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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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AMERICANS need to fire congress and regroup...... besides how many of us make over 450,000 a year.
Spoken like a true Republican Tom.
Most of todays Republicans are honor graduates of the Ebenezer school of self centerness. Too bad you people lack decency and a soul.
Sure, Cantor 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," just as soon as he finishes wasting weeks making worthless gestures on the fiscal cliff bill. We're not sure what goal he's been "working tirelessly toward," but can be sure it has nothing to do with the general welfare of Americans.
Well, Cantor got his butt handed to him tonight so he'll be in hiding for a few days.
Too bad, actually, as I wanted to see him take the Speakership away from Boehner if for no other reason than to flush him out of the back-stabbing and self-serving Republican shadows.
That way we can kick him around for a while, too.
americans need to fire congress and regroup., besides how many of us make over 450,000??????
A fitting end to the worst Congress in my lifetime. Any chance we can outsource Congress to China and cut out the 538 middlemen?
Most of the people effected by Sandy are not rich just your typical middle class tax payers and small business owners, not the kind of people the Republicans support. It is almost unbelievable that they would behave in this way but totally believable when they lose any election they can't steal by voter suppression and gerrymandering.
Epic fail by a party that is going the way of the dinosaur.
I'd like to add to my above post. Insurance should cover all the homes that were destroyed. If not then we need to revise the insurance coverage for coastal regions and make the home owers pay for hurricane damage. This band should cover a range from Texas to Maine as the weather is changing and include a strip 10 miles inland. Wind damage and flooding can be added to coverage can be includeed to policies for areas beyond the 10 mile range. But we have to put the cost on the home owners and not the Federal Government. It might cost the homeowner $100 a year spread over the total coast line. But the Federal Government cannot keep spending billions on a hurricane every couple of years.
Well I have added my 2 cents worth 1 tommorow twice now.
Federally Mandated Insurance? Is that similar to Obamacare?
Liberals once again fall for the democrat mind game. It has been like 3 months since the hurricane and now the democrats want to do something. Harry Reid has put bills passed by the house in the trash without voting on them or even debating them. Then he waits until the house is set to leave to pass a relief bill that is really no relief at all.
Democrats will follow the pied piper any where. How many of you sent donations to help these people out? My wife and I sent money to the Red Cross which we were happy to do. We did not need the government to pick our pockets. So put your money where your mouth is and donate directly, cut out Uncle Sam the middle man.
I'll give a billion if you will.
States had to assess their damage and submit documentation on costs, so it's reasonable that that process took some time, wouldn't you agree? The Senate had time to vote, so there is NO reason the House couldn't, too. Especially since they were given the opportunity to vote just on the Sandy funding and not the other items. Stop trying to make excuses for them. Just be honest when they screw up!
Federal government = American Tax Payers
Tracy -
Not really. American citizens (taxpayers or not) owe 11.36 Trillion in debt. The Feds owe more than 16 Trillion.
Maybe we have the woring people in the federal government?
"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."
Seems Republicans finally remembered that third agency Gov. Perry forgot during the debates. FEMA
Republicans have always been a Political Party of those who believe in 'every man,woman & child' should fend for themselves. They wish to eliminate ALL safety net programs that help those in need and leave them to their own demise. They like to make people think they are aligned with Christianity and the values of that religion yet, seems they would walk around the beaten man laying alongside the road, unlike Jesus who held out a helping hand regardless that it was a stranger in need.
I hope this latest inaction by the Republican Leadership shows the American people they are unworthy of leading this nation, now and in the future.
They are for relief spending to help the people not all the other crap the democrats want to put in the bill without knowing where the money will end up or if it will help midigate future damages. Most of what they are proposing would not be spent until 2 years from now.
If Peter King, a fellow Republican, is calling you out....you know you pissed off the lunatics in your party.
Good job, Boehner. Keep it up.
MSNBCMFE
how much money did you send to help the hurricane victims?
My wife and I sent money to the Red Cross which we were happy to do. We did not need the government to pick our pockets. So put your money where your mouth is and donate directly, cut out Uncle Sam the middle man.
traceroonie,
That information is in the same cabinet as Romney's tax return for 2009...you know, the one which proves Mittens accepted amnesty for felony tax evasion in exchange for a massive fine.
I'll tell when he does....and you know you have to back me up on this "just to be fair".
tracy-957476,
As has been stated, the House had the chance to vote just on the Sandy funding and they still chose not to-quit making excuses for them. And, I also donated to the Red Cross, as did many others, but they don't rebuild infrastructure, do they? They help victims with the immediate after-effects of the storm. We should all be willing to support our fellow countrymen and women when diseaster hits. That type of recovery has to be centralized by the govt, especially when it impacts several states. I just love how self-proclaimed Christians are so often very un-christ like in their actions. Whenever that is pointed out to them, they rebutt with "govt shouldn't be forcing charity, we should want to be chariable out of our hearts." This is a society. We work for the greater good. We help our neighbors whether they're across the street or across the country. When our nation is in need, we answer that need. If you truly had a Christian heart, you wouldn't be making excuses about why we shouldn't be helping them rebuild from this diseaster. So caught up in money...hmm seems to me Jesus had something to say about that too. Something about it being the root of all evil...
