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Subscribe to RSSUpdated 7:30pm ET: The U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday night approved an additional $33.7 billion in funding for emergency spending on recovery efforts aimed at helping those devastated by Hurricane Sandy. The final vote came after the House had passed another $17 billion in spending earlier in the day.
The approval of the $50.7 billion came only after political debates over spending that does not directly go to the areas impacted by the super storm.
The House GOP leadership carefully orchestrated a multi-stage process designed to permit Republican members to vote for some Sandy aid, but not the full $60.4 billion the Senate OK’d last year, if they objected to that much spending. By designing the process in this way, the GOP leadership made it highly likely that the total package will ultimately become law after the Senate acts next week.
It's been two and a half months since Superstorm Sandy barreled through New Jersey and New York, but people are still desperately awaiting aid. NBC's Katy Tur reports.
On the $33.7 billion segment of the bill, a group of northern Republicans joined with Democrats to push the measure to passage, on a vote of 228 to 192.
Finally, in something of an anticlimax, the House approved the entire $50.7 billion measure on a vote of 241 to 180. In that vote, 49 Republicans joined 192 Democrats to approve it, while one Democrat and 179 Republicans voted to oppose.
Fiscal conservatives, who objected to spending not directly related to Sandy, were able to trim only relatively small amounts of money from the bill, for example $9.8 million for a wildlife refuge in Connecticut and $150 million for Regional Ocean Partnership grants.
In an earlier key vote, the House defeated a proposal by Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C. to offset the $17 billion in Sandy funding by a 1.63 percent across-the-board cut in non-Sandy discretionary spending. The amendment was part of an effort to avoid adding spending to the federal balance sheet.
The GOP leadership’s cautious handling of the emergency funding came after an embarrassing fracas on New Year’s Eve when House Speaker John Boehner would not permit a vote on a $60.4 billion aid bill, sparking harsh criticism from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and House members from the Northeast.
In a joint statement, Christie joined New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy, both Democrats, in praising the House action: "We are grateful to those members of Congress who today pulled together in a unified, bipartisan coalition to assist millions of their fellow Americans in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut at their greatest time of need. The tradition of Congress being there and providing support for Americans during times of crisis, no matter where they live across this great country, lives on in today's vote in the House of Representatives."
At issue Tuesday were two measures, one costing $17 billion, offered by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky., and the larger one of $33.7 billion, offered by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., left, and Rep. Nita Lowey, R-NY, right, testify before the House Rules Committee at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013.
Some House Republicans remain alarmed at the large outlays and the additional debt that they will necessitate.
Mulvaney said on the House floor, “I want this money to go where it needs to go” and said he did not intend to delay the funding. But due to the growing national debt and reliance on foreign lenders, “We are no longer capable of taking care of our own.”
He defended his call for offsetting spending cuts, saying to his colleagues: “Just tell me what you’re willing to do without” in order to pay for helping victims of Hurricane Sandy.
But Rogers denounced Mulvaney’s proposal as one requiring “devastating, slash-and-burn cuts.”
The Club for Growth, a conservative advocacy group, said it would put all three votes, on the two bills and on the Mulvaney amendment, on its vote-rating scorecard to hold members accountable in the 2014 elections.
Earlier Tuesday Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., defended the bipartisan effort by Colorado members to add to the emergency bill $125 million for watershed protection and flood mitigation, including about $20 million for areas in Colorado burned by last summer’s wildfires.
The watershed protection money was in the Sandy bill that the Senate passed last month. The House Rules Committee rebuffed Gardner’s effort Monday night, but he said he hoped Colorado's two senators will make efforts to add the money when the Senate debates the emergency bill next week.
“The title of the bill is ‘The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act.’ That’s the name of the bill. It’s not the ‘Sandy Disaster Act.’ It’s not the ‘Sandy Relief Act.’ It’s a disaster relief act. New Yorkers weren’t the only ones who had their homes burned down in a devastating natural disaster. We had over 600 in Colorado alone,” Gardner said.
“If we’re going to have disaster assistance for people in this country who truly need it – because we are all in this together -- then we shouldn’t just cherry-pick Northeastern United States versus Southwestern United States,” he added.
None of the short-term tactical maneuvering on Tuesday addressed a serious and growing problem: the increasing frequency of catastrophic weather events is making it more difficult to prepare the federal budget and to do long-term fiscal planning. If catastrophes require adding $60 billion a year in new spending, it is in effect creating another large Cabinet department every year, without the money to do so.
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We would not have had this kind of problem if voters had a chance to vote on yes/no on the debt ceiling issue like Californians voted on the pro. 30 that raised tax.
I wonder if anyone will ever buy Flood Insurance again for protection from hurricanes? Why would you. I feel really sorry for the folks in NJ and NY and elsewhere that have damage to deal with that was done by Hurricane Sandy, and I know emotions are raw on this issue, but ....
People living right on the edge of the ocean in NY and NJ, and at elevations below 10 feet above sea level did not buy flood insurance. They took a risk and gambled and spent what would have been insurance premiums on other non-discretionary spending like big screen tv's, boats, vacations, cars, etc.
Now, when their bet of living with no insurance is a loser, suddenly, taxpayers everywhere are supposed to step in and pay what amounts to insurance claims without ever receiving any premiums.
So why would anyone ever buy flood insurance again if this is the pattern we are going to live with, whether in NY and NJ or in LA or elsewhere?
One other thing.
NY and NJ are both in the top 10 of states running at a deficit. This is why they can't afford to do much post Sandy. How much of the proposed 60 billion in the Sandy aid package is really a bailout of a state that misused its finances. Who is next? Illinois?
So go ahead and give these states gobs of cash and go deeper into debt. Don't require people to carry flood insurance like we require people to carry car insurance or pay an uninsured fee. Keep it up and the Flood insurance program will be broken by claims paid vs the premiums collected.
OH. Wait a minute. That has already happened because the Flood Insurance program has been selling flood insurance at a discount to risk. Yep. that's how government runs things because it isn't their money.
Did we just have a earthquake, or is the tea is getting cold ???
This would have been passed long ago if it wasnt for the pork loving bottom feeding Dems.
Do people not have insurance on their homes???
Now they can go back home, get their crony business owners those crooked no-bid contracts and start funneling the money away until there is none left for average Americans who need it most.
You can thank Peter King N.Y. and Chris Christie N.J., two Republicans that threaten the GOP Koch tea movement for this bill being passed !!!
Don't be so happy that Prop 30 passed South Bay, Brown lied when he was pushing for prop. 30 he said all $6.7 billion was going to the schools, but the budget he put out he only shows $2.7 billion to the schools. So South Bay what did Brown do with $4 billion is it in his bank account or did he give it to his pals in the teachers union as a pay back for all the money they spent on him and to cover the short fall for their retirement. Oh By the way their was another Prop along with 30 that was to raise the sales tax on the rest of us but it failed. It always easy to pass a tax on to someone elase ( the rich), but pass one on your self that will never happen. Raising the debt limit would be like raising taxes on your self at some point the muiddle class will have to pay for Obama's sins. Just like in CA. will for Browns, hope you have tons of cash just laying around with nothing to do there in South Bay.
Yes. Take it to voters(informed voters, not low information or ignorant ones), like the tea baggers.
Alice, how about we take it to the ones who actually pay income tax, will that leave you out?
I will be one of the few who will be eligible to vote. I am well informed, highly educated and have some $$$$ to spend and give. But I am also compassionate and have a heart of flesh; not stone. I care for the least among us (some of no fault of theirs). And you????? I guess not! I have paid, is paying and will pay more than most people entire generation ever will.(especially those tea baggers holding the bags of republican. LOL
Glen, so I'm guessing you don't live in an earthquake, tornado, fire, flood, severe drought area. it may be your turn next and we'll all be there to help, except for the teabillies.
1 Democrat and 179 Republicans voted to oppose.
Roll call on those names please
RI Mom @ #1.12
Here ya go...
caltha-palustris
Grazie... you're the best!
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Jim Cooper, TN. what the heck are you thinking? Snowstorm coming your way... hope you won't be needing funding.
10 billions dollars in pork the House chop from the original Senate bill. There is still some bacon in the bill to burn , but for some RINOS , Pelosi and her gang it is OK. The Senate will have to pass and Obama will sign.
Crony business owners are the green industry that support Obama, who get money from the government to bankcrupt their companies and sell it to China, and the Wall Street Obama suporters like Goldman Sacks , house of Tim Gaithner and his crew, moron.
Be smart people watch out for the scum bag scamers no money up front only pay for the work that is done pay for the materials as they arrive. Use your head not your heart be smart you only get one chance. these flea bags will be on you like air
That's a lot of money. Do you suppose that a higher percent will go to people who need it than in the past? I wouldn't bet on it.
its probably going to be used for fixing the beaches helping the seagulls and rebuilding the ports. Peoples homes are invasive to the natural surroundings.
It's still appalling to see 179 hypocritical republicans vote against helping these poor people in the NE after Super Storm Sandy.
I wonder if that pathetic Steven Palazzo from Mississippi voted for it after the ass whipping he took for voting NO the first time, can't wait to see the voting log.
Nah alice you only care about how good it makes you feel. You heart bleeders are as inhumane as zookeepers.
Interestingly, I read an article, just today, that might explain your kind, people with too much oxytocin in their blood. Could be hormones all along.
You can call them the way you want , but the corrupt Senate use the Sandy Relief bill to fill it with pork that got nothing to do with Sandy, I'm glad they vote Nay instead to follow the liberal irresponsible way to waist money, and then later Obama ask to increase the debt ceiling to pay for our obligations.
$50.7 Billion of totally wasted money! Why do I have to pay for someone else's lack of responsibility? Such BS. Obummer....
Hello folks, it's about time! Last time I checked they were Americans in need of our help!
I've seen our government give millions of dollars in the past to millionaires after a disaster to rebuild their homes while they gave nothing to the poor living only blocks away who also lost their homes. The only difference is, the millionaires had several other homes around the world to go live in while they rebuilt while the poor huddled under a bridge. It's the problem with having millionaires run our government!
So if you follow the blog sentiment. Members of the tea party would not be allowed to vote. Now that is what I called progressive equality. Freedom of speech but only so long as they agree with their view. The problem with Sandy Aid is that it was more than 40% filled full of pork for non related Sandy Storm Relief. I have worked in Emergency Response and quite familiar with the emergency aid. There is always alot of fraud related to emergency response. But the individual has a responsibility to purchase flood insurance if they live in a high hazard flood zone.
Please note that the bill was for Disaster Relief, not just Sandy relief. There are other areas that have been hit hard by storm and fire. Don't they have a right to assistance? BTW, there had not been a flood of significance in that area in over 100 years. I think those people were being reasonable in thinking they would be safe. In addition to that, many of those homes were seventy or eighty years old and had been passed down through the generations. They had no idea there was any significant risk.
To the person who said he would never buy flood insurance again . . . these people are collecting on federal flood insurance that they paid premiums on for many years. Since they paid those premiums to the government, the government has to pay up. This is not a gift.
Oskar, The "pork" you refer to was largely disaster relief for other areas of the country. Is there some reason why only some people are entitled to disaster relief while others are not? I have a friend in Colorado who had fire damage after the firestorms last year. Why is Colorado excluded from disaster relief? You don't like Colorado? The people there aren't as worthy?
Please go back and read the article:
“The title of the bill is ‘The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act.’ That’s the name of the bill. It’s not the ‘Sandy Disaster Act.’ It’s not the ‘Sandy Relief Act.’ It’s a disaster relief act. New Yorkers weren’t the only ones who had their homes burned down in a devastating natural disaster. We had over 600 in Colorado alone,” Gardner said.
“If we’re going to have disaster assistance for people in this country who truly need it – because we are all in this together -- then we shouldn’t just cherry-pick Northeastern United States versus Southwestern United States,” he added.
Uh, actually, according to the title of the article, they did vote 'yes'. Some voted no, the majority voted 'yes' so it did get passed and now all the President has to do is sign it.
They DID buy insurance. As I understand it, it's required when you live in a coastal area. So people bought insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program, which normally has enough money to cover it but this time the damage done was too extensive, affected too many people in too many states, to cover all the claims and they had to ask for extra money from the government.
Practicaly everyone does, though some who are living in houses passed down through generations may have let it lapse if they are poor. But for many others, there's a concurrent disaster clause in some insurance paperwork that says if your home was affected by flood, fire or whatever, if you don't have your house insured against EVERYTHING they won't pay anything. Hence falling back onto the NFIP, with the resultant problems I outlined above.
You do realize that allot of the money is going to rebuilding infrastructure right? That means roads, city, beaches and so forth needed to maintain a city. Did you really think it was all going to people without flood insurance? Wow!
why not have one issue bills, instead of loading legislation up with a yard full of porkers?
All this bill proves is that Washington is always going to fail. When nothing, including a disaster can keep politicians from piling on the pork, this country has no hope with any of the people in Washington. Never letting a good crisis go to waste will forever be part of the Democrats lore, and a blight on nation.
Looks like the Tea Movement stay home on this one !!!
No, it looks like some of the bottom feeding Dems pulled some of the pork.
Anyone for a cup of tea, its loaded with pork and chock full of nuts, just say please !!!
The problem is less then 15% of the Congress is "Tea Party Members". Christie is a joke and just wants to get reelected, which is hard for a republican to do in a Democrat state. The Pork should have killed this bill from the start. Doesn't anyone purchase insurance anymore? A year ago I had wind damage to my homes (rentals) Within a week the insureance company cut a check and within a short time the damage was repaired. New England area is just not responsible. Of course we all pay for things like this, just check your auto insurance (uninsured, and under-insured)
Christie is a realist. When did the nuts cared about spending? HA HA. Where were the nuts? I did not hear one coco nut fly over the nest when all our money (even our Social security& medicare $)was claimed to be used to pay for illegal wars (that payment never happen), go into the pockets of set-up companies by some millionaires (Cheney), used in the republican red states during disasters and to give more to the rich as tax credits. Where were the nuts???? WOW... Now they are out?? We have to crack those nuts. LOL
Yes, they stayed home crying (with Mr. BO NUT) and holding their bags (like the tea baggers)......HA, HA, HA..LOL
LOL....Here's another one eating their own! I bet you were in love with Christie when you'll were pushing him to to enter the Presidential race!!!
Yeah! Who cares how we pay for it!!
Really, there has been absolutely no concern for the massive debt and deficits being run up by Obama, why should they start to care now? Nothing goes better with a good crisis then a pile of pork.
duplicate
Does no one buy insurance any more? When did the federal government get into the private property insurance business?
Sandy made landfall with the highest storm surge north of Cape Hatteras in history. On top of that, she hit at high tide during a full moon. Sandy drove water to places that were never flooded before. The people in those areas couldn't have bought flood insurance if they wanted to. Regular homeowners doesn't cover flooding.
@Jersey Michael
Some people make up their own facts when the real facts don't fit their argument. I am sure you are not one of those ppeople Jersey, but...
Some, people (the responsible ones) in NY and NJ did in fact buy flood insurance, about 100,000 of them to be roughly accurate. This is why this news story ran today on the Associated Press.
Monday, January 7, 2013 12:30 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has signed into law a $9.7 billion bill to pay flood insurance claims from Superstorm Sandy. The law increases the borrowing authority of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA had warned that it was set to run out of money without additional dollars from Congress.
The White House said more than 100,000 flood claim payments from Sandy would be delayed without the additional money.
The House has yet to act on a larger, more comprehensive Sandy aid package. Republican leaders did not bring the bill to the floor before the last session of Congress adjourned.
House Speaker John Boehner has promised a vote Jan. 15 on that $51 billion package, and Senate leaders have promised a vote the following week.
end of news story.
Now, what did we just learn.
Well, first, once again when you hear the word "comprehensive" spoken by a Democrat, you better watch out.
Next, some people did in fact have flood insurance, but, since the flood insurance program has been selling insurance at a discount to the risk it has been assuming, and did not have adequate reserves or reinsurance arrangements for the risks it was taking, (something private insurance companies are required to do), the flood insurance program was $9,000,000,000 in the red and needed an infusion of cash in order to pay claims. So does that make the average taxpayer an owner of an undivided interest in all of those waterfront properties?
The other chunk of change, the $51 billion one, is where the non Sandy pork and a lot of other stuff is lurking that will be spent over the next two years. The taxpayers were told it was for emergency funding because of Sandy. While some of it is, a lot of it isn't. I don't know about you, but i am realy tired of being lied to.
Do you know what insurance covers????? LOL
Glenn, did you read my post before you decided to criticize me? If you had read it you would have seen that much of Sandy's damage wasn't in flood prone areas. Those people couldn't buy flood insurance if they wanted to. The 100,000 that do have flood insurance like me are on the barrier islands. Unfortunately, flood insurance doesn't cover basements which is where all my damage was.
This storm flooded places that had never been flooded in living memory or even written records. Many of the people affected had no flood insurance because they weren't in areas considered flood-prone.
Jersey Michael:
Who cares?
It is YOUR property NOT the USA Income Taxer Payer!!! Pay for it yourself. I suggest you add water and mud damage to your policy.
Homer:
"Who cares?
It is YOUR property NOT the USA Income Taxer Payer!!! Pay for it yourself. I suggest you add water and mud damage to your policy."
Homer, someone needed to tell you ignorance is unbecoming. Do you realize that Jersey Michael stated he had purchased flood insurance? Do you know what that means? It means he did pay to protect his property. If you do understand this then we have no other alternative than to assume you do not know who you purchase flood insurance from. Educate yourself before you start acting high and mighty.
Homer: Have you considered moron insurance? Though...since you're so high-risk, I doubt any insurance company would touch you with a policy. You couldn't afford the premiums.
ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT Just when you think Obama couldnt stoop any lower he will prove you wrong tommorrow when he uses kids as a prop for his gun control press conference, pathetic.
How about this stop freeloaders. How about the northeast keep all the federal money that we pump into the system for states (like the ones that voted against this bill) that dont even come close to inputting as much money as we do? It sickens me to know that, as a NYer,my tax dollars go to fund social programs in Red states then when a massive natural disaster hits, those say free loading representatives start squaking about fiscal responsibility.
I have no problem with that. Im one of the 49% Americans who still pays income taxes. This tragedy will cost me and others in higher homeowners insurance plus whatever tax they will invent to cover it.
If you are one of the 49% and have $$$, why are you worried??? Only people without $$$$ or enough $$$ worry.vI have more than enough to share and mine is all legal; not overseas and is open for audits. The more I give the more I receive. That is a fact. LOL
A RUDE AWAKENING!!!! Gross, out of touch, evil, are those who do not feel for the families that lost their young ones. I wonder what they would say if the shoes were on their feet. I guess nothing because they know nothing. WOW. They are no different than the piece of garbage .... that executed those people, especially those who could not fight back or advocate for themselves. What a shame, what a disgrace and what a laughter you are. HA, HA, Ha........LOL.
C'mom, where are all the wacko liberals that usually post this site. You know, Fiesty, Pig, Beverly, Dennis et. al., you know, the PAID posters? Seems like Boehner did the right thing by separating the bills so that in the end, they all would get passed. Aren't you libs going to give him some credit for what he did? I can't say I agree with spending $$ that the government doesn't have (again), and I don't see anything wrong with CUTTING expenses in another area to cover these costs (isn't that we'd do at home if there was an unexpected emergency?) but Boehner did get the job done for the libs and he deserves a little thanks (you can expect Hell to freeze over before the lunatic Dems will ever do that!).
Fiesty is home watching re-runs of honey boo boo and eating bon bons.
Ger Real, Iwas thinking the same thing. I guess there isn't anything to spin.
They are saving their energy for tomorrow when they will seek to rationalize children being used as political props by a shameless inept president for whom politcal theatre is the only level on which he can communicate.
Liberals are like old christmas tree lights, half of them dont work and the other half are dim.
FACTS: IT IS BILL FROM WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY SPEND ON WARS, FAKE COMPANIES AND TAX CREDITS FOR US (the rich) who already have and do not need more. The RED STATES are the real free loaders. WOW, we need to educate ........or check these people into the place where you do not check yourself out. LOL
Get Real...starters I'd love to know why you and your right wing buds even come to this website. You don't agree with anything posted so it would seem your part of a very disingenuous group. I'd really love to see you use unbiased sources supporting your input. Give it a rest already and dare I say it "get real." (kindly)
Alice...agreed on your stance regarding insurance. Seems right wingers lately have no where to go to spin their web. LOL
Stopfreeloaders...uhhh... I PAY as many others I know OUT OF OUR POCKETS for insurance. We are not as biased or uninformed as some regarding insurance claims for unpredictable or controllable natural disasters. I hope you never endure a loss that pits you against your insurer for every penny YOU THINK you are insured for. Here's a little clue...do your own research and take a hard look at the rankings and complaints regarding insurers. If you had any clue you'd know that despite having "insurance," few insurers paid what the insured thought they were cover for during 2012 alone. If you did your homework you'd also know that unless you have deep pockets and can afford high deductables which average Middle-Class families can't your at the mercy of insurers. Since your so certain you have a clue you'd also know that insurers do not provide "flood," insurance unless the area they live in has been determined to be a "flood plane or prone to flooding." So if you live in Florida you'd also expect pay for and have earth quake insurance? (right) Oh...BTW why do you think there are so many johnny come lately insurance companies? I'll give you a little hint...there is great opportunity it just depends on which end your vested. If I seem a little raw it's because I've been on both ends and you surely proved just how short sighted you are. (Polite) However, I'd love to know where every penny of that bill is slated to go. I'd love to know the real purpose and who voted for or against it. Why? I want everyone to know should another disaster happen what the response will be in turn. I will let all my representatives know not to support the needs of those who could not support the needs of their fellow Americans.
Mary, bet you are one of those that think any part of this $50 billion is actually going to go where they say it is, right? I'll tell you where it will end up! In the pockets of big labor unions, to funnel back to Barry in the end! And I'm sure your suckup governor of NJ will come off looking even more pathetic in the end!
Since they are rebuilding, then they should think about going green technology to re-build their homes, from elevation the foundation to the basement..
I'll tell them where to start cutting. Their own budgets and pay. The Presidents too.
I'M WONDERING.....
How in the hell did Chicago get rebuilt so fast after the great fire without FEMA or any other monetary help from the feds?
How in the hell did San Fransisco get rebuilt so fast after the great earthquake of 1906 without FEMA?
The answer is easy if you really think hard...................
FEMA got blasted during Katrina, now nothing. They have done a worse job with Sandy, then they ever did on Katrina.
@300
Different Brownie I guess. Who is running FEMA now? Don't even know his name.
I guess this one belongs to Obama.
Sorry greg but it doesnt belong to Obama, it belongs to the dysfunctional house that cant pass a bill if their lives depended on it.
Sickofitalli31 Obama had two years with complete controll and accomplished nothing, not even a budget, see how easy it is to refute a liberal.
"Stopfreloaders,"...Sweetie...the president doesn't make budgets. Congress does. If you'd graduated from sixth grade, you would know that.
Isn't this kind of funny, that the reason the "Sandy funds" Were held up by.... Not by the GOP, but by the law makers adding their own little add on's. Add on's that had nothing to do wit the disaster. When will they get it. Voting on funds for a disaster, is ONLY FOR THAT DISASTER................... Why do we need to send BILLIONS to a Taiwan business, the Nascar people, amongst others that has nothing to do with the disaster........ And IT I NOT the GOP that is doing this but EVERYONE UP THERE.........
@ Outdoorsman253
To a liberal, socialist, or fascist, a crisis is a terrible thing to waste. Just look at Newton, CT.
Congress just passed the $17 billion Sandy relief bill. They are now considering the $33 billion amendment. The $17 billion bill + the $9 billion passed two weeks is less than 1/3 of what was asked for by Governors Cuomo, Christie and Malloy and less than half of what Obama asked for. It was stripped of all "pork" real and imaginary. Still 91 Republicans voted against it. When House.gov publishes the vote, I will post these 91 low-lifes names. Hopefully they will be voted out of office in 2014.
The estimate was 26 billion in damages by all studies , please explain how come we need to send 33 billion, I will wait for your answer.
You should work on those useless FEMA execs who work for your beloved leader. Disaster relielf is the only reason they exist, they are already funded, where the hell have they been?. "Spend, spend, spend till daddy takes your T-bird away".
Fema is not already funded for unknown disasters like this. Maybe if the Repubs hadnt cut its head off for most of the Bush years (which was the primary reason behind the Katrina mess), then the department would possibly functional enough to get things done.
stopfreeloaders,
The money that they are debating now is for mitigation of future storms. When Sandy hit, she eroded our beaches and washed away our dunes. Then she pounded our sea walls, breaching them in many places up and down the coast. What good is rebuilding our houses when a minor hurricane or strong nor'easter could reflood the area causing more damage. FEMA has also was done mitigation repair, like the levees after Katrina.
Jersey Michael: Don't bother with facts. It makes conservatives' heads implode. (They can't explode...empty things implode.)
stopfreeloaders is just sad that his FoxNews site no longer allows comments, so he has to come here to spew his ideas. Unfortunately, this site is not a right-wing echo chamber like Fox was and other voices can be heard, voices that don't agree with him always.
As I recall from last month when I looked at the language for that $60.9M most (not necessarily down to the gnats eyelash) of that money while not necessarily for "Sandy" was still for disasters over the last year..... such as the massive wildfires in the west. It is kind of hard for some congressmen/women to say "my state, my state, my state" but then say scr*w you to the other states. And that is kind of what has been going on the last few years.
As for what they are going to do with so many disasters? Guess they better start talking about it publicly. They can cut everyone off and tell everyone that it is each to their own or they can man (or woman) up and decide we are all in this together. The disasters are not going to stop. They are going to just get more intense (as some have predicted but we won`t go there in this discussion).
The real story of why it is being passed piece meal is that Boehner has no real control of his caucus. What is probably starting to emerge is a new majority composed laregly of Democrats and enough sensible Republicans to get things done. If this is true the radical elements of the Republican House will be neutralized-we just have to put up with their crazy outbursts.
God almighty, if you want to place blame look no further than this administration who spent all the money.
This administration got rid of OSAMA. Good way to spend our money. (not on premedidated wars)
Healthcare for the less fortunate. Good way to spend our money (our taxes pay health for those in congress- why not for those who need help???)
Education for the workforce. Good way to spend our money (Retugs and teabaggers, teabillies and followers should take advantage of this opportunity.
Others...................
Mulvaney wants Congress to state what spending they are willing to curtail for this aid????? Ok, here is a start:
Start with the subsidies to the Oil Companies, then stop the subsidies to Big AGRA, Then have an Alt Min tax for corporations that pay NO TAX. For Pete's sake, there is a lot of money that goes to the top earners from the bottom tax payers. The country is being looted by the GOP. Stop the wasting of taxpayer dollars. Use it to help the American people, not the corporations.
