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January 3, 2013

House Sets Vote on Sandy Aid After Torrent of Criticism 
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Following a torrent of criticism from within his own party, U.S. House
Speaker John Boehner has set a timeline for voting on $60 billion in
relief for Superstorm Sandy. Boehner has pledged to bring $9 billion in
aid to the floor on Friday followed by a $51 billion package on January
15. Boehner had canceled an expected vote this week on Sandy relief,
prompting outrage from Republicans in northeastern states pounded by the
storm. In particular, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie hammered Boehner,
saying he had called the House Speaker four times Tuesday night after
being informed the bill had been pulled. During a 40-minute news
conference Wednesday, Christie called Boehner’s decision
"disappointing and disgusting to watch" and condemned the GOP’s "toxic
internal politics."

Chris Christie: "In our hour of desperate need we have been left waiting
for help six times longer than the victims of Katrina, with no end in
sight. Americans are tired of the palace intrigue and political
partisanship of this Congress which places one-upmanship ahead of the
lives of the citizens who sent these people to Washington, D.C., in the
first place. New Jerseyans and New Yorkers are tired of being treated
like second-class citizens. Sixty-six days and counting. Shame on you.
Shame on Congress."

 

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