Tony...take two aspirin, go to bed, and call oblamo in the morning...
Oh, that call might be long distance, hes on vacation Again ...lol
Yep, he is headed back to his 4 million dollar American tax payer funded vacation. He just can't wait to get on Golf Cart ONE.
Tracy - how about a rant on how much tax payers are spending to feed Obama's mother in law. Or how much they spend on the dog.
You whinners about vacations must have been really busy during the last administration as the drunken little bush was busy setting the all time record for vacation time taken.
A record he still holds today.
Once again the House GOP shows its true colors. Don't take my word, take the word of their own. Peter King of New York. If this bill would have benefited the rich they would have been all over it. It is a crying shame that a people who talk about being Christians, and how exceptional America is. Would allow Americans to suffer, or would want something before doing the right thing.
how much money did you send to help the hurricane victims?
My wife and I sent money to the Red Cross which we were happy to do. We did not need the government to pick our pockets. So put your money where your mouth is and donate directly, cut out Uncle Sam the middle man.
The bill included funding for unrelated items, such as commercial fisheries in American Samoa and roof
repair of museums in Washington, D.C
Tonywarvet, my grandmother is probably turning over in her grave as she watches what the Republican Party has become. I don't know how old you are, but up thru Reagan the Republican Party was the party for the little guy and most legistation helped them. Bush 1 aslo kept taxes down and the economy was in pretty good shape. Unfortunately he also made some mistakes and the right wing side of the party started to gain some power, not a good thing.
I now want nothing to do with the RP and have voted for my DP representive over the last 6 years. I will right to the RP against there policies when I see fit. Which is quite often here lately.
Tom
Ok people, its time to face reality. First off, without taxes, and other revenue, it is IMPOSSIBLE to balance the budget, and the people in charge KNOW this, which is why they can put wars, and weapons and such on credit, and be able to "afford it". They will always be able to afford what they want, because money is simply an illusion in 2013, because it is not BACKED by ANYTHING other than the word of the government that they will honor the money they printed. Please research the latest "Libor" financial scandal and understand that international banks have been lying about the rates they charge each other, and pocketing the money... STEALING to the tune of TRILLIONS of dollars, that's why one bank (UBS) was just fined over a billion dollars.
This bickering over revenue and deficit is just a way to control you. Think, what happens when times get good, the interest rates go up, and everything costs more, too keep us a certain rate of existence. If it gets to bad, the rate goes down so you don't go out and kill everyone in frustration.
It's time to jump off this merry go round, because its broken and cannot be fixed.
If you are interested insolutions, please check out my newsvine page, otherwise, I dare you to prove me wrong. research LIBOR!
Peace, Love and Happiness from
Brother Ali
Richard Owl, it's the same as Flood Insurance.
We need to dump the Republican Party and come up with a new one called the American For All Party. The Republicans are just the mouthpiece for the rich. They make me sick!
7 of the top richest people in Congress are Democrats. So, the Repubs are their mouthpiece?
Now we have a Congress that cannot multitask. The bill for Sandy should have been passed right away. We need to get rid of congress so this country can move forward. Get some new blood, not multi rich like this one is, with new blood and new ideas, we could probably move forward, at a faster pace.
The bill for Sandy would have passed if the DEMOS hadnt ADDED all the OTHER spending items that had Nothing to do with the Storm...?
Re-Thugs NEVER do that do they? Are you that stupid? or are you just another paid liar?
Well, not quite "tirelessly" - the Speaker left.
Boner and Cantor are PIGS. End of story.
Now we know the true stripes of the core Repukes, especially Eric Cantor, seeing the action of that group in public.
The lack of Sandy vote punishment for losing the cliff vote.
That the Repukes have been not allowing the full house to vote on an article when they did not support.
subverting the House members right to vote on an article. ILLEGAL.
That the Sandy bill contains "lots of pork barrel" for "favorite members"
Punishment such as no committee assignments for those who don't adhere to leaders desires.
Complete destroying democracy
IMPEACH THEM
Do republicans in the House of Representatives actually live in the United States? To refuse to vote on and approve financial aid to Hurricane Sandy victims here in the north east is the same as saying they don't live in the same country that we do...and don't give a rat's ass about us here.
REPUBLICANS ARE NOT AMERICANS!!!
Please note I'm not including Rep. Peter King in this rant.
That storm must have been bigger than reported; repair fisheries in Alaska & the Gulf Coast?
Another reason why if our Founding Fathers could see how government is run today that they would turn over in their graves. They never envisioned 'politician' as a career - Congress was meant for people to rotate through - not be a job for life. Also it was not meant just for the rich or the elite - just had to be a landowner to be eligible. Things have become so far from what they originally set up that perhaps they might decide to lead another 'American Revolution' to get us back to where they started.
The states hit by Sandy are all blue states. Now if they were talking about Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi, Boehner and Cantor might give a sh*t.
Didn't read the article did you? Public school system sucks; no reading comprehension.
I've lost track of how many times they've used this excuse. These guys are just mean and stingy, period.
The Liberals have been doing this so long you would need a super computer to count them
Well goode...Sounds like you Know why it didn't pass...All the other Spending items that had Nothing to do with the storm....Demos need to drop their Pork Barrel ideas...American taxpayers can NO longer afford them...