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Subscribe to RSSHouse Republicans have abandoned plans to vote on an aid package for victims of Superstorm Sandy in the current term of Congress after the Senate approved more $60 billion to help affected residents recover. TODAY's Willie Geist reports.
WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives adjourned on Tuesday night without acting on a $60 billion superstorm Sandy disaster aid bill, prompting angry denunciations from members from the states hardest hit by the storm.
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.
"I have just been informed that we will be having perhaps no further votes in this Congress," said Democratic Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland. "I am deeply disappointed at that information. We have millions of our fellow citizens who have been badly damaged by a storm called Sandy."
"We help each other," Representative Rush Holt, a Democrat of New Jersey, said on the House floor. "We always have ... There are thousands of people who are not going back to their homes. They deserve our help."
Mario Tama / Getty Images
Residents of the Northeast are still picking up the pieces after Superstorm Sandy.
They and others pleaded with the Republican leaders of the House to rethink the decision, but few were in the chamber to listen. House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio and Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia are in charge of scheduling the House.
"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."
'Unforgivable'
In a statement, a spokesman for Boehner said: "The Speaker is committed to getting this bill passed this month." That assurance was not enough for the members who have districts that were affected by Sandy.
"I feel it is a personal betrayal," said Representative Michael Grimm, a New York 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."
A bipartisan group of eight lawmakers gathered after protesting the move on the House floor after the House voted late Tuesday night to pass a bill to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff." That bill passed 257-167.
President Obama will sign the "fiscal cliff" legislation approved by a divided House of Representatives, preventing middle class tax hikes and huge spending cuts that many feared could have pushed the economy into a new recession. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.
The October 29 storm devastated New York and New Jersey coastlines with lesser damage felt along coastal areas of Delaware and Maryland.
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.
Full Sandy coverage from NBC News
"It passed the Senate in a bipartisan way," said Representative Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat. "And again, to me this is a real betrayal, a betrayal of the leadership of the Republican Party."
The House had originally planned to consider a two-step bill that would start with $27 billion in supplemental aid, but also include an amendment worth an additional $33 billion. The bill had been split to allow conservative Republicans to vote for a base level of additional aid, but not the entire package, which many Republicans said did not entirely go to those affected by Sandy.
"If we get into the next Congress, you have to hit the reset button," said Representative Jon Runyan, a New Jersey Republican 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.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
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.
Many Republicans in Congress say that the Sandy aid bill contains billions of dollars in spending on projects unrelated to damage caused by the storm or for long-term infrastructure improvements that should compete with other discretionary spending.
Among expenditures criticized was $150 million to rebuild fisheries, including those in the Gulf Coast and Alaska, thousands of miles from Sandy's devastation, and $2 million to repair roof damage that pre-dates the storm on Smithsonian Institution buildings in Washington.
Democrats, including New York and New Jersey senators, 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.
An aide for Cantor said that the House Majority Leader "is committed to ensuring the urgent needs of New York and New Jersey residents are met, and he has been working tirelessly toward that goal."
NBC News' Frank Thorp and Reuters contributed to this report.
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They all fukking suck and not in a good way!
The house passed the bill that NBC wanted what more do you want? The states have money for this and if they cant cover it then they will go into debt for a few years to pay it off. THE COUNTRY IS BROKE! Thats how life works. NBC just lost the "cliff" crap to hang on the republicans neck so now within minutes they are looking for another thinG.
NBC/MSNBC is the propaganda wing of the democrat party. There can be no question about that any more.
this is why we pay so much in taxes. why should our members of government be held over a barrel to pass a bill that gives money to other "causes"? this is what is called "pork". so, in order for victims of Sandy to get relief, force a vote to fix fisheries that were not affected? repair building that were not damaged by the storm? free ride anyone? and who is adding in this pork? most likely the ones crying the loudest this bill wasnt passed, and you the victims of Sandy can blame them.
How can this storm do $60 billions dollars worth of damage to a dump in the first place? For crying out loud, we are talking about New York and New Jersey. These 2 places were already wrecked before the storm. In fact I think the storm may have improved the place. After all we don't hear about Snookie anymore!
Of course the Republican-controlled House skipped out before the Sandy relief vote. They're just punishing Christie a little bit more for becoming Obama's new BFF in the roll-up to the election.
Maybe even getting in a dig at Bloomberg, as well.
Vengeful little bastards, aren't they!
A propaganda wing would be like Fox News who turned off its comment section so as to hear no negative comments on their propaganda juice. They figure if we make it so know one can say anything negative to what we say then we win. Now MSNBC is different, it allows for difference of opinion. I even invites republicans to come in here and post their comments to the contrary of logic. Reason being is that we are right and have no need to hide like Fox News does. So bring on your untruths and say the lies you want to say Republicans, because we know what time it is, and your 15 minutes of spot light are done.
And as far as the 60 billion, I am very upset with the House for not approving that bill.
Are you brain dead? So wish the storm would have leveled your neighborhood, then maybe you would have a little compassion for people in need. Instead your a stuck up Republican who only thinks for yourself. Is that a prerequisite to being a Republican, only thinking of themselves?
As the right wingers continue to troll they just help to destroy the GOP. Good job.
The bill might have been voted on and passed, if The Demos hadn't tried ADDING all the Additional Spending that had NOTHING to do with Storm Sandy..
I blame the Demos for it Not getting voted on..
What part of 35 Billion did some of you folks miss. It's not related to damage from the storm or is it? Is it pork or paybacks?
The writer should have talked about where those funds were going. Only 150 Million was mentioned and that was for Alaska. What about the rest. Give us the whole story instead of one side.
As an Independent voter, I'd like to know where the rest is suppose to go. Come on NBC. I know you have reporters that can write the full story for once! Maybe you could start a trend, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!
I duess the 'Pugs care as much about the victims of Sandy as they did the victims of Katrina. I guess they didn't just hate the NOLAs because they were poor and black. They just hate anyone in need.
$60 Billion dollars? How much pork was stuffed into this bill? Our politicians are idiots.
Just when one thinks that the Republicans' shameful, if not criminal behaviors cannot get any worse, this band of sadists drop themselves even lower on the "scales of morality." By tossing aside the vote to help victims of Hurricane Sandy, the callous GOP wanted to exert "payback" for being cornered into passing the anti-fiscal cliff bill. The right wing seems consumed with inflicting harm on the average citizen. The right-wing elected officials of New Jersey, New York and the other states that were affected by the storm should not be shocked by their fellow brethren's abandonment. Surely, in their private corners, these politicians are aware of the goals of the right. It is a great event that on November 6, 2012, this unpatriotic ilk lost senate seats. It is even better that by a landslide the GOP lost the White House.
The GOP needs to join the Whig Party, become defunct!
It seems clear that the teabaggers won't see reason until they see civilian life and expulsion from leadership.
Honestly, I must admit that I'm surprised they even bothered to vote. I thought their level of indifference was above feeling pressure.
I am sorry to deviate but is that a CRT television behind? OMG .. it already seems such an old thing!! This congress is really old!
Maybe it's time people start excerising their right of the franchise in every election, as if they were all important, and then we maybe we can have real change in government. Vote all of those useless bums out of office, starting with McCain in the Senate along with King and Issa in the House!
So Elliott, you must make > $400k if you are so unhappy with the way Congress just put on their BIG BOY pants to save the middle class from getting rammed up the uhoo by tax increases. As to the Sandy money, I would also bet if it was your neighborhood or the Hamptons, measures would have passed to get it cleaned up! We are in class warfare these days and until the Rich can learn to pay more to help the country out, like learning to live on $19m instead of $20m the fight rages.
I grew up in NJ and have many friends there. The state needs help. That said, why do they continue with these stupid bills that load on the pork? Why is the "cliff" bill 153 pages with tax bennies for racetracks, etc? This is why nothing really gets fixed.
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!
I see all the limp-wristed bleeding heart Liberals/Progressives are on here wringing their weak little hands about this outrage.
Of course money is never an issue to Liberals because they NEVER contribute, they just TAKE! You have no idea how or where this money will be used, just give it the typical Liberal knee-jerk reaction and throw more of our hard earned tax dollars at it.
In a related article on PMSNBC last Friday, they claimed the bill was for $60.4 billion NOT $60.2 billion. Although this is "just" a difference of $200 million, I will wager that, at the time of this post, the 100 people commenting would love to get 2 million each. The point is, you never know where our government-wasted tax dollars go.
Here is the previous article link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50315533/
Now, what this article didn't tell you is how the $60.2 billion (or $60.4 billion) will be dispersed.
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated about $8.97 billion of the Senate bill would be spent in 2013, with another $12.66 billion spent in 2014 and $11.59 billion spent in 2015.
So this will take 3 years to get used.
But wait, when you add these three disbursements it only adds up to $33.22 billion!!!!!!
So, where is the rest? Where is the other $27.18 billion?
Hmmmmmmm, can you say, PORK? Sure you can.
The Barrack Hussein administration takes the, "Never let a good crisis go to waste" mantra and rides it just like every other government "relief" package. Everything starts out with good intentions and then the "pork pencils" come out and EVERYONE, whether from the affected areas or not, starts tapping into the government ATM. The problem is, this is still borrowed money.
Here's just some of the "other projects" the disaster relief will be used for.
The pork-barrel feast includes more than $8 million to buy cars and equipment for the Homeland Security and Justice departments. It also includes a whopping $150 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to dole out to fisheries in Alaska and $2 million for the Smithsonian Institution to repair museum roofs in DC.
An eye-popping $13 billion would go to “mitigation” projects to prepare for future storms.
Mitigation means, how to plan for the next disaster. Don't you think by now, after umpteen hurricane's, hundreds of tornado's and thousands of floods, the government would have a solid disaster plan in place for just about any problem?
Of course not. Over 20% of this "aid" money will go to figuring out how to screw up the next "disaster relief response". Hell, Katrina victims are still waiting for all their "relief".
There's more in this link.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/little_help_here_1kW6aQ8fElj4CKwbheEV0N
Of course, no one will consider privatizing this because our criminal government does such a great job, right?
Just think back to the days immediately after Sandy hit. Remember the controversy of running the "New York Marathon"?
Literally within a day or two after the storm hit the company(s) contracted to set up the marathon had a massive tent with generators, food, water and Porta-Potty's set up with a "Starting Line", complete with sponsor logo's, ready to go. The "Starting Line" was supposed to be on Staten Island, one of the hardest hit areas.
Our government "relief" teams were nowhere to be found. Hell, at one point FEMA closed its offices because of “BAD WEATHER”.
Our government is inefficient, unsustainable and corrupt. Hurricane Sandy just exposes it more and more.
The Orange Boner looked the bill over...."hummm....nothing in this for me. Screw the people hit by Sandy. Let's go get drunk".
Read and COMPREHEND!!
Many Republicans in Congress say that the Sandy aid bill contains billions of dollars in spending on projects unrelated to damage caused by the storm or for long-term infrastructure improvements that should compete with other discretionary spending.
Among expenditures criticized was $150 million to rebuild fisheries, including those in the Gulf Coast and Alaska, thousands of miles from Sandy's devastation, and $2 million to repair roof damage that pre-dates the storm on Smithsonian Institution buildings in Washington.
The BLAME lies on the democrats who like PORK!!
and here is the class warfare I referred to...
How can any intelligent person make a comment like this? I am a Liberal and worked for 45 years and paid a ton of taxes and now I am retired and concerned with how I will make it through this period.
I love how Elliot pins the failure of the GOP on NBC. Were the dozens of outraged republicans also working for NBC, Elliot? When the news reports the ugly truth about your party, try not to blame the news... doesn't really help your party.
And Fedup? Perhaps YOU failed to read and comprehend. The house had already lined up a two-part vote to allow republicans to vote on JUST the sandy relief package, and then a separate vote for the pork spending. Kinda hard to blame Democrats for pork when the bill actually didn't have pork... but I'm sure you'll find a way.
Media FEEDS the Problem!
Listen how they rub DEFEAT in the noses of the Republican party.
That's all they have been spouting since the fiscal cliff bill was voted.
This isn't a Football Game where commentators give a play by play.
Our nation is failing because there are too many self serving interests who pass the blame onto others, while they are a significant portion of the problem?
Why aren't the headlines, "Gridlock Broken As Leadership Compromises For The Good Of Our Nation." ????
Just another sign that if Cantor and Bonehead stay as leaders of the republican No Party America and Americans are in for another disaster the next term of Congress! These two should be strung up! Is anybody sure that they are even members of the human race. I pray to God for their demise!
There are 151 republicans and 16 democrats who need to ask God to be forgiven and to withhold a vote on Sandy Relief is cruel and inhuman! Thanks Bonehead and Cancer!
23skidoo,
That is easy! Republicans aren't intelligent they are rich and greedy!
This is the bill that spends 90% of Obama's tax increase in 1 second. Obama refuses to cut anything.
Therefore, the country continues into a financial black hole.
Liberals....Maybe if Obama agreed to actually cut something, we would have money for Sandy relief.
When will you people get it....It's the spending. You blame Republicans for not taking the country into deeper debt, but none of you are willing to make the country financially stable so that it can take care of people.
Republicans claim to be so concerned with the debt but have no problem padding on the pork to every bill. Neither side should be able to add any spending to any bill that isn't the main focus of the bill. Clearly fisheries in Alaska has nothing to do with Sandy. An article I read before the election showed Ryan fighting for several billion in pork for his district including sewage treatment and some kind of ethanol conversion plant as well as funding from Obamacare.
1st place... lets get some things straight. Obama hangs out with a lot of millionars from Hollywood to sports arenas... and most of them are from the left he hangs out with.
second NO BILL should pass that isn't just for what it is intended!!! Cut all the junk added to it and the amount could be cut in half.
Just think, the cost to fly the presdents plane is approx $190,000. and hour orabout $3,166 a minuite....
He just flew round trip to Hawaii and went back again (all within 2 weeks) at approx $4,000,000.00 (that's 4 million by the way round trip) or a total of 8 million for his vacation just in flight costs. How many houses would that have fixed up if he cared???? You get what you vote for sometimes I guess
Plus Obama just signed a bill to give them all raises!!!! Do you really think any of them deserve one? Remember they are our employees and I for one don't think they deserve it. In fact I think they should all not be paid till they get their job done and done right for once!!!
Hey Jim Spence.... I have worked for more than 40 years for a paycheck, raised 3 decent tax paying"American sons, and paid taxes myself for all that time. If the US can't take care of its own what good is it? Thanks to this country ignoring or denying climate change, we are stuck with the costs of keeping our people safe in an ever more destructive natural world. It's not going to get better, it's going to get worse so DEAL. We have to rebuild our northeast infrastructure after Sandy and prepare for more like it. If our national budget requires cutting, how about the defense contractors who bleed America dry? How about large corporations who ship American jobs overseas and reap windfall profits? I absolutely agree that someone needs to "mind the store". Greedy contractors who seek to profit from post-disaster government contracts need to be stopped. In fact, their names should be published so the people know who cares more about the bottom line than storm ravaged Americans.
Gov. Christie should consider becoming an independent or a democrat. The current republican party is not a club any decent and rational person should want to be a part of.
The Tea Parties and sleaze mongers (i.e. Limbaugh and Beck) have put their kiss of death on the GOP.
Larry,
We don't call him lying Ryan in Janesvile for nothing!
why would they have to vote on aid for sandy? iwatched obama tell that poor lady on tv not to worry he was going to take care of everything. no red tape he was going to fast track everything himself! what? he lied ? misled? forgot ? empty promise? i think thats it empty promise just like all the rest of his bs!
It is so funny to see Republicans arguing for more government handouts to their constituents while trying to cut every social program still on the books. F...king crooks and hypocrites...
It's official: The Party of No is a terrorist organization.
clwyd..you also call him "congressman". what gives?
The Republicans, the party of "all for me, and F@^% You, strike again. Southern Republicans can't stand money going to mostly Democratic states.
Shea,
I call him a lot of things and if you read my past posts he usually won by 70%+ when he was elected. He won't by receiving 56% this time and with the B $ the republicans have been pulling Lying Ryan will be out the next election. A congressman who lies no more!
Why don't you open your eyes and let everyone know how your colon is looking today. Same with anyone who gives you a thumbs up.
"You're all wolfboys".........When you don't need help, you're doing OK. When you need it, you'll come knocking beotch's.......
Look at New Orleans. They build 10 feet "below" sea level and built sea walls to keep the water out whereas, we're above sea level here in NJ. Sandy was the largest Hurricane in NJ, NY's history so pull your head out of your ass and wake up....
Where do you live? CA? Pfffffft...
You should realize who you're going to be poking at before you write such BS dude.....A-H....
I simply do not have the words to describe the senseless, selfish, and arrogant leadership of the Republican Party in the U.S. House of Representatives. They are perhaps some of the most devious and selfish people in this country! Seems the only things which concern them are their own self interests!
I have to wonder just where everyone has been for the past untold years. Congressional members have always passed huge "pork" deals in their own districts..many helping themselves out in the process....It would be interesting to know which congressional reps wanted the pork deals. We voters need to pay much more attention to what those elected millionaires in congress are doing with our tax money...and we all need to know just what that money is spent on...no matter what....it is time for us NOT to be held in the dark anymore and continue to allow congress to do as it pleases as this congress has surely done.
Here's the breakdown on the stats of this bill, I post here so the reader can decide what is 'pork' and what isn't:
$11.5 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's chief disaster relief fund
$17 billion for community development block grants, much of which would help homeowners repair or replace their homes.
$11.7 billion would help repair New York City's subways and other mass transit damage and protect them from future storms.
$9.7 billion would go toward the government's flood insurance program.
$5.3 billion would go to the US Army Corps of Engineers to help mitigate flood future risks and rebuild damaged projects.
$150 million for fisheries disasters that would go toall coastal fisheries projectsnot just the ones affected in the New England states.
The bill's provisions will cover damage from Hurricane Isaac, as well as Hurricane Sandy. And while money from this bill will be going mostly to NY and NJ, CT, DC, WVA, VA, MD, NH, DE, RI, PA, and MA will also be receiving funds from this bill.
The Senate voted on this Friday, passed it 62-32. It went on to the House of Reps to be voted on, but Speaker Boehner and Eric Cantor adjourned the House session without calling it to a vote.
Our town newspaper again has out a poll about the fiscal cliff. It asks which party or person have you lost respect for? Republicans, open your eyes as to what you have done to your party and image! 78% said republicans, 5% said the president 7% said democrats and 10% said both! Wait till the next set of elections you worthless right wing nut case teabuggers and greedy republicans!
Whoever built New Orleans (10 feet below sea level) and filled it with Democrats is a freakin genious...
I'm all for getting money into the Alaska fisheries. The tsunami in Japan unleashed a huge volume of garbage into the Pacific which is drifting via the ocean currents into a major source of protein in the human diet. The fisheries resources of the Atlantic Ocean have been diminished decades ago. Garbage on the west coast, garbage on the east coast in the nations food supply from the oceans, and where's the Red Cross for that problem generated from natural disasters?
Diabolical!!!!
Can you ever believe these House RepubliCONs would even politicize much-needed disaster relief??
WOW? Can you?? They just did!!!
A new low for the House GOP!!!!!
what happened to OBAMA'S PROMISE TO CUT THRU THE RED TAPE AND GET SANDY VICTIMS THE HELP THEY NEEDED BACK WHEN SANDY HAPPENED????????? When will you dems realize that the man you so love is a liar and the very thing you accuse the Repubs of being...all about himself!!!
Boner and Cantor the Kapo strike again, I watched the statements on C-Span last night, the outrage was truly bi-partisan. The Republican leadership will end up causing the party to split in two if they continue to act as they do. People need help now, it cannot wait, those who have survived devastating hurricanes know this and you can tell by the posts who has and who hasn't. This is really shameful.
23 skidoo
Hmmmmm, so a comment like this upsets your sensibilities?
A generalization like that upsets you, but as a Liberal you probably accept the typical Conservative bashing, right?
When you Libbies accuse all Republicans/Conservatives of wanting to pollute the air, water and dispose of nuclear waste in your children’s bedrooms? How about the bobble-head nonsense you all spew about us wanting poor people to die in the streets? Or maybe we just want to push your grandma over a mythical cliff?
I suppose this isn’t considered class warfare in the Liberal cabal.
Hypocrites!
Hmmmmm, so it bothers you now? After submitting for 45 years to irrational, criminal and unfair taxation, you finally get concerned?
Guess what Spanky, you should have been worrying about that 45 years ago, 35 years ago, 25 years ago. It's to late now. Ypu already submitted your hard earned money to the bottomless pit known as government. See how much better they invested YOUR money. Why aren't you happy? You Libbies claim we shold all just give all our money to the criminals in our government and be happy with what they give us back.
Suckers!
But, but, but the government told you all those years if you just give them more and more of your hard earned money, everything would be ok, didn’t it? I mean doesn’t S.S. and Medicare and everything else make your life perfect in retirement? I’ve watched the “Life of Julia” video on Barrack Husseins web site, it tell us that government will take care of you from the womb to the tomb.
Didn’t you have enough money to save more for your retirement after you paid for all those taxes that were supposed to go to all that “General Welfare” nonsense you Libbies promote so much? How about the $17 trillion we have spent on the “war on poverty” that was supposed to fix everything and in the meantime we have just as much poverty today as we did in 1965.
Maybe if you wanted more INDEPENDENCE rather than corrupt government you wouldn’t be having a problem "getting through this period".
Sorry, Hurricane Sandy is such last month's news that our kneejerk politicians don't even notice it anymore. They got their votes by paying attention that week, but now they have hot irons of the fiscal cliff and gun control, so you don't get noticed anymore. It's far more important to create new laws, regulations, spending, and taxes while they have the leverage.
Please remember that it's far too difficult for our "representatives" to formulate a national budget when they have to think about the fiscal cliff, etc. etc. etc. so don't begin to think that they have time to think about you. Don't forget to vote!
Davefrom... You are a moron. Where is it you live? Some deep south red neck hillbilly trailer park somewhere.
Yes, someone is trying to take advantage of those affected by Sandy by padding the relief bill in adding completely unrelated items. It is despicable that someone would try to take advantage of those affected by this tragedy. But clearly the Senate is playing games. They added items completely unrelated to Sandy, and are trying to railroad this through, and creating fake public outcry.
What a sham. The whole world can see the scam the Senate tried. They should be ashamed of themselves. Fisheries in Alaska, expanding Amtrak service to NY...this is part of Sandy relief. Nice try Senator Reid.
Don't blame Republicans when you get called out for running a scam in the name of hurricane relief.
The bill is called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, HR1, and the full text can be found here:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr1eas.pdf
While the focus is on Hurricane Sandy relief, it's generally supposed to cover ALL areas of the US that have been affected by disasters in the last year up to December 28 2012. This bill actually is simply amendment riders to an Act the House of Reps already passed that details defense spending:
In the Senate of the United States, December 28, 2012. Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 1) entitled ‘‘An Act making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes.’’, do pass with the following AMENDMENTS:
Strike all after the enacting clause, and insert in lieu thereof: That the following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for fiscal year 2013, and for other purposes, namely: HR 1 EAS SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE
TITLE I DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE5 AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS FARM SERVICE AGENCY
EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM For necessary expenses for the ‘‘Emergency Conservation Program’’, $25,090,000, to remain available until expended, of which $15,000,000 is for expenses resulting from a major disaster declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (4213 U.S.C. 5121 et. seq.): Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
EMERGENCY FOREST RESTORATION PROGRAM For necessary expenses for the ‘‘Emergency Forest Restoration Program’’, $58,855,000, to remain available until expended, of which $49,010,000 is for expenses resulting from a major disaster declared pursuant to the Robert T.22 Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (4223 U.S.C. 5121 et. seq.): Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency require HR 1 EAS ment pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM For necessary expenses for the ‘‘Emergency Watershed Protection Program’’, $125,055,000, to remain available until expended, of which $77,085,000 is for expenses resulting from a major disaster declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et. seq.): Provided, That unobligated balances for the ‘‘Emergency Watershed Protection Program’’ provided in Public Law 108–199, Public Law 109–234, and Public Law 110–28 shall be available for the purposes of such program for disasters, and shall remain available until expended: Provided further, That such amounts are designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
DOMESTIC FOOD PROGRAMS FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE COMMODITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM For an additional amount for the emergency food assistance program as authorized by section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036(a)) and section HR 1 EAS1 204(a)(1) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 19832 (7 U.S.C. 7508(a)(1)), $15,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2014: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provisions of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (the ‘‘Act’’), the Secretary may allocate additional foods and funds for administrative expenses from resources specifically appropriated, transferred, or reprogrammed to restore to states resources used to assist families and individuals displaced by Hurricane Sandy among the states without regard to sections 204 and 214 of the Act: Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 99–15 177), as amended.
Apparently Speaker Boehner can call to a vote an act detailing additional defense spending but can't call to vote a couple of amendments to that defense spending that would include spending for domestic disaster relief. In my opinion, that makes him a poor candidate for the position of third-in-line-for-the-Presidency should something happen to President Obama or VP Biden.
Obama
The mistake that just keeps giving.
What a joke.
Who the hell are you talking to? Storms and floods and fires hit the South and Southwest long before your area was hit and the vile and hateful comments on the Vine made the demons in hell cringe.
Some of us warned our fellow Americans to take care, that what goes around, comes around.
So, John Boehner was late for happy hour and Eric Can't won't vote on anything thats good for the country. This is exactly why repulsivecons will lose control of the House in 2014.
Vote every republican out of every office every chance you get America.
hmm. So your saying this is wrong? Newscorp has proven this to be a very profitable business model so why wouldn't NBC follow thier lead on this? When the people on the right complaign about when the people on the left beat them at thier own game, it is downright hilarious. In my opinion MSNBC is to the left what FOX is to the right, with one notable difference: MSNBC is far better at it.
YOU either deal with it or we all agree we need to develope a national news system that is truthful, fair, and politically neutral. Nah, what fun would that be?
Does anyone think Peter King is a little upset with his own party? If anyone didn't believe the Republican Party was in self-destruct mode before, they might want to take another look now.
I keep remembering Charlie Christ's remark about there being no place in the Republican Party for a moderate, and I wouldn't exactly call Peter King a moderate. When you start getting Republicans standing up in rather large groups with the Dems to bash The Republicans....people running the party might want to start paying attention.
My Father, Grandfather, Grandmother and on and on would be rolling over in their graves about how their party is being run now!
I know this is hard for House Republicans to do, but if they don't like what is in a bill, they can amend it to remove what they don't like.
I know that Republicans can't do more than one thing at one time. They got so caught up in cleaning up the mess they created in the summer of 2011 that they forgot that the world moves on.
Remember this in 2014. Remove the TeaPublican party from power.
The word "conservative" has no place in basketball, football, or government.
Uh, well, let me see, aren't both Alaska and the Gulf coast Red States? I can agree that it seems like pork for sure to add benefits to a Sandy relief bill but give me a break, those are GOP states asking for and GOP memebers adding these benefits to the bill. But then the know nothing jerks here want to make it a Dem issue. I doubt it. But who cares after the way congress is acting I think we all need to start planning to VOTE AGAINST THE INCUMBENT at every upcoming election for the next 6 years. The result would be a strong message to represent your district and your constituents.
TO: gordo13 who wrote:
Yadda yadda yadda, Republicans blame the Dems for all of the Republicans' f-ups, and, by the way, it's always been Republicans that load up bills with "pork barrel spending".
Just ask John McCain who has been complaining for decades about how Republicans are the biggest "pork barrel spenders" in Congress.
Or you can ask Haley Barbour, a Mississippi Republican who became famous for lobbying, and getting money for his home state, by adding pork barrel spending onto bills that were likely to pass.
@ clwyd
If they aren't intelligent then how did they manage to become rich? You don't get rich by being stupid, unless you're fortunate enough to win the redneck retirement plan (i.e. the lottery).
Kudos to Amanda and American girl for good posts. For the Bush years, the real king of Pork was the Alaskan Senator Ted STevens who made sure Alaskans got twice the pork per head as any other state citizens.
The GOP is crazy. They talk about deficits like deficits are the worst thing in the world, but when push comes to shove, everything that the GOP did to get to this fical cliff deal increased the deficit. They just cannot make the hard decisions, so instead, they take from the least politically powerful, like harming the victims of a major hurricane, or the old and sick. All for the protection of the top 1% who are richer than God already. The GOP is so corrupt it is sickening; look at DeMint leaving for a $8m/yr propaganda job at Heritage, or Dick Morris pocketing all the conservative donation money he collected to defeat Obama, or Dick Armey getting an $8m bribe to leave teh Tea Party membership post.
Conservatives - is reducing the deficit important to you? Are you aware that everything the GOP did in this fiscal cliff increased the deficit, and makes for more borrowing? How do you square that with your stated focus?
TO: weusall who wrote:
I think conservatism has its place, it's just that the ones who called themselves "conservatives" during the last Republican Administration were not "conservative" at all, and just turned out to be too unfair to the American People.
All while Republicans rage against helping the American People, they give all too quickly and all too much of the American People's hard earned money to overseas interests and foreign countries, and at the same time try to make us feel ashamed about THEM destroying our economy and forcing some to look towards government for a solution.
Oneslackr -
A lot of rich people get that way by having zero ethics and greed as thier only guidance. To say that people are more wealthy because they are smarter is just pure ignorance. Next I suppose you will say Paris Hilton worked her butt off for what she has.
1.3
I sat in te SENATE CHAMBERS for 4 hours on Friday Night when they passed the SANDY aid.
YOU
SICKEN
ME
Time to bring back tar and feathering, and run them out of town on a rail. Who are these people?
TO: opine121 who worte:
When are YOU going to realize that all spending bills have to originate in Congress?
In your rush to blame President Obama for everything under the sun, you haven't yet found a proper way to pin any blame on the President.
You forgot to mention that after adjourning the house, they ran their asses off to their cars along with their body guards...
Amanda,
I was also reading your #1.55. Sorry I couldn't finish it. I only get a 1 hour lunch.
Have a n9ce day...
CD
$60 million is the same amount as the new tax hike on the rich for 2013. Wow, Congress had already spent it. So cut some pork out of the Sandy bill and then congratulate each other on how fiscally responsible you now are. The media can dance, sing and pontificate to the left-wing libs about their successful bashing of the right again. Meanwhile, the little people suffer. Washington, you are an orchestrated disaster of fools.
$60 Billion over 3 years....Who's gonna keep track of where all this money really goes ???....Joe "Summer of Recovery" Biden.....Yeah, he did such a bang up job with the $800 Billion Stimulus....
When it does not affect them, they will reject it! That is so typical of the far right. They cannot see beyond the tips of their noses...selfish little bastards is what the GOP has become.
And who would reject a bill that helps to create jobs; the jobs that will have a domino-effect on local businesses in a positive manner? Oh, the GOP since they are all for off-shoring; off-shoring of jobs and off-shoring of money! That's a no-brainer and I saw this one coming from a million miles away.
I believe in Karma, it will come back and bite them in the ass eventually!! A good way to get back at the GOP...do not vote them (the ones who walked out) back into office when their time is up!! It is that simple!!
American Girl-724855
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
A new analysis by a group of federal-spending watchdogs shows a striking imbalance between the parties when it comes to earmark requests. Democrats remain raging spenders, while Republicans have made enormous strides in cleaning up their act.
In the Senate, the GOP made only one-third as many earmark requests as Democrats for 2011, and in the House, Republicans have nearly given up earmarking altogether — while Democrats roll on.
The watchdog groups — Taxpayers for Common Sense, WashingtonWatch.com, and Taxpayers Against Earmarks — counted total earmark requests in the 2011 budget. Those requests were made by lawmakers earlier this year, but Democratic leaders, afraid that their party’s spending priorities might cost them at the polls, decided not to pass a budget before the Nov. 2 elections. This week, they distilled those earmark requests — threw some out, combined others — into the omnibus bill that was under consideration in the Senate until Majority Leader Harry Reid pulled it Thursday night. While that bill was loaded with spending, looking back at the original earmark requests tells us a lot about the spending inclinations of both parties.
In the 2011 House budget, the groups found that House Democrats requested 18,189 earmarks, which would cost the taxpayers a total of $51.7 billion, while House Republicans requested just 241 earmarks, for a total of $1 billion.
Your hypocrisy is only surpassed by your Liberal/Progressive delusions.
Nice try Spanky.
You are absolutely correct! Lies and deceit is what the public gets presented by their so called representatives and the media.What does Alaska's fish crap has to do with the storm. By the way, as long as Alaska can pay out dividends from oil to their citizens, what do they need my tax money for? Liars!
MMos-575010, #1.9- EXCELLENT! I think the new "NAY" should be "NEI" (NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION)
Amanda-2017567, #1.44- EXCELLENT! What would have been so hard about doing what you just did there, to begin with? That said, I don't think NOW is the time to try and tie Sandy Relief in with other things. "Sandy" is not a Comprehensive issue and "Sandy" is not "Issac", etc. (P.S. While I've got you here, Sorry I wasn't able to get back to you a while ago, on another post). I really have very limited time to spend on these posts and just try to do a little for a lot of People who have NO TIME to try and keep up, at all. Isn't that why we have the Press? Happy Holidays to you on this 10th Day of Christmas! (10 Lords-a-leapin':)
I'm actually getting ready to take issue (conversely) with something like that in my State, where they (The Press) have just released a big long list of budget cuts, just the amount and to which Department and want to call THAT good. NEI (NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION). And not even a link to where One could go and see, specifically, exactly how each cut is being proposed to play out, or whether or not such a site even exists, never mind even their own call for such answers. $47,000 cut to this Department, $120,000 cut to this one, $500,000 cut to this one, MEGA MULTI MILLION CUT TO THIS ONE, $FRACTION OF A CUT to the EXECUTIVE BRANCH, etc...... ?????
Creekdog;
I wasn't going to mention that because I wanted to leave emotion out of it. My intent was to simply present the facts; what money was being spent, who it was going to, and what it would be used for. I was trying to leave politics out of it and let people decide for themselves based on just facts.
But you're right, I believe that Boehner simply wanted to get on with the holiday partying than the stuff Americans would be concerned about.
Holiday Partying? They worked all night Amanda. If you've been following this you'd know that.
The Senate should have delt with this weeks ago. Not wait until the last minute, while cry babies like you blame the GOP for not getting anything done, so they'd vote in a panic set off by people reading what the liberal press fed them.
Shipwrecked:
Alaska's fisheries have sustained losses due to debris from the Japan tsunami that has been damaging fishing equipment, buoys and boats. while no, it does not have anything to do worth Sandy herself, the bill that the Senate was trying to get Boehner to call a vote on was disaster relief for ALL areas affected in 2012.
Also, you have to understand practically everything on this earth is interconnected if the Alaska fisheries are damaged and can't produce (or production is limited), the demand for food gets shifted to other fisheries. If those fisheries are damaged as well and nor producing, the price of seafood goes higher resulting in higher grocery bills for Americans as well as any other industries that depend on the fisheries' products.
We are all interconnected, what affects one affects everyone. You may not see those invisible ties holding everything together, but they ARE there. you may not see the value in a certain measure, but rest assured that someone else has, or it would have never been suggested--and passed with a majority Senate vote and substantial support in the House.
Told you so:
Bills have to pass the House before they go to the Senate. Then the Senate passes it back to the House with suggested changes. The House then votes on those changes. If it passes the House, it goes to the President to be signed.
The same thing happened in this case as with every other bill. The House passed a bill making appropriations for defense spending.
The Senate said,"Okay, we like it, but while you're approving money for defense spending can we suggest that some money be put into disaster relief for everyone in the US who was affected by a disaster this year?" They sent the House bill back to the House with Senate-approved amendments on Friday Dec 28.
It was up to House Speaker John Boehner to call the House to a vote on the Senate's amendments, and based on this article, apparently the House majority would have voted for it--but Speaker Boehner never called it to the vote, preferring instead to hold it over till 2013's session of Congress. which starts on Thu--tomorrow.
Now, it may not seem like a big deal to many--hold over until Congress's next session--but for those affected by disasters in 2012, who, if this measure had passed, might have been able to apply for some financial relief on their taxes, now they may have to wait until tax time next year to obtain financial assistance. And in the meantime, the small-business owner may lose their business, so next year's tax relief might be too late to save their businesses.
And that's why Speaker Boehner's neglecting to call these Senate amendments to the House Defense Spending bill to a vote is such a big deal--and why both Democrat and Republican reps are upset about the delay.
Mystery Rhee;
another poster and I were going back and forth yesterday about this same thing--the other poster said that we should expect our government to tell us the details f the whole fiscal cliff deal.
My response to that was why expect the government to tell us anything? Why wait for them to tell us what we want to know when a little research can turn up the facts we need to draw our own conclusions?
No government or ruling party, no matter how good or good-intentioned, is ever 100% honest with the people. A well-educated, free-thinking, enlightened populace is the best protector of civil rights and freedoms.
Look at the extremists in the middle East; kept ignorant/illiterate and unable to read their own holy book for themselves, they depend on what their power-hungry religious leaders tell them and that has led to so much misunderstanding, death and destruction. Why do you think the Taliban are so set against educating girls--even in the face of their Prophet Muhammad's injunction that everyone should seek wisdom?
Oneslackr.....you said:
First: most republicans are not "rich". Mostly, only those who have historically controlled the GOP are wealthy.
Second: most truly wealthy folks (net worth > $25000k) are the beneficiaries of inherited wealth (aka "old money"). The remainder of the mega-rich are often those with unusual (and highly compensated) talents such as sports and entertainment personalities.
Third: Those who are financially successful, but not mega-rich, are not necessarily any more intelligent then their peers. But, they are often driven (to obtain wealth) (aka greedy) far more than most of their peers.
Consider Albert Einstein. He was, by most folks' reckoning, one of the most "intelligent" people to have ever lived. Yet, he was an average student and was not among the super-wealthy. He had little interest in becoming wealthy. His interests were FAR more lofty.
You may have heard that "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven". Further, the problems of wealth are not confined to Heaven. Many wealthy folks never really know if the (apparent) affections of their family and friends are true or feigned (for some material reward). How much is that worth?
It might be said that the TRULY intelligent among us actively avoid wealth. Several, such as this, are well known and revered historical figures. One of the best known (in the western world) was born around this date two thousand and thirteen years ago. Perhaps you believe, because He had very few possessions, He was not very intelligent.
Amanda, #1.84- I think the answer to "Why they should?" is that the answer is the basis of "ACCOUNTABILITY". (which, by the way, is missing) But, it's also a two-way Street; and how many times are they "not telling" because "they're NOT being asked".....or "Pressed" for the answers.
I saw a really good article the other day about the Conn Shooter's DNA and the posts that followed were amazing....including this one where the Poster was questioning a Rep from MSNBC or whatever it was and he had really framed the questions so well! NO ESCAPE ROUTE....here are the questions. Not "obnoxiously" so or cornering..........but in a manner that presented as there being NO REASON why these questions couldn't or shouldn't be answered. The Government IS ANSWERABLE (Accountable) to The People. But obviously they're not, if no one is asking the Question/s.
How absurd (but true) was the stated sentiment that this Campaign isn't going to run on Fact Checking???
Thanks for your reply. Again, Happy Holidays!
Oneslackr
@ clwyd
If they aren't intelligent then how did they manage to become rich? You don't get rich by being stupid, unless you're fortunate enough to win the redneck retirement plan (i.e. the lottery).
LOL So I guess oneslacker thinks Britney Spears is a Mensa member. Hell, she's worth more than Romney. She must be simply brilliant! Yes slacker, one can be stupid and get incredibly wealthy. Which is good news because it means you too can become wealthy.
TO: gordo13 who wrote:
Seems to me that you haven't been listening to Republican Governor Chris Christie's comments on this subject, cause he sure ain't blaming the Democrats AT ALL.
On the video, King says that the vote is "coming". Well, if he waits long enough Christmas is coming also.
Alaska fisheries? The Smithsonian? Tunnels? Pork, pork, pork. This is how we get $16 trillion in debt. Storm damage should be covered by insurance. State Farm. Allstate. Etc. Not the Federal treasury, the federal taxpayer, or our landlords in China who loan us the money.
Just wait until a devastaing natural disaster hits your area, be it an earthquake, brush fires, vulcano erruption, any time of winter or summer storm, etc., then, post the same comment as it pertains to you. I do not wish these things on you but remember my reply if you ever do experience equal natural devastation.
So tell me how J Carter is wrong.
The bill has pork all over it! This is what is wrong with Congress. If you need to pass relief for Sandy victims, do it "Earmarks" for Alaska, the Smithsonian (and I am a big fan) and tunnels in other places have no place in this "aid bill."
Good job, house for not authorizing this rip-off!
SD, if those other bills that JohnCarter spoke of, are so important, why are they not standing on their own, and not being passed on their own merit? They have no merit right now with the way the economy is, that is why they are pork bills. They really should be called exploitation bills, because they will not pass on their own, and to do so, those wanting them passed, exploit other emergency bills by tacking them onto them just to get them through Congress. It's nothing more than a way of picking the pockets of the tax payers for what they want.
You're kidding, right? Idiocy.
Some of we older generation have lived in a time when natural disasters were not covered by insurance as being "Acts of God," and yet the government did not rebuild our homes and towns.
When did it become the governments responsibility to rebuild everything for everyone?
Certain people are siphoning billions of dollars from the American taxpayers through this very clever ruse.
Who benefits the most from building a $100,000 house at a $200,000 price?
If neighbors were loving each other like they should, then there wouldn't be a need for the government to be so involved.
We are becoming a Welfare State to those living on the fringes.
People who lost their homes and businesses who are making six figure incomes are not poor, and the government has no business rebuilding their lives at taxpayers expense.
A lot of people remind me of a hungry man refusing a peanut butter sandwich because he thinks he deserves steak instead.
It's sad that our once great nation has become a nation of freeloaders.
Agree. Ask any other state that is routinely storm ravaged. Furthermore this part of the country routinely ravages the nation financially. Ask Corzine for the money. We all know he's got it. Check Chase Morgan, BofA... they cleared 60B on Libor.
This bill is already paid. Next.
Uh, so tell me Carter, who is the country's insurance carrier? State Farm, Allstate? Which carrier replaces all the infrastructure that was damaged or wiped out? It's moronic comments like this that make me sure I'm right when I vote against the TPers.
And all you right wing wailers need to go through all the "pork" and prove how much was sponsored by Republicans and how much by Democrats. As is usually the case, you read a headline or the first sentence in a story, immediately form a knee-jerk opinion, and then defend that opinion to the death, regardless of validity or rationality. That's why you are becoming more and more irrelevant.
And yet the Republican Governor wants the aid.
Yes, it is. You spend more than you take in. HOWEVER, when you continually REFUSE to RAISE revenues and CUT them instead, there comes a time when the reserves are depleted. 2 simulantious wars (1 of them unnecessary) has been the BIGGEST drain on the budget in the past 10 years. Tax rates were higher on EVERYONE in the 90s; companies hiring all over the place and the market was in better shape.
So, you can NOT keep outgoing without increasing incoming to keep things level.
Yes, there are and have been cuts made; but the fact IS - taxes have to be RAISED!
I would submit that it is not 'pork' at all, since the bill is titled 'Disaster Relief Appropriations Act' and it is designed to assist EVERYONE all over the country who has been affected by natural disasters in the US last year up to December 28, 2012. This includes the fisheries industry in Alaska that have been affected by the Japan earthquake/tsunami by debris destroying fishery grounds and equipment, damaging boats and affecting fisherman's livelihoods.
This is NOT a 'Sandy Relief' bill, this is an 'All 2012 US Disasters ' bill. When you look at it in that light, no, it's not 'pork' at all.
Quit spending Obama you and your Fellow DC buddies need to quit spending !!!!
John, I guess you haven't been listening much, seems the insurance that every home owner had in the storm is not paying anything. People are getting a $150.00 towards a $300,0000 damage. This is another area of concern.
Amanda, so those other bills tied to it aren't pork? What disaster did the Smithsonian have? And did a tunnel cave in that needs to be cleaned out? How are those disasters?
Swallow456789, sounds like those insurance companies need to be raked over the coals in court, and be made to pay.
TO: JohnCarter-428979 who wrote:
Agreed. It would seem to make more sense to "loan" New Jersey and New York the money, as opposed to "giving" the money away.
After all, with all this money, these are going to be brand spanking new coastline areas that will be making tons and tons of money in tourism, once re-built. So why not make it a long-term loan instead of a multi-billion dollar giveaway?
TO: Ster2 who wrote:
Well you can thank your last Republican Administration for making this spending an absolute necessity in order to save the United States Economy.
Had it not been for your last Republican Administration spending trillions of dollars which absolutely broke the bank, and then totally collapsing the entire United States Economy, we wouldn't have been forced to defend America against Economic Collapse!
You know, destroying the Economy of an entire country, like the United States, is also a form of terrorism, in fact, it's a form of terrorism that Osama Bin Laden wanted to impose on the United States after he attacked us on American Soil, if you remember.
I would ask that everyone read the bill for yourself before you decide what is pork and what is not. The bill is called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, HR1, and the full text can be found here:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr1eas.pdf
Keep in mind that these additions are simply the Senate's amendments to a defense spending bill that the House already approved, and that the Senate already passed.
When a tornado destroyed my home and five barns, I got no handouts from the government. But State Farm came through with a check, just as I've been paying them to do for the last 50 years. So now everything is rebuilt, and the taxpayer isn't out a dime, just as it should be.
It is leeches like you that make me sick. Always with your hand out to pick the taxpayer's pocket. Take responsibility for your own life for a change, be honest for a change, stop being a leech.
"for making this spending an absolute necessity in order to save the United States Economy."
American Girl, and all of this spending has fixed it in what way? How does creating more debt on top of the old debt, to pay off the old debt, work in the end? It ends up being a never ending debt cycle, with more being heaped on top of it with every dollar they print and throw at it.
A Girl,She makes no cents$ Only in America...that's why I don't bother,I don't even need to see what she says,It's already been repeated Propaganda from the Lamestream and the far left talking points,Or just hateful so......
"When did it become the governments responsibility to rebuild everything for everyone?"
Disabled Voter, when they decided that they knew how to spend our money better than we can. This way, they have more say on who gets the contracts to rebuild(under the table pay for cheap shoddy work and buildings).
Oh shut up John Carter Americans are sick of people like you!
No we are not John. Todd, we are sick of people like you telling us to shut up.
Just wait until a devastaing natural disaster hits your area, be it an earthquake, brush fires, vulcano erruption, any time of winter or summer storm, etc., then, post the same comment as it pertains to you. I do not wish these things on you but remember my reply if you ever do experience equal natural devastation.
Only the 47%ers are sick of people like John Carter; the leeches are afraid they will lose their freebies from the workers tax money.
What I'm sick of is childish little egomaniacs telling other people to shut up. Who died and made you God? You have no more power and authority here than anyone else and if you don't like debate and freedom of speech, don't participate in a public forum in the USA.
The earmarks have to stop, and the people need to be informed more. If the Republicans really did this because of the pork, it would be in their best interest to appoint someone to inform the people regarding the facts. In the meantime, we send incredible amounts of money to countries who thumb their nose at us—such as Israel. The Smithsonian is an American Institution and if it needs a new roof and can't afford it, let Israel go without for a few months. Maybe they would have to slow down their expansion into Palestine for a few minutes.
When any bill is passed, it needs to be reported to the taxpayers—not as 500 pages of double talk, but as a line item report. And then it should become legally binding. If money is used for something else, whoever authorized that should go to prison for fraud and theft.
It is WAY PAST TIME for our politicians to become legally accountable and stop being treated like monarchs. And there is NO EXCUSE for this continued lack of transparency in the Internet age.
You sound like a parrot with this statement.
I am glad you think the elderly, mentally and physically disabled, children and the people of the Armed Forces are leeches. The elderly paid for decades into SS. Then again, you think a double amputee is a deadbeat, or someone with severe Downs Syndrome is a free loader. You must, since you stated that 47% of the people are getting a free ride.
When you break that ignorant 47% comment down, you are left with less than 10% of the U.S. population that are deadbeats. But go ahead and parrot your learned talking points. It just makes you look foolish and uneducated.
NYMike, you can never debate with people like Todd and Zheng. They are either paid to post such things, or, are in the middle of brain death, or, are raised by people with the same degrading attitudes.
NYMike
As usual you are right on the money, always a pleasure to read your posts.
Anti stupidity - Tell me what is anti semitic about pointing out the fact that America has given and continues to give many billions of dollars to Isreal, during a period when America is deeply in debt. Israel is hardly a country in need, as Israelis enjoy the highest standard of living in the ME.
Zionists on these forums have often pointed out how Israel is a leader in all sorts of fields, which I do not dispute. There is a huge difference between providing assisance to needy nations, such as Haiti and a nation of relative prosperity, such as Israel.
Israel does nothing for the US, except make us enemies in the Arab world, by provoking wars where Israel can flex it's military might, which was provided by the taxpayers of the USA. The Iraq war for Israel, planned and sold by Zionists, will cost America upwards of 3.5 trillion dollars. Don't you think that money could have been better spent in America?
T o NY Mike - How about the leeches in Israel, who take more than 3 billion dollars a year from America, which is all borrowed money, which we must pay back with interest to China? Mr antistupid apparently thinks the Israelis are the good leeches. He finds no problem with giving taxpayer dollars to people in the ME, who do not pay one dime of tax money to the USA.
What did you expect, boner is not concerned with America!!!!!!! He and most repos. are only concerned with countrys with oil, they can sell to us, at a very high proffet!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, these people sure are uptight and in a panic. Let the 113th congress work on the bill. This will be neither the first or last time a bills passage will be delayed, especially for a small geographic section of our nation.
It may be a small geographic area, but it is a very important part of the whole country's economic base. I'm not sure where you are from, but I am three thousand miles from the area that was affected by the storm, and I am concerned about the welfare of all Americans, not NIMBYs.
I am also concerned but this country has been living on borrowed money.It is a hard fact of life that the taxpayers can't afford to keep on bailing people out when they should have had insurance coverage especially when you are built up into the mountains(California fires and mudslides) fire or your home is built on an ocean cliff(Malibu California) and on the shoreline of this country.I wish no harm for people or their properties but homeowners need to rely on themselves.
Perhaps they would have voted on a bill if it had ONLY been for aid for Sandy victims. As it stood, they would have voted and rejected it for all of the unnecessary and unrelated things in it. I think the Republicans were pushed to the limit to pass the so-called fiscal cliff bill having given in to revenues and essentially got $4 Trillion in more debt. The last thing they would have approved is more spending for non-emergency items.
Bingo!
"It appears, however, that much of that $60 billion is pork. According to several Republican congressmen, there is $188 million for an Amtrak project, $5.3 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for unspecified projects, $125 million for restoring watersheds destroyed by wildfires and drought and $50 million in subsidies for tree planting on private property." (Baltimore Sun).
So, you who would be all upset about this: You get your Verizon phone bill and it includes charges for Comcast, Walmart, 7-11 and Target - of course you would pay it gladly!
Good job, GOP house members.
So mpa,
Who sponsored what? Since you are so incredibly well-informed with insider information, please break down the complete bill and tell us what was sponsored by Republicans and what was sponsored by Democrats.
What does it matter who sponsored what. There is PORK in the bill. It needs looked at closely instead of being rammed through.
Too much emphasis on what party does what and when to whom......the country will never get back on it's feet without bi-partisan cooperation.
The bill is titled 'Disaster Relief Appropriations Act' and it is designed to assist EVERYONE all over the country who has been affected by natural disasters in the US last year up to December 28, 2012.
This is NOT a 'Sandy Relief' bill, this is an 'All 2012 US Disasters ' bill. When you look at it in that light, no, it's not 'pork' at all.
I wonder how long it will be before the Republicans pull something like this on the Gulf Coast and the GOP rising stars like Rubio say, like Peter King did, that the GOP is insane. It's starting to be a topic I hear more about lately....can it be that the people with the sanity in the Party are coming back to life? But in between, there were trillions to made off the chaos for the connected few.
John Carter, you're absolutely right. Why in the world should my tax dollars go to pay for rebuilding homes for people who built them where they never should have been in the first place??? And before anyone judges me for being too harsh, I live in central FL and think anyone who lives on the coast and doesn't carry insurance is an idiot and is gambling with mother nature. If you lose, don't look to me to pay up.
Yeah, because NY city is such a huge hurricane zone. They never should have built homes there in the first place eh? What a blitheringly stupid statement. Of course, the first ever hurricane in NY couldn't possibly be due to climate change could it? That's just a myth after all. NY is not Florida, genius.
First ever hurricane???? Haha Your dumber than you look. NY has had several hurricanes/nor'easter's in the past.
I think I will move to the coast and cry for federal aid when a hurricane rips my $2M oceanfront property off the foundation.
Coastal zone erosion is an on going problem not just for properties like the New Jersey shoreline suffered, but on any large body of water, such as the shores of the Great Lakes. Ports, by their very nature of loading and off loading of ships, need to be built on coastlines. Residential properties do not need to be built in areas prone to flooding. Individuals can live on high ground and take some form of transportation down to the shoreline for recreation or the view. Thus many of these issues can be addressed with residential zoning restrictions. Beach front properties for residential housing should be seriously devalued, non industrial commercial beach front business have restrictive construction requirements, and tents and trailers be permitted in the "non storm" season. This will save significantly on rebuilding costs in the future. As storms remove coastal buildings, other than those used by port commerce, rebuilding should not occur. About 1/4 mile from the shoreline should be "close enough" for residential housing, unless those buildings are constructed on a very high and storm sturdy bluff.
Steve Herbert,We are of like minds.I have been saying the same thing of California,my state,for decades.
Big surprise here not! The GOP is against helping the Middle Class and especially the poor,the needy and the destitute. Of course it was a bill to help out poor,struggling Milionares And Billionares the bill would pass quickly. For the 1% and ONLY the 1%. And they claim to be Christians! Vote every GOP scumbag out of this mentality!
They are against pork and more pork. The democrats have time after time attached pork to every important spending bill. If this had been a bill solely to help the Sandy victims it would have passed ASAP. So blame the spend happy Democrats.
I missed that part of the article.
I noticed they all seemed to put their differences aside long enough to push through the bill to continue government spying on U.S. citizens.
Oh they're for pork all right, make no mistake. As long as it's for their billionaire puppet masters' benefits. 40 billion a year in oil subsidies is allright, as long as it's for the world's most profitable companies. Disaster aid is ok too, as long as it's for red states. What a bunch of disgusting pukes.
THIS IS NOT PORK.
The bill is called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, HR1, and the full text can be found here:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr1eas.pdf
While the focus is on Hurricane Sandy relief, it's generally supposed to cover ALL areas of the US that have been affected by disasters in the last year up to December 28 2012. Including, for example, the fisheries in AK that have suffered damage and loss due to debris from the Japanese tsunami damaging boats and equipment.
When you look at EVERY area of the US hat has experienced some sort of loss due to weather in the last year, it's not pork at all, it's common sense. Rather than pass a bill that wold benefit only a small number of people (in NY and NJ, the Senate passed one supposed to help everyone affected by weather disasters in 2012, and there was widespread support for the bill in the House. Speaker Boehner was the one who simply didn't call it to a vote in this session of the House.
Get real people - This is a prime example of why bills should ONLY deal with one issue. When you combine multiple issues of lesser importance with one of great importance (Hurricane Sandy relief), you have a greater chance that it will not pass.
I know it seems elementary, but each bill should ONLY deal with one issue. That way, it either gets approved or vetoed on it's OWN merit - not based on what it is packaged with. Maybe if the idiots weren't so pre-occupied with re-elections and vacations, they would actually do their job. I know, too much to ask...
Could someone please explain to me why any form of line item veto has never gained enough traction in Congress? John Carter, A Lady, anyone?
A lady,
Republicans do it to. In those jobs bills sitting on Reid's desk that so many Republicans here complain about you will find all kinds of pork from abortion bans to Keystone.
No one is saying that pork is one sided. They all do it and we want it stopped.
The line item veto was enacted several years ago, in Clinton's term, I think, and it was thrown out by the Courts as unConstitutional. So, no line item veto.
The line item veto Clinton wanted was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
That's why it's sitting on a desk not being passed, same as Sandy aid. So what's the problem?
Did Greensburg Kansas get rebuilt in a month. Chripes, give them time. They have to figure out how to gracefully fall off a "fiscal cliff" Once they figure out how to save their own asses then they will worry about US. Isn't that how Congress has acted since HW and the Illuminati rose to power. They are all covering their hats as the fiscal "shiit" is hitting the fan. Isn't it ironic you can say God Damn all you want but you cant say @!$%# and @!$%#. What the Fuuck. Does anyone really give a shiit any more?
Why should my tax dollars go to help out fellow Americans in need,sounds like a caring Christian no doubt. Your kind makes Ebenezer Scrooge seem kind,caring and generous. Typical GOP behavior,self centered and full of greed and hatred would be an accurate description. It, me,myself and I. GOP=Greed Over People.
Didn't read the article did you?
What kind of pork spending were the Demos trying to ADD to the Sandy relief bill ...
Sounds like the Demos were the ones that caused the Bill not to be voted on...?
Gordo -
"It appears, however, that much of that $60 billion is pork. According to several Republican congressmen, there is $188 million for an Amtrak project, $5.3 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for unspecified projects, $125 million for restoring watersheds destroyed by wildfires and drought and $50 million in subsidies for tree planting on private property." (Baltimore Sun)
THIS IS NOT PORK.
The bill is called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, HR1, and the full text can be found here:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr1eas.pdf
While the focus is on Hurricane Sandy relief, it's generally supposed to cover ALL areas of the US that have been affected by disasters in the last year up to December 28 2012. Including, for example, the fisheries in AK that have suffered damage and loss due to debris from the Japanese tsunami damaging boats and equipment.
gordo13: Your republican senate passed it.
If all bills had no pork stuffed in them, all congress members would pass them.
What about ME. I don't live in an area like New orleans where i know it will flood if a storm hits or on any coast. I live in the midwest. When do I get a hand out and the government pay me for MY stupidity of rebuilding time and again in a hazard zone ? Why do my tax dollars pay for something that insurance should be covering. The government should force these companies to pay what thier policy's suggest they will pay. I I have home insurance I expect when my home is destroyed to be re-embused for my loss and housing until that payment is made in full. The government should also force carriers to cover places like New Orleans and other coastal areas OR prohibit any permanent houseing to be built there. The area hit by Sandy is different than the gulf coast I know but the reality is insurance should be taking care of most of the damage. I see no reason why the tax payer should be footing the whole bill. $60 billion is way too much for it to be "extra" expenses.
When the next tornado hits and you discover your insurance doesn't cover the infrastructure that enables you to interact with the world.
Don't worry, Old Vet, Avenger builds all his own roads, hospitals, power generation, communication infrastructure, water and sanitation infrastructure, food production and distribution all by himself. Nothing that government does benefits him in any way. He is 100% self-sufficient.
I'm sure you wouldn't be so quick to condemn if wildfires wiped you out in your mid-west environment.....
Beagle's Wake.................just so you know I have my own water supply and sewage. No natural gas lines no cable.. yep there is a road in front of the house.BUT. I would not expect my governmet to bail me out of a situation that I got myself into like those people who build homes on river banks or on the shores of the ocean where landslides or major storms can and will eventually take it. I understand that the location hit by Sandy is not normal however the help being asked for to repair that damage from the government is obsurd. Why should the federal government foot the bill ? You missed my point as well. I was trying to point out that insurance companies often skirt responsibility too thier policyholders simply because they have better lawyers. Rather than step in with unlimited funding the government should step in and make insurance carriers pay what thier customers thought they had in coverage.The legal two step in policies needs to be eliminated so peole know what they really have and so they can buy suplimental insurance or take on the risk themselves. At that point the only concern the federal government would need to be involved with would in fact be infrastructure and i and very sure that Sandy did not do $60 billion in that type of damage.
Much of the problem we have today is lack of personal responsibility. I have never asked for ANY type of assistance nor have any of my kids.yes i have been in bad situations many times over the years. We found a way to get through on our own without hand outs. I am far from wealthy and live payday to payday and have for most of my 60 years. I pay my taxes but would like to see that money spent wisely not to fund rebuilding homes for ir-responsible people.
(1) I'm not here to defend the insurance industry, but insurance companies are not - and cannot reasonably be expected to be - set up to be able to cover damages of this magnitude. Nobody would be able to afford the premiums if they were. (2) Coastal areas generate an incredible amount of economic activity, and a corresponding level of tax revenue. This might surprise you, but people in areas that get hit by natural disasters often pay taxes themselves. (3) In terms of where you live, safety is a crap shoot. There aren't that many places that are safe, and people have to live where there is work. Perhaps there are 10 million job openings in North Dakota that I'm not aware of, but this seems unlikely. (4) There is a cost to not rebuilding just as there is a cost to going ahead with the rebuild. Reduced economic activity from that damage isn't helping anyone, and sometimes you need to prime the pump to get things going again.
Avenger,
do not worry. In thirt to forty years we both will be able to make such claims for money when we run out of water and the Mid/South Western states become war zones.
Avenger: 400 NJ Transit train cars were damaged, the train tracks on the shore & Hoboken were pulled up, at least 3 major car tunnels were flooded, the subway sysytem was flooded, the power substation were flooded, roads distroyed, bridges damaged and you doubt that that there can be this kind of price tag?? Not to mention the buildings damaged. Next time the Midwest has tornado or flood damage, you are on your own. Nice that you are so caring about your fellow Americans.
I just now did a search to see the estimated total cost of damage caused by Sandy. The first article I saw said "could be billions. Maybe as much as $20 billion." why then oh profits of handouts are so many complaining the Congress didn't pass a 60 billion dollar package? I am sorry but the number don't add up That is a 40 billion dollar discrepancy. In surance , acording to the article, was expected to cover roughly half. So that leaves about $10 billion for other sources. Now I'm not sure but I think there is something a little haywire about 50 billion hayware. I was layed off for 3 years from my regular job in the 80's when that recession hit and I had 3 kids at the time at home. I found things to do to put food on the table. I never asked for food stamps or any other assistance. you know why. I was taught that I am respnsible for myself AND the family I formed not the United States Welfare dept. Are ther epeople on the east coast who need help ? Yes and there are plenty of people out there who can help. Some of the wealthiest people in the world live out that way so why aren't more of them pitching in? Why is it that so many wait for the government and actually expect the government to take care of them? I would be greatly disappointed in Congress if they had passed a 60 billion dollar bill for 10 billion in damage to fix
you need to look at the bill they were trying to shove through and read all the riders; only a small portion of the money was for Sandy victims the rest was for totally unassociated aid
They don't read anything, but they do eat a lot of steaks and drink lots of top self liquor after work. Work? Really?
"It appears, however, that much of that $60 billion is pork. According to several Republican congressmen, there is $188 million for an Amtrak project, $5.3 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for unspecified projects, $125 million for restoring watersheds destroyed by wildfires and drought and $50 million in subsidies for tree planting on private property." (Baltimore Sun)
THIS IS NOT PORK.
The bill is called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, HR1, and the full text can be found here:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr1eas.pdf
While the focus is on Hurricane Sandy relief, it's generally supposed to cover ALL areas of the US that have been affected by disasters in the last year up to December 28 2012.
Amanda, did you read that bill? It all about evironmental monies, there is very little sandy hook victim money in this bill. You and your bunch are exploiting those victims for evironmental program monies with this bill. Shame on you Amanda and the democrats.
Silly people, you actually think the house GOP care about you. All they want is to make Obama look bad, literally, thats it.
Domewar...Thats Not Hard to Do...
oblamo IS evil...Most un-American president the United States has EVER had...!
Uh, no, Tricky Dick Nixon gets the most un-American award. Then W for sending thousands of soldiers to an early grave just to earn some respect from his disapproving father. Then Reagan for selling arms to Iran to pay for an unholy intervention in El Salvador and allowing thousands of Americans to die simply because he was in denial about AIDS, to say nothing of putting half a million of the mentally ill out on the streets. Then George Herbert Walker Bush for using his pull to shepherd the bin Laden family out of the U.S after September 11, 2001 just to keep intact his oil investments. Then Ford for pardoning the criminal Nixon.
That leaves Ike, the only decent and honorable Republican President in fifty years and a true American hero.
Got it, Gordo? Good.
I would take any of those former presidents Over that POS oblamo...
Hes the one trying to Gain Control of ALL Americans freedoms..
Yep the others might have been crooks...But not un-American like oblamo..
Will go so far as taking Carter and Clinton over oblamo...lol
Yep the others might have been crooks...But not un-American like oblamo.
Reagan should never closed the mental hospitals.
Reagan didn't close the mental hospitals. That was started under President Johnson with the urging of the Kennedys'. Remember the Kennedy's had a sister in a mental institution due to a failed forced lobotomy. She was never released & died in the institution. Ignore the facts & blame the Republicans.
reagan couldn't find the mental hospitals..............he had Alzheimer's
Domewars....if their goal was to make Obama look bad, they sure missed it by a mile!!
Except for getting a few more high high income people a lower tax bill, it looks like a total miss for the GOP. Obama had been saying to just continue the tax cuts for the 98% and let it go up for the 2%. There pretty much has been agreement on that for quite awhile. The GOP managed to protect a few more of their high net worth people and that's about it......after a few months of high drama, Obama got just about 100% of what he wanted.
After all this, people seemed to be confused about what's really wrong with the process. If the GOP wants to be contrary, they should at least pick a cause that that they might actually have a shot at success with. And they might also want to re-examine if fighting protracted battles for limited gains while losing the war is REALLY worth it. It seems the GOP has bet the farm on protecting the very wealthy while giving lip service to voters, as well as punishing those they deem as disloyal. (Chris Christy) There is still a fairly sizeable number of people who will vote against their own best interests, but I think the laws of Nature are winning and their numbers can only decline.
One can only hope we have reached a critical turning point in the mindset of doing the Country's business.
Nobody needs to help Obama look bad....he is doing a bang-up job looking bad on his own!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The GOP is going the way of the dinosaur,thank God! A dying minority,all your "good" deeds are coming back to kick you in the behind. The Teabagggers especially are history,everyone will be voted out of office in the next 6 years. Hey GOP leave the "dark" side and come back to the middle or perish! MOST Americans today are moderates,get it? Probably not!
Hey Tony You Watch...The more American freedoms oblamo takes away, All he has done for the last 4 years is try to gain Control over Americas Freedom and rights...
One day the stupid people will wakeup..but it will probably too late for them then...?
There are many Dumb sheep following oblamo...
So, Tony, do you support the pork approach by Dems as the great governmental model?
"It appears, however, that much of that $60 billion is pork. According to several Republican congressmen, there is $188 million for an Amtrak project, $5.3 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for unspecified projects, $125 million for restoring watersheds destroyed by wildfires and drought and $50 million in subsidies for tree planting on private property." (Baltimore Sun)
This is fiscally reponsible, no?
GORDO13
Please tell us what freedoms that the President has taken from you personally???
Gordo what mental hospital are you a patient of ?? Who is taking away rights of the American people ?? It sure isn't Obama but it is the Teabaggers that you must belong to. You want to see a real stupid one go look ina mirror and you will see one. Gay rights, women rights, freedom of speech rights the right wing mainly the teabaggers wants to take away from the people.
Right now they are pushing a petion of wanting to take away the freedom of speech rights of Pier Morgan and deport him over his opinion of gun ownership. Do away with the freedom of speech and freedom to live rights so the gun manufacturers(which is actually the NRA) can sell guns for killing.
Lorielle, you are full of crap like the Republicans. There were no unrelated attachment to this bill. People like you make me sick making up and spreading lies. Your kind do it so well. The fact is that lazy, hatred representatives did this out of spite and nothing else.
shaking is just stupid. Get your head out of the sand, the bill was full of pork and more pork.
Didn't read the article, did you?
Why read the article when you can just blame everything on someone else.
Tracy:
THIS IS NOT PORK.
The bill is called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, HR1, and the full text can be found here:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr1eas.pdf
While the focus is on Hurricane Sandy relief, it's generally supposed to cover ALL areas of the US that have been affected by disasters in the last year up to December 28 2012.
Thanks for the breakdown. Knowledge is power. Maybe if the GOP found that out, they'd be all over it.
Looks like jobs to me! I understand the importance of fiduciary responsibility especially with tax payer money but cheap and band aid fixes are unbecoming and temporary. The RWNJ's are so concerned with the future we leave for the generations to come. If we don't fix these things now and properly, they will be a problem for the future and at a greater cost. They actually haven't done a bunch of anything so this does not surprise me.
I don't think they are lazy, just incompetent and don't know what to do. So if we do nothing and point fingers, it's not so bad!
To wish failure for the United States President is to wish misfortune for the country. This concept is absolutely asinine.
Funny how Jesus was all about helping others and the GOP is all about helping themselves. Enjoy the fires of Hell GOpers! Enjoy! Such caring compassionate Christians! Right.
So, Tony, just curious -
"It appears, however, that much of that $60 billion is pork. According to several Republican congressmen, there is $188 million for an Amtrak project, $5.3 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for unspecified projects, $125 million for restoring watersheds destroyed by wildfires and drought and $50 million in subsidies for tree planting on private property." (Baltimore Sun)
"Among expenditures criticized was $150 million to rebuild fisheries, including those in the Gulf Coast and Alaska, thousands of miles from Sandy's devastation, and $2 million to repair roof damage that pre-dates the storm on Smithsonian Institution buildings in Washington." (From the article).
At what point would Jesus say this is a good bill? Tax the people and spend 10, 20, 50, 60 % of what the bill is intended?
GOP christians are by name only ! They hate Obama for he is a caring president and not a greedyone that ran against him in the election.
@ 18.1 "Tax the people and spend"
Exactly! That's what works! "Borrow and spend" Republicans with their announced intention of "starving the beast so they can drown it in a bathtub" have brought us nearly to that point, and they're still pushing it! It's time to shrink the tea-bags until THEY can be flushed, and their puppet master Grover Norquist should be water boarded in a bathtub.
Very big disapointment in the Sandy bill not voted on. Wake up America!
It probably would have been voted on and Passed..If the Demos had Not added all the spending that had Nothing to do with the Sandy Storm...
Just a thought..
Not to worry. The Hose just passed the tax increase that will almost cover the Sandy bill.
We have plenty of money to spend now! Wait a week or so and it wil be sent.
Hmm, the last time I looked the representatives from Alaska and the Gulf Coast were Republicans. If there was some extra money thrown at fisheries, then I think the idea came from that side of the aisle. Unfortunately, this is a bipartisan problem. Both sides are guilty of the idea that they should add a little money for their districts. We need to change the incentives for congress, we reward them with our votes so they continue this type of behavior. We need to pass laws against gerrymandering so that neither Democrats or Republicans can re-draw districts so that they are safe against being voted out. This should be done nationwide, with a non-partison commission in each state to determine the districts. This would force our politicians to suddenly become moderate, reasonable, and rewarded for getting their jobs done.
Musician by night and john carter The same bitter republicans won't give a dime to those in need. Not only is Obama a great president but Romney never wanted to be president in the first place.
And your school bus is out front waiting for you. Don't forget your lunch box!
some peeps fall over themselves blaming others
ah, never pass up any opportunity to make Amerika a one party system like putin-land
then whaever your hearts desire will be state sanctified..
want a bill to pass? then don't add extra BS to it that has nothing to do with the po rich folk that lost their summer homes built on sand on a beach.
"want a bill to pass? then don't add extra BS." Tell that to the Repubs, the ones who pass bills to gut the EPA and OSHA and fhe FDA and call it a "Jobs" bill. @!$%# hypocrites.
You mean the ones sitting on Reid's desk Trickledown? Sitting right where they belong right next to this crap bill.
I once knew a kind,compassionate and generous Republican,alas he's dead,last of his kind. Other Republicans hated his guts of course.
I ask again, months later, you knew Lincoln?
I'm sure gonna miss Ron Paul too Tony ;) except he isn't dead yet thought I should correct you on that one.
Maybe the senate should stop passing bills and start debating and voting on bills that have already passed the house. Harry Reid has things backwards, spending bills originate in the House of Representatives.
Harry has a couple hundred abortion bills from the house and about 80 that repeal Obamacare. I don't think he is going to do anything with them.
Abortion bill that is another womens right that the GOP wants to abolish isn't it !! But keep the gun rights that kills !!
New York and New Jersey do not deserve a cent as far as I'm concerned. They have more taxes on there people than any other states and can use those taxes to rebuild from them. If the Federal Government does step in then it should be a voucher system. Payment should only be made after the work is done. I'm tired of paying out my taxes for things that should not be paid for.
Yes lets get the homeowners up and into there houses and the streets cleared. But the beaches are up to the states as when I lived in Virginia and the Carolinas years ago and the Gov't made not payments to fix them.
As a retired Assitant Treasruer and Planing Manager to a $5 Billion Corporation I will gladly volunteer to put a system in place to handle these costs.
Tom W:
I sincerely hope you had someone ghost-write your proposals when you were "Assitant Treasruer and Planing Manager".
Well Tom for such an accomplished professional you are an idiot! Not to mention your care and compassion for those who were devasted in the aftermath of Sandy.
We are talking about almost 100 billion dollars in destruction. With you wisdom and accomplished credentials, explain to all of us how New York, New Jersey, and the other areas subjected to this devastation can afford to address destruction of this magnatude.
I wonder if you also have any answers for George Bush's war costs? the cost of his tax cuts? huricaine Katrina?
Maybe we should blame God for this and revoke the tax exempt status of churches and religious organizations and take some of God's money to pay for this. Ah hell lets just take all His money!
After all as a compassionate Father, he obviously is a Democrat!
THe GOP to Sandy victims: pull yourselves up by the bootstrap you lazy bums,my millionaire/billionare friends need more tax breaks,that's a priority. Most of you are the 47% no doubt! Find gutter and die! I don't care if your a disabled,homeless vet,your not worthy!
Didn't read the article, did you; or just selective reading?
I'll go with selective Zheng, plus I think Tony might be having some problems with the VA per the last sentence of his rant. Don't worry Tony they'll get around to you in 10 or 15 years.
Sandy bill was loaded with the usual millions and millions of pork (from both sides). It was better to let it expire and have the new congress vote on it. Dems and Republicans have no intention of ever changing.
I am also sick and tired of certain memebers of congress letting things slide. They do not have to worry about their homes that have been ruined by Sandy. The people affected by the storm damage are in a miserable situation and need help. To be critical of the call to do the right thing is heartless. Hopefully this will be taken care of by the new congress but how long will it take?
Unfortunately the next House of Representatives contain mostly the same players.
I do not see anything changing with a new Congress beginning on Jan 3rd 2013
How will rebuilding fisheries on the Gulf Coast help the Sandy victims?