A
Anonymous
Guest
'Knife in the back': Fury over House dropping Sandy aid vote
By Josh Levs, CNN
updated 12:33 PM EST, Wed January 2, 2013
(CNN) -- Lawmakers on both sides slammed House Republican leaders Wednesday for failing to vote on a bill that would have provided billions of dollars in aid to victims of Superstorm Sandy.
"The Republican Party has said it's the party of 'family values.' Last night, it turned its back on the most essential value of all, and that's to provide food, shelter, clothing and relief for people who have been hit by a natural disaster," Rep. Peter King, a New York Republican, said in an interview with CNN.
"Anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee should have their head examined," King said. It's very rare for a lawmaker to call on anyone not to support his own party.
President Barack Obama urged the House GOP leadership to hold a vote Wednesday -- the final full day of the current Congress. At noon Thursday, a new Congress will be sworn in, and will have to start from scratch in passing any legislation.
GOP's King: GOP 'writing off' NY, NJ
"It has only been two months since Hurricane Sandy devastated communities across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut as well as other eastern states. Our citizens are still trying to put their lives back together," Obama said in a statement.
Noting that the Senate passed the aid package with bipartisan support, Obama said the House "has refused to act," even as some families need support immediately "with the bulk of winter still in front of us."
"When tragedy strikes, Americans come together to support those in need. I urge Republicans in the House of Representatives to do the same, bring this important request to a vote today, and pass it without delay for our fellow Americans," Obama said.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, issued a joint statement saying the "continued inaction and indifference by the House of Representatives is inexcusable."
The aid package put forward by Obama is a "responsible" proposal, the governors said. "This failure to come to the aid of Americans following a severe and devastating natural disaster is unprecedented. The fact that days continue to go by while people suffer, families are out of their homes, and men and women remain jobless and struggling during these harsh winter months is a dereliction of duty.
"When American citizens are in need we come to their aid. That tradition was abandoned in the House last night. The people of our states can no longer afford to wait while politicians in Washington play games."
Some of the harshest comments came from King.
"There are a number of Republicans who maybe can kiss their seat goodbye ... because of what was done to them," he said, pointing fingers at House leadership for putting GOP lawmakers in the region stricken by Sandy in jeopardy. "If you can't provide the most basic assistance for your district, who needs you in Congress?"
He added that while Republican leaders talk about the party having an image problem, "this is a reality problem they have."
King put the blame squarely on House Speaker John Boehner. The No. 2 Republican in the House, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, had guaranteed a vote on the the $60.4 billion package, King said.
He added that he was chasing Boehner "all over the House last night" and that Boehner had said everything would be taken care of after the vote on the fiscal cliff. But Boehner left.
"He wouldn't tell us why. He just decided to sneak off in the dark of night."
King called the House leadership's move a "knife in the back."
Boehner did not immediately respond publicly to King's assertions.
I watched this for a while on C-SPAN and it was more than trouble in the Repub Party-- it was downright hate and contempt for each other...
I don't know how many times it was brought up by both Repubs and Dems- that Truman had a terrible Congress to put up with- which he called the "Do-Nothing Congress" for that reason---BUT that this current Congress has now passed their record on doing nothing!
And old Boehner was the object of all the hate last night as apparently he lied to not only the Dems but his Repubs too---- but now was no where to be found...
I was waiting for some Congressman to mention where he probably was and why he couldn't come back and call for a vote (pickled in some Pub- working on his 3rd or 4th jug of vino for the day)-- but I guess since being that honest would have got them censured- they restrained themselves... :wink: