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The outrage over inaction that began on Tuesday night in Washington quickly spread across the country, ultimately drawing the ire of governors and an impassioned plea from the president.

But Republican leadership in the House showed no sign of changing its mind. A $60 billion aid package to help those affected by Superstorm Sandy would not materialize on Wednesday.

"It seems an even sadder commentary on the state of our Congress than we've observed to date," said Paul Lurrie, who lives in Belle Harbor, New York, and had no heat or electricity for three weeks after the storm struck.

He accused House Speaker John Boehner of "petulance" for not bringing the package to a vote as expected.

Rep. Peter King, a New York Republican, slammed his own party.

"The Republican Party has said it's the party of 'family values.' Last night, it turned its back on the most essential value of all, and that's to provide food, shelter, clothing and relief for people who have been hit by a natural disaster," King said in an interview with CNN.

"Anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee should have their head examined," King said. It's very rare for a lawmaker to call on anyone not to support his own party.

The Senate had already passed a bill that would have provided billions of dollars in aid to victims.

President Barack Obama urged the House GOP leadership to hold a vote Wednesday -- the final full day of the current Congress. At noon Thursday, a new Congress will be sworn in, and will have to start from scratch in passing any legislation.



"It has only been two months since Hurricane Sandy devastated communities across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut as well as other eastern states. Our citizens are still trying to put their lives back together," Obama said in a statement.

Noting that the Senate passed the aid package with bipartisan support, Obama said the House "has refused to act," even as some families need support immediately "with the bulk of winter still in front of us."

"When tragedy strikes, Americans come together to support those in need. I urge Republicans in the House of Representatives to do the same, bring this important request to a vote today, and pass it without delay for our fellow Americans," Obama said.

But the House adjourned until 11 a.m. Thursday. It's unknown what may happen in that final hour of the current Congress.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, issued a joint statement saying the "continued inaction and indifference by the House of Representatives is inexcusable."

The aid package put forward by Obama is a "responsible" proposal, the governors said. "This failure to come to the aid of Americans following a severe and devastating natural disaster is unprecedented. The fact that days continue to go by while people suffer, families are out of their homes, and men and women remain jobless and struggling during these harsh winter months is a dereliction of duty.

"When American citizens are in need we come to their aid. That tradition was abandoned in the House last night. The people of our states can no longer afford to wait while politicians in Washington play games."

House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Kentucky, said some aid will be approved in the next Congress.

"FEMA has plenty of money, there's no immediate needs," he said, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"FEMA has enough money to last until at least late February-March anyway."

King, in the CNN interview, said Rogers "doesn't know what he's talking about."

"The FEMA money is not going to rebuild businesses, that's not going to provide food and shelter, and it's not going to reimburse the local governments," he said.

Gov. Cuomo has put storm-related costs at $41.9 billion, while Gov. Christie has estimated a price tag of $36.8 billion.

The bill includes grant funding for owners of homes and businesses, as well as funding for public improvement projects on the electric grid, hospitals and transit systems to prevent damage from future storms.Excerpts from http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/02/politics/house-sandy-aid-vote/index.html
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said today that it was "disgusting" that the House adjourned without voting on a $60 billion relief package for the victims of superstorm Sandy and put the blame squarely on a fellow Republican -- House Speaker John Boehner.

The blunt talking New Jersey governor joined a chorus of Republicans fuming over his decision to pull the bill at the last minute.

Christie said that when it comes to natural disasters, "We respond as Americans, at least we did until last night... it was disgusting to watch."

"In our hour of desperate need, we've been left waiting for help six times longer than the victims of Katrina with no end in sight," said Christie. "Sixty-six days and counting, shame on you. Shame on Congress."
Excerpts from http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/republicans-furious-boehner-failure-all
ocate-sandy-funds/story?id=18114029 outrage after House skips vote on $60 billion Sandy aid bill

The GOP leadership was criticized for what one Republican called a "personal betrayal" after it was decided that the bill would not be considered until the 113th Congress, which convenes at noon on Thursday.

The current session of the House comes to an end officially on Wednesday after the new Congress elected in November gets sworn in. Legislation does not carry over from session to session, so consideration of an aid bill would have to start all over if, as expected, nothing is scheduled before then.

"For the Speaker to just walk out is inexcusable," Representative Peter King, a New York Republican, told reporters. "It's wrong and I'm saying that as a member of the Republican Party."

"I feel it is a personal betrayal," said Representative Michael Grimm, a Republican. "But I think more importantly, when you parse out all the politics, the people of this country that have been devastated are looking at this as a betrayal by the Congress and by the nation, and that is just untenable and unforgivable."

The Senate passed a bill on December 28 by a vote of 61-33 that would provide $60.2 billion in additional aid to victims of superstorm Sandy.

During that vote, 12 Republicans supported the measure, but only after a replacement amendment that would have stripped $35 billion from the bill failed to pass.

"If we get into the next Congress, you have to hit the reset button," said Republican Representative Jon Runyan, who added that the Sandy aid package has been largely drowned out in recent days by negotiations over the "fiscal cliff" tax hikes and spending cuts that were set to kick in starting on Tuesday.

Republicans in Congress say that the Sandy aid bill contains billions of dollars in spending for long-term infrastructure improvements that should compete with other discretionary spending.

Democrats have argued that long-term rebuilding projects such as tunnel repairs would be delayed if the full funding was not approved. They say that businesses would not start to rebuild if they were not confident of reimbursement. Excerpts from http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/02/16295303-bipartisan-ou
trage-after-house-skips-vote-on-60-billion-sandy-aid-bill?lite, sure, we should just put bandaids on the electric grid, tunnels, etc., so the next time a Sandy hits, we can go through it all over again. Suuuuuure.

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The Senate passed a $60.4 billion Hurricane Sandy aid package that includes about $17b for repairing, replacing and strengthening infrastructure. The bill passed 62-32, and altogether provides about $47.4 billion for immediate help for victims and other recovery and rebuilding efforts. From http://www.transportationissuesdaily.com/senate-approves-17-billion-in
-hurricane-sandy-infrastructure-funding/ York Representative Nita Lowey echoed King's disappointment in Boehner. "I truly feel betrayed this evening," she said. "We can pass this bill tomorrow with bipartisan support." The House has for weeks put up resistance to the Senate aid package, which is set to expire on Thursday at noon.

The symbolism of waiting to address the disaster — especially in the wake of the fiscal cliff mess — is enough to rankle just about every politician from the affected areas. "I am stunned, stunned," said Representative Rob Andrews of New Jersey. "I assume there is a tactical consideration here, that the Republican leadership didn't want to be anywhere near a big spending bill after the fiasco of their handling the tax debate. I understand the tactics but there is a real human need here that is being ignored." From http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/01/republicans-stalling-hurr
icane-sandy-relief-bill.html]
Yup, those damned Democrats again, it's all their fault...gawd knows NO Republicans are pissed about it...

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Lawmakers from the affected areas weren’t happy at all. One by one, members gave one-minute speeches pleading with House Speaker John Boehner to put the bill up for a vote.

Republican Peter King said the no-vote was “absolutely indefensible,” adding later that “everybody played by the rules. Except tonight, when the rug was pulled out from under us.” Fellow GOPer Michael Grimm said he now has to go home and tell his constituents that they’ll have to wait even longer for something they should have had a month ago. “I’m not proud of the decision my team’s made,” Grimm said of the “inexcusable” decision.
From http://www.politico.com/morningtransportation/]
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The most likely reason – Boehner is afraid of a revolt from conservatives if asked to spend even more money, even if it is to help victims of one of the greatest disasters in American history. Conservatives don’t care. Remember that GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney called for closing down FEMA in the middle of the Hurricane Sandy.

Washington Post conservative blogger Jennifer Rubin, a Romney surrogate, today called on Speaker Boehner to take out his vengeance on Sandy victims, and that’s exactly what Boehner did. Here’s Rubin:

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I fail to see how legislators prepared to pass a gargantuan Sandy relief bill can claim to be upset over the lack of fiscal discipline…..

There are a number of ways the House Republicans can save face. They can pass two measures (their own fiscal cliff measure and the Senate bill). They can reduce the spending in the Sandy relief bill.

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from http://americablog.com/2013/01/house-gop-kills-hurricane-sandy-relief-
bill-last-act-before-closing-down-congress.html]
So what's in the bill?

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National Flood Insurance Program – $9.7 billion

The bill includes the authorization of a $9.7 billion increase in borrowing authority for the National Flood Insurance Program. This funding will allow insurance claims for flood damages sustained during the hurricane to be paid to home and business owners covered under the program.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) – $5.4 billion

This funding will fulfill near-term needs for the DRF, the most immediate source of relief and recovery funds available to individuals, families, and communities to support ongoing recovery through affected areas. This includes providing individual assistance such as temporary housing, crisis counseling, and disaster unemployment assistance. It also provides funding for public assistance to local communities and certain nonprofits for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and repair, replacement, and restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities and the facilities of certain nonprofit organizations.

Department of Transportation – Federal Transit Authority Emergency Relief - $5.4 billion

This funding will provide reasonable assistance and recovery to the four major affected transit agencies –New York’s MTA, the Port Authority of NY/NJ, New Jersey Transit, and the City of New York DOT Ferries. Language is included in the legislation to provide stringent oversight on the use of funding and the administration of grants.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – $3.9 billion

This funding through HUD’s Community Development Fund will support critical and immediate community needs. This includes repairs to damage sustained by publicly owned hospitals, local roads and utilities, small businesses, etc.

Army Corps of Engineers – $1.35 billion

The bill fully funds the Administration’s updated estimates for Army Corps of Engineers projects for response and recovery to Hurricane Sandy. As was done after previous disasters, these funds will help restore navigation channels, beaches, and other damaged infrastructure to pre-storm conditions. In addition, the bill will provide funds to continue response and recovery activities for flood control, coastal emergency projects, and emergency dredging. The legislation also directs the Corps to submit plans for reducing the threats of future flooding to ensure future funding is responsibly and effectively utilized.

Department of the Interior – $287 million

This funding will help repair national parks, lands and facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior that sustained damage during Hurricane Sandy. This includes funding for immediate repair and recovery needs for national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries along the East Coast, and National Parks, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Department of Health and Human Services – $100 million

The bill provides $100 million in funding for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for disaster response and recovery efforts directly related to Hurricane Sandy. This includes funding for the Social Services Block Grant program for repairs to social services facilities, repairs to Head Start centers, replacement of equipment and resource losses within National Institute of Health studies, etc.

Department of Veterans Affairs – $235 million

This funding will go to repairs and reconstruction at the Manhattan VA hospital and other VA medical facilities, which sustained significant flood damage during the storm. These repairs are urgently needed to provide adequate medical services and care to veterans in the Northeast region, many of whom have had to move to other VA facilities following the storm

Small Business Administration – $161 million

This funding will provide for the immediate needs of the SBA Disaster Loan Program to provide timely, low-interest financing for the repair and rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property for homeowners, renters, and businesses. This funding would also provide grants to assist small businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy with disaster recovery and response problems.

National Guard – $24.2 million

This funding will provide for repairs of a variety of Army National Guard buildings and structures damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

Department of Agriculture – $6 million

This will support replenishing stocks at food banks and soup kitchens in the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy, via the Commodity Assistance Program through the Food and Nutrition Service. http://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=31
5999]

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The Senate bill is considerably less than the $82 billion in aid requested by New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the states that bore the brunt of damage from the storm.

The damage to New York and New Jersey coastal areas was on a scale not seen since Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast and flooded New Orleans in 2005. Two weeks after that storm hit, Congress approved $62.3 billion in emergency appropriations.

Lawmakers passed numerous subsequent emergency funding requests over several years to cover damages from Katrina, which topped $100 billion. A number of Gulf State Republicans supported the Sandy relief bill.FRom http://news.yahoo.com/senate-approves-60-4-billion-superstorm-sandy-re
construction-000707603.html

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Tit for tat got us where we are today. If we want to be grownups, we need to resist the ugliness. If we each did, this would be a better reflection on Firefly and a more welcome place. I will try.

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The GOP works tax rebates for Nascar owners into the "fiscal cliff" deal - and then whines about pork in a bill needed to help people.

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Why have it in an emergency relief bill? Do it later when folks have a chance to actually figure it out, rather than rushing it through with no review.

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There are a number of ways the House Republicans can save face....They can reduce the spending in the Sandy relief bill.

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