How about you and the other 49% who pay no income tax kick in your share, thats a start.
How about the free loading red states start paying their fair share of costs to run the government. They're nothing but welfare states.
How about the next time the Mississippi floods or a tornado devastates a red state, we keep our money in the northeast. Screw the red states.
The 49% nonsense lost the election for Romney. I bet stopfreelaoders thinks he won. 179 republicans voted to screw the Northeast states. Perhaps there will be payback. Probably not, the Northeast always supports disaster relief anywhere in the United States.
LAR 42, what hurt Romney was the fact we have far too many individuals beholding to the government for food stamps, housingand welfare along with an ill informed electorate thank to our liberal press.
Your little angry fantasies are cute, "stopfreeloaders," but they are very sad. However, you and people of your ilk delight me, because your silliness ensures the GOP is dead to America at a national election level. Keep spouting nonsense!
Since this is tornado alley representatives doing all of this blockading, let us hope that this spring doesn't bring more Joplin, MO disasters. And to add to that, let's hope that one of these self-righteous Christian gun nuts doesn't go into one of these southern elementary schools and spray it with the NRA decorations. All of these temper tantrum throwing Ron Pauls, Eric Cantors, Donald Trumps, etc....can't stand the fact that there is a highly intelligent BLACK man in the WHITE house whose IQ is higher than all of them put together. As long as their electorates feel the same way, we will never have a functional government again.
Only cowards play the race card eh.
Guess, you are a 95%er.
Only a moron would actually believe that Harvard would accept a student with an IQ of only 95 for a Masters Degree.
Jersey Michael, there are plenty of morons here.
If the GOP wants to swap spending cuts for emergency aid to the states, then start with the Oil Subsidies and the Big Agra subsidies. Lets make this really loud and see how fast the GOP decides they do not need to cut spending.
Please list the specific subsidies your are referring to. Just don't make broad swipes about Oil Subsidies without specifics.
Intangible Drilling Costs (IDS's) are one item the Administration refers to as a subsidy and the press blindly follows without doing their homework. Basically,
IDCs are the costs incurred by the oil and gas industry in the drilling of its
wells. Since drilling wells is the only means of finding oil and natural gas,
IDCs essentially amount to what any other industry would be able to deduct as a
part of its cost of goods sold, a concept of accounting and tax law as old as
the tax code itself. I'm a small manufacturer and we get to subtract our costs of goods sold. I assume you don't think the oil industry should be able to subtract their costs of goods sold. This is just one example of what the Adminstration has mis-categorized as a subsidy. Do your homework!
NO INDUSTSRY should be able to do that. That's insane. Oil companies should never get money from the US or be able to deduct anything unless they are developing green technology as well. Large corporations shouldn't be able to deduct any expenses at all. They should have to pay the full rate especially if they have foreign workers.
Finally, these Southern reactionaries moved and inch, while never turning down a dollar in Federal relief funds for their rural districts.
By the way, America, let us remember that today would have been the 84th birthday of one the American giants of the 20th Century; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Of the 12 states receiving the most federal aid per population, 6 are blue and 6 are red. Interesting enough most of the states are the ones you would expect with small populations, Alaska, N. Dakota, Mississippi, Rhode Island Delaware etc. The one state on this list that is crazy is New York, with it's population and being on the list the rest of the country is being soaked.
Who by the way was a republican opposed by the Dems.
Hey Brad, you realize we also pay into the system more than we take in from the Feds? Not the case with any of the other states receiving the most aid.
PTI,
Sorry, this may not have much to do with the proceeding conversation, but out of curiosity: 1. Was the northeast being punished by the house for voting for Obama. Reminds me of the Katrina response, the hardest effected were blacks. They didn't vote for me so what's the rush... 2. How many northeast republican voters will remember how the republican leadership said screw you, we'll take a vote in a couple of days. Eat cake until then, I guess the 2014 elections will tell.
Examples of why many (conservative) republicans voted against this bill:
•$336 million for taxpayer-supported
AMTRAK without any detailed plan for how the money will be spent.
•$5.3 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers – more than the Corps’ annual budget – with no statement of priorities about how to spend the money.
•$12.9 billion for future disaster mitigation activities and studies, without identifying a single way to pay for it.
The tea party (conservative Republicans) are constantly riduculed but why should such spending slush funds go thru Congress.
