The Fiscal Cliff compromise deal–which averted the crisis at hand, but was felt by many in Washington to be a bit of a cop-out–diverted attention away from one of the other most important issues of our day: federal relief for states pummeled by Hurricane Sandy. In the flurry of activity over the fiscal deal, House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor decided to allow the current Congress to end without addressing storm relief. The senate passed a $60 billion dollar package Friday, and Congress was expected to vote on a smaller package before the current term ends tomorrow.
Criticism came from New York politicians on both sides of the aisle. “I’m here tonight saying to myself for the first time that I’m not proud of the decision my team has made,” said Republican (and possibly mob-affiliated) Rep. Michael Grimm. “It is the wrong decision, and I’ m going to be respectful and ask that the speaker reconsider his decision. Because it’s not about politics, it’s about human lives.”
Yesterday afternoon, Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie gave a scathing speech addressing the House's decision to delay voting on a Hurricane Sandy relief package until after the current term expires, invoking Hurricane Katrina, calling out fellow Republican House Speaker John Boehner by name, and labeling the whole fiasco "disgusting." New…
It's been a long, convoluted journey, but a $51 billion Hurricane Sandy relief package has received the final go-ahead from the U.S. Senate, and will be on its way to victims on the Eastern Seaboard soon. The bill passed on a 62-to-36 vote, with 9 Republicans crossing the aisle to…
Two and a half months after Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, and over a week after House of Representatives leadership let the 112th Congress end without a vote, a $50.7 billion relief package has passed through the House. One hundred ninety-two Democrats and 49…
