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| House delay over $60bn Sandy aid bill prompts anger and outrage | House delay over $60bn Sandy aid bill prompts anger and outrage |
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| There was outrage from both sides of the floor in Congress on Wednesday after the Republican leadership in the House opted not to vote on legislation that would have provided billions of dollars worth of Hurricane Sandy relief. | There was outrage from both sides of the floor in Congress on Wednesday after the Republican leadership in the House opted not to vote on legislation that would have provided billions of dollars worth of Hurricane Sandy relief. |
| New York Republican Peter King threatened to switch parties over the furore, while fellow Republican New York congressman Michael Grimm, whose district includes Staten Island, described the failure to act as a "personal betrayal". | New York Republican Peter King threatened to switch parties over the furore, while fellow Republican New York congressman Michael Grimm, whose district includes Staten Island, described the failure to act as a "personal betrayal". |
| The Senate had already voted in favour of the legislation, which proposes $60bn of aid for New Jersey and New York. | The Senate had already voted in favour of the legislation, which proposes $60bn of aid for New Jersey and New York. |
| House Republicans had indicated that the bill would be voted on during the current session, but announced late on Tuesday that it would not be put to a vote. That decision means the bill will likely have to be resubmitted in the new Congress – which opens on Thursday – and clear a number of procedural hurdles for a second time, delaying its implementation. | House Republicans had indicated that the bill would be voted on during the current session, but announced late on Tuesday that it would not be put to a vote. That decision means the bill will likely have to be resubmitted in the new Congress – which opens on Thursday – and clear a number of procedural hurdles for a second time, delaying its implementation. |
| King has effectively gone to war with his own party over the inaction. On the House floor on Tuesday night, he said the decision of Republican leaders was "absolutely inexcusable" and "absolutely indefensible". He added: "We cannot just walk away from our responsibilities." King indicated that he was not ruling out switching parties over the issue and told Fox News: "As far as I'm concerned, I'm on my own." | King has effectively gone to war with his own party over the inaction. On the House floor on Tuesday night, he said the decision of Republican leaders was "absolutely inexcusable" and "absolutely indefensible". He added: "We cannot just walk away from our responsibilities." King indicated that he was not ruling out switching parties over the issue and told Fox News: "As far as I'm concerned, I'm on my own." |
| On Wednesday, King said that New Yorkers should refuse to donate to Republicans in retaliation. "They're in New York all the time filling their pockets with money from New Yorkers," King said of his party colleagues, on CNN. | On Wednesday, King said that New Yorkers should refuse to donate to Republicans in retaliation. "They're in New York all the time filling their pockets with money from New Yorkers," King said of his party colleagues, on CNN. |
| "I'm saying: right now, anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to congressional Republicans is out of their minds. Because what they did last night was put a knife in the back of New Yorkers and New Jerseyans. It was an absolute disgrace." | "I'm saying: right now, anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to congressional Republicans is out of their minds. Because what they did last night was put a knife in the back of New Yorkers and New Jerseyans. It was an absolute disgrace." |
| Grimm, who represents New York's 13th congressional district, where Staten Island and Brooklyn's Bay Ridge were both affected by Sandy, said the decision was "unforgivable". | Grimm, who represents New York's 13th congressional district, where Staten Island and Brooklyn's Bay Ridge were both affected by Sandy, said the decision was "unforgivable". |
| "I feel it is a personal betrayal," Grimm said. "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." | "I feel it is a personal betrayal," Grimm said. "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." |
| The Senate approved a $60.4bn package on Friday to help with recovery from the October storm that devastated parts of New York, New Jersey and nearby states. The House appropriations committee had drafted a similar measure, and a vote had been expected before the 112th Congress ends on Thursday at noon. | The Senate approved a $60.4bn package on Friday to help with recovery from the October storm that devastated parts of New York, New Jersey and nearby states. The House appropriations committee had drafted a similar measure, and a vote had been expected before the 112th Congress ends on Thursday at noon. |
| The House Democratic whip, Steny Hoyer of Maryland, told reporters that just before Tuesday evening's vote on fiscal cliff legislation, Cantor told him he was "99.9% confident that this bill would be on the floor, and that's what he wanted". | The House Democratic whip, Steny Hoyer of Maryland, told reporters that just before Tuesday evening's vote on fiscal cliff legislation, Cantor told him he was "99.9% confident that this bill would be on the floor, and that's what he wanted". |
| Democrats were left outraged on Wednesday. "I am stunned, stunned," Congressman Rob Andrews, a New Jersey Democrat, told Politico. "I assume there is as tactical consideration here; that the Republican leadership didn't want to be anywhere near a big spending bill after the fiasco of their handling the tax debate. I understand the tactics, but there is a real human need here that is being ignored." | Democrats were left outraged on Wednesday. "I am stunned, stunned," Congressman Rob Andrews, a New Jersey Democrat, told Politico. "I assume there is as tactical consideration here; that the Republican leadership didn't want to be anywhere near a big spending bill after the fiasco of their handling the tax debate. I understand the tactics, but there is a real human need here that is being ignored." |
| New York senator Chuck Shumer told House Speaker John Boehner in a tweet that his decision not to allow a vote on the Sandy bill is a "disgrace, [and] leaves NY residents without crucial aid to recover and rebuild". | New York senator Chuck Shumer told House Speaker John Boehner in a tweet that his decision not to allow a vote on the Sandy bill is a "disgrace, [and] leaves NY residents without crucial aid to recover and rebuild". |
| Some Republicans defended themselves against the criticism, arguing that the bill had been filled with "pork" that had little to do with Sandy relief. Darrell Issa, the chairman of the House oversight and government reform committee, told Fox and Friends: "Your two senators packed this with pork," referring to Schumer and fellow New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand. | Some Republicans defended themselves against the criticism, arguing that the bill had been filled with "pork" that had little to do with Sandy relief. Darrell Issa, the chairman of the House oversight and government reform committee, told Fox and Friends: "Your two senators packed this with pork," referring to Schumer and fellow New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand. |
| "They had the opportunity to have a $27-$30bn dollar legit relief package, packed it with pork, then dared us not to vote on it." | "They had the opportunity to have a $27-$30bn dollar legit relief package, packed it with pork, then dared us not to vote on it." |
| Issa said the issue was "unrelated pork" which would not help those affected by the storm. Politico noted that the bill included $150m for fisheries in Alaska and $2m for a new roof for the Smithsonian in Washington DC. | Issa said the issue was "unrelated pork" which would not help those affected by the storm. Politico noted that the bill included $150m for fisheries in Alaska and $2m for a new roof for the Smithsonian in Washington DC. |
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