How many of you right wing dumb nuts have lost everything in a storm thinking you were covered by your insurance only to find out it only covered part of your replacement costs?? These people need help to rebuild just like everyone else. The republicans sure can vote to reduce taxes to the rich and pay for two wars but not to help the people in this country that need help.
If the left was so worried about the citizens then all this unnecessary pork wouldn't have been attached to the bill. Im all for helping those in need but actually check out who is receiving all the money.
Woody,
It is your responsibility to make sure you are fully covered. If you live in a coastal area you should have flood insurance. storms happen be a boy scout and be prepared. If you decide you do not want to pay for insurance you gambled and lost. I review my policy every year to make sure my coverage is up to where it should be. I dont have flood insurance because I live on high ground. If for some reason a water pipe breaks or we get 40 days and nights of rain and my house floods, well it sucks to be me. IT IS NOT THE GOVERNMENTS JOB TO REBUILD MY PRIVATE PROPERTY. The government should help in rebuilding infrastructure, but not private property. We just do not have the funds, in case you have been asleep the Fed is broke. What is with this nation? We have become a welfare state full of entitlements. Lousyanna got money from Katrina so we deserve money from Sandy blah blah blah waa waa waa. Man up and take care of you own problems because no one owes you anything. Freakin whiners!!!
NativeAmerican, not only coastal areas were flooded. Areas well inland that had never seen flooding in living memory or even written records were flooded by this storm. These were NOT people believed by anybody to be at risk for floods.
Besides, if it wasn't taxpayers needing aid relief because everyone had insurance, it would be the insurance companies demanding a bailout because they had lost so much money.
Ithink the government has been fooling around long enough about aid to people that need it because of Hurricane Sandy. Yes, some people did buy flood insurance...and yes some people did not. This storm hit areas that have never been flooded, and if you live in an area where there has never been a flood...would YOU buy flood insurance? I think not. The problem here is the government's lack of quick action and sensible financing of the money needed...AND ALSO...putting in there little "add ons" as they always do, to get back something b4 giving help where it's needed. Some of these people have been without the barest sanitary elements, and shelter. FEMA is not "the big brother/sister" that comes in and makes things right again..right away. There have been volunteer groups from Churches, from the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and others that have been working SINCE the disaster to help people in NY & NJ...NOW we have all the "good ole boys" in Washington flexing thier muscles to make everyone think they are "the saviors" of the world. This government of ours, (and this has been for a long time) sends Billons of dollars, ( our dollars) overseas, to big corporations in the USA for "incentives" I guess you'd call it...and yet they have to wait this long to allocate money to people THAT really need it right here at home. It's nice to be a benefactor and get Laurel Wreaths for it...but how about spreading some of the "green stuff" on our own turf...and get people's lives back together.
Buy flood insurance when your home is less than a hundred feet from the Ocean? Why do that? If your house gets washed away, just whine on TV, hold your kids, shed a tear, expect us all to pay for your stupidity. (Oh that's right, we're not being compassionate enough...)
There is no guarantee it won't happen again next year either in the same place or another. I would suggest buying enough insurance or move to high ground. We the taxpayers are broke and operating on borrowed money so, be careful how you stick your hand out.
Looks like the government bottom feeders are busy at work in Washington.
They are, but not in women's wombs and people bedrooms. LOL
thats the government for ya free money only for the rich the poor can stay in shelters
The funding needed to happen and not with more tax dollars. The question is how many of the jerks in congress have put in for the "Pork Barrel". Give the money and make sure it goes for those that need it and not to the ones that have insurance. And NOT to other states and private parties of the "Pork Barrel"
yes they passed it, and it still had pork in it. they passed it with money going to other things, above and beyond what was needed for sandy victims. you people wonder why we are in debt as a country. the perfect example lies with this.
There was no pork left in the bill they passed today.
Why is the taxpayer always on the hook for everything? we cannot continue bailing out everybody for everything - that is why they sell insurance. you don't have any - too bad for you! The fleecing of the taxpayer cannot continue indefinitely-money does not grow in natural disasters - except for those scamming the system and taxpayer!
Since the 7th Congress passed disaster relief fro the victims of the Portsmouth, NH fire in 1803 Americans have always taken care of their own in times of need. And rightfully so. As for insurance, homeowners doesn't cover flooding. Since many of the areas hit were not in a flood zone, they could not have bought flood insurance if they wanted to.
2 jersey
reread the article , it showed the pork in it as part of the reporting. they where only able to trim a small amount of the pork going to things other then sandy victims. says so right in the article
eric,
Every appropriation in the bill starts with that line except what's in quotes changes depending on what's getting funded. I'm not talking about the other amendments just HR113-1 which was the $33.7 billion section of the bill.