to be followed by a Jan. 15 vote on another $51 billion in assistance.
It was unclear if the larger allocation would pass – or if the belated vote would mollify the New York and New Jersey politicians who unleashed unusually personal attacks against Boehner and other House Republicans.
House to vote on Sandy funding Friday, placating outraged lawmakers
Earlier, New York Rep. Pete King said his Republican colleagues had exposed a bias against the blue states of the Northeast and that anyone from the area who donates money to them “should have his head examined.”
“They can’t count on any vote from me now,” he said on MSNBC.
Christie, who has been touted as a possible White House contender, put the blame for the delay squarely on Boehner and marveled that he called the Ohioan four times before he would take his call.
“Shame on you, Congress,” he said, adding that he has received no explanation for the “disappointing and disgusting” decision.
The $60 billion request for assistance for to victims of Superstorm Sandy has been passed by the Senate, and House supporters were pushing for a Tuesday night vote.
House Speaker John Boehner had quietly decided the House should not pass billions more in spending for Sandy relief, stunning both Democrats and Republicans from the storm-ravaged region. But after being subjected to intense pressure, a vote on some emergency aid will now be held on Friday. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.
Instead, King said, Boehner “just walked off” the floor and had an aide break the news that there would be no vote. The House adjourned on Wednesday without considering the measure; lawmakers are back Thursday for an hour before they gavel in the 113th Congress.
While some Republicans have criticized the aid package for funds not directly linked to Sandy, Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said the speaker is “committed to getting this bill passed this month.”
That promise didn’t quiet the fury.
“Totally obscene,” said Tom Jordan, a former firefighter whose house in Rockaway, Queens, was flooded by the storm that killed 120 people and damaged almost 400,000 homes.
“They’re quibbling about $60 billion? That’s nothing as far as the federal budget goes. They should come down here and see what the beach looks like. They want to wait? We need repairs before the next hurricane season.”
Rep. Michael Grimm, a Republican who represents parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn, called the delay “a personal betrayal.” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand dared Boehner to visit Staten Island, then added that she doubts “he has the dignity nor the guts to do it.”
First Read: 'Betrayal': Congress punts on Sandy recovery funding, infuriating local lawmakers
“They’re a bunch of idiots,” Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro, a Conservative, said of House Republicans. “There’s no other logical reason they’d be doing this.”
Those hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy say they are close to the breaking point, their faith in government flagging. NBC's Anne Thompson reports.
In a joint statement, Christie and New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, accused the house of a “dereliction of duty.”
“When American citizens are in need we come to their aid,” they said. “That tradition was abandoned in the House last night.”
But it was King who really let his Republican colleagues have it.
“The fact is that the dismissive attitude that was shown last night toward New York, New Jersey and Connecticut typifies, I believe, a strain in the Republican Party,” he said on the House floor.
“I can’t imagine that type of indifference, that cavalier attitude being shown to any other part of the country,” he added.
“We cannot believe this cruel knife in the back was delivered to our region… This is not the United States of America! This should not be the Republican Party. This should not be the Republican leadership.”
Although he said he is not thinking of switching parties, King suggested New Yorkers should hit House Republicans who don’t support the bill where it hurts – in the campaign coffer.
“These people have no problem finding New York when it comes to raising money. They only have a problem when it comes to allocating,” he fumed.
“If this is not delivered and very quickly…anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to congressional Republicans after this should have their head examined,” he added on MSNBC.
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., blasts Speaker John Boehner and Congress for delaying action on a bill that would provide aid toward Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.
Boehner is supposed to meet with Republican members of the New York and New Jersey delegations on Wednesday to reassure them that the relief bill will be passed.
But King expressed skepticism about a quick vote, noting a majority of House Republicans don’t support the bill and Washington will be soon be preoccupied with the inauguration and the State of the Union.
President Obama called on the House to bring the bill to a vote immediately and “pass it without delay for our fellow Americans.”
It’s unclear what impact the vote delay with have. The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency testified this month that it had enough funding to “respond to the immediate needs.”
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-California) defended Boehner’s move, blaming the Senate for padding the relief package with non-essential funding.
“The Senate didn’t do their job. They sent us a bunch of pork, and then left town,” he said on “Fox and Friends.”
NBC News' Tom Curry and Frank Thorp contributed to this report.
Mario Tama / Getty Images
Residents of the Northeast are still picking up the pieces after Superstorm Sandy.
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GOP - Grumpy Old Party
Shorther Peter King: What about MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE?!?!?!?!? Also, as you sow, so shall you reap. And, Karma's a b***h. Finally, what party do you think you belong to, you old fool? You belong to the party that cares only for power & for the wealthy & the increase of their wealth. Your bleating about how your constituents have been betrayed shows a remarkable ignorance on your part as to the values your party embraces. Healing the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, housing the homeless? Where are those values reflected in your party's platform?
"Wire Congress", more like "FIRE GOP"
Thank you Rep. King. It took you awhile, but now you see the leaders of the Republican party don't give a flying you know what about American people, only about the elite. Thank you for seeing the light. Now if only the rest of your party, sans the 1 percent who truly benefit, would wake up an realize they are being used like pawns to continue to destroy our country. Thank you sir.
I totally agree with Rep. Peter King, but his remarks will hurt him. He sits on several committees and I think he will be removed from any committees he sits on. King is in for a rough ride.
Big deal, Jim. King's party doesn't get much done anyway (especially with the 112th Congress), so what's the difference in him not being on a committee? Very little will be done either way...
I may be very skeptical, but this seems like a very orchestrated response to get rid of Boehner as speaker. He is being set up by King and the gang leader is Cantor. Cantor is salivating for the speakership.
Boehner has one hell of a tough job-----dealing with Cantor and his 'lunatic fringe!'
I don't blame Boehner for holding off vote on the 60B for Sandy. There are amendments in the bill fixing stuff in Alaska, and a roof in NY that was damaged before the hurricane. Lets just pass a bill that contains direct money to the people hurt by Sandy and not allow the politicians to control the distribution or it won't get to the victims.
Well, don't the Republicans have a majority in the House of Representatives. They can make changes in the bill, so it eliminates other matters.
Exactly right. The house is still trying to find the original bill, the one currently buried by pork
Even if left in the bill, all the "pork" would add up to less than half of 1% of the total cost. Much less than that when you consider that much of what is being called "pork" (such as repairs to roofs and Amtrak) is at least partially related to damage cause by Sandy.
I just watched the Christie press conference and my opinion of him just went way way up.
I also noticed many news outlets covered this live. Well, all except one. Fox was still screaming away about Benghazi, and "pull that drainage catheter out of Hiliary's brain and march her and her boss to jail" obsession they have.
As usual some corrupt politicians added some fat to the Sandy Bill. Spending we cannot afford with today's debt. Those politicians should be castrated.
Sounds like someone here has already had a lobotomy. Amend the bill but pass the aid portions. Doh.
Yes, the GOP showed compassion. This bill offered little money for the victims. They will fight to remove the pork out of it and there will be more money for the victims in it. Read before you comment.
You didn't tell me anything --
The "pork" added up to less than half of 1% of the total bill. Yet I'll bet you dollars to donuts that pork was put in to buy "compassionate" GOP votes.
The Speaker does not understand his role, the true meaning of Leadership, nor the obligations that come with the privileges of his position on the world stage (his primary focus, it seems). Take a historical look at effective, powerful Speakers of the past from both sides of the aisle. They were professional, and respected even during the strongest disagreements. They understood what went into being a good political leader and how to do it well. Republicans - its your decision. This is your leader? This is your party? This is how you want it done??? It shouldn't be. Period.
Boehner? Should be boner. He is an effete little man with visions of grandeur it would seem. Same as all the greedy bastards before him. Screw the middle and lower "class" in his mind and laud the other rich misers like himself. Watch him try to run for 2016 or at least get another Republican puppet in for him to run the rest of us into the dirt.
Just another "little" foul mouthed Napoleon trying to strangle the less privileged. Like most of his ilk.
Oh, you mean Nancy Pelosi. She was the greedy bastard before Boehner.
The Republicans are showing more and more a lack of ability to lead this country. This is a real disgrace.
that's a two-way street.
it has always been about politics, people.......why should you be surprised now?
The Bill is mostly Pork not intended for the Sandy Victims. This is the problem with Washington and why we have Trillions of dollars in debt. Cut everything from the Bill except what is intended for the Sandy Victims then pass it!!
Just more evidence the republican party is fractured beyond repair, that is why I stopped supporting the republican cause in2004, it had become apparent to me a radical faction had seized control of the party.
i'm not sure why mr king and all the other northeast lawmakers are acting all surprised and aghast that congress failed to act on their states' behalf. the answer to this puzzle is quite simple. northeast states almost always vote democrat. it doesnt matter that their citizens are americans. it doesn't matter how much they are suffering. it doesnt matter how much they pay in taxes (alot). it doesnt matter how many troops they send to the front. and 9/11 is such old news, isn't it?
the bottom line is, the citizens of these states are (generally) dems and the u.s.a. house members are on their knees laughing as they screw you guys. frankly, who can blame them? that's what you get for taking a chance and electing a few republicans to represent you. did y'all learn anything from that? probably not.
John Boehner (pronounced 'boner') should be SHOT. He is the enemy.
don't throw that around, A-hole. not even funny no matter how big of a society-sucking democrat you are.
Put Owebama next to him.
How ironic...
BigRedJonson calling Boehner a boner.
The 'p'nalogy is killing me!
Yes, he showed compassion. This bill offered little money for the victims. He will fight to remove the pork out of it and there will be more money for the victims in it. Read before you comment.
If there was ever a politician who should be overthrown by the people of this country, it's John Boehner.
The ""pork" was less than one-half of 1% of the total bill. Don't try to claim that it was rejected on the basis of "compassion". That is Orwellian.
Holly s**t! Been fighting over the economy for going on 5 years, and they still won't pass anything without pork? Line item veto. Spend the money you have to, but for gosh sakes stop the PORK. That will go a long way toward deficit reduction!
they should be blasting that POS harry reid for allowing that bloated, pork-laden bill to leave the senate to start with.
I hate both parties, but boehner got this one right. now, put up a clean bill and pass it you dumbasses.
What do you think the chances are that New Jersey will rermain a blue state?
Yeah, that was rhetorical.
Are the Republicans great at alienating people or what?????
What does Boehner care? he will just tell him to "go F#*% yourself". I am from Ohio and hate that Portman and Boehner are from here.
Katrina, Category 5, 1800 dead. Sandy, Category 1, 100 dead. No comparison. The bleeding hearts on this page happily blame the Republicans. Did the Democrats do any better? Get a clue insurance companies, New York, and New Jersey. Take some responsibility and pay your own damages. Don't count on me to foot the whole bill.
The Republicans blame the Republicans
danman,......There was a republican Congress and Bush was president when Katrina hit, victims where pleading for help while "heck of a job Browny" was trying to figure out whether Louisiana was a red or blue state.
Outside of saving the unborn, republicans could care less about human life. Bush and the republican party had no problem sending Americans off to needless wars and paying for their tanks and bullets, but when they came home maimed with shattered minds, republicans were opposed to paying for their health-care......And to think, the republican party is mostly made up of flag waving, gun totting, Bible thumping Taliban Christians who disrespect the rights of women and the poor.
If there were a definition for Godless people, it would be republicans.
The republicans from these states should get together and elect Nancy Peloci speaker. Not only would it shaft John B. and his ilk, but they would then have much more power than they now have in the tea party dominated Republican majority.
Working with victims of Sandy broke my heart as many lost everything . But GOP scumbags could care less. They are the scum of the earth and lack a heart and a soul. I bet the GOP will not get a single vote in the NortheEast for years. And the Red States need to start paying more as they are the biggest moochers of government aid. I also bet a few of these Republicans in the Northeast will become Independents or Democrats. The GOP shot itself in the foot once more. GOP=Godless Old Pricks.