Amid backlash, Boehner schedules Sandy vote
House Speaker John Boehner walks to his office on Capitol Hill in Washington Jan. 1, 2013. / AP Photo
N.Y. GOPers mend rift with Boehner
Updated: 6:50 p.m. ET
Amid vociferous criticism from both the right and the left, House Speaker John Boehner is agreeing to hold a vote this week for a bill providing relief for states hit by superstorm Sandy, though the measure -- the first of two -- will represent only a fraction of the larger $60 billion package.
Boehner, changing his position just minutes after bearing the brunt of a scathing attack from Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., said he will hold a vote Friday for a $9 billion provision that will cover flood insurance for regions impacted by Sandy. He said Congress will vote on a $51 billion package when Congress reconvenes on January 15.
"Getting critical aid to the victims of Hurricane Sandy should be the first priority in the new Congress, and that was reaffirmed today with members of the New York and New Jersey delegations," Boehner said Wednesday afternoon in a joint statement with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va. "The House will vote Friday to direct needed resources to the National Flood Insurance Program. And on January 15th, the first full legislative day of the 113th Congress, the House will consider the remaining supplemental request for the victims of Hurricane Sandy."
The House was expected to vote last night on a $60.4 billion package that would have provided disaster aid to states hit by Sandy more than two months ago. The Senate passed a similar measure last week, and Christie said today he was receiving "assurances" that the bill would "get done" as late as 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday night, Jan. 1. But in the aftermath of recent days' fraught "fiscal cliff" dealmaking, and a resulting package including tax hikes many Republicans opposed, Boehner temporarily abandoned work on the Sandy aid bill, telling New York and New Jersey Republicans he'd prioritize it in the new year.
Part of Boehner's reasoning for initially holding off on a vote, according to a Republican leadership aide, was that FEMA had assured them that there were sufficient disaster response funds through March. The aide also added that the Sandy bill was the victim of bad timing. To ask Republicans to vote on another spending bill, the aide said, on the heels of the controversial "fiscal cliff" vote, which Republicans complained didn't include enough spending cuts, was not ideal. The aide added that Boehner had told members of the New York and New Jersey delegations that he would schedule a vote within the month.
Democrats, as well as Republican lawmakers like Christie and New York Reps. Peter King and Michael Grimm, fiercely decried the decision. King, in a series of television appearances, accused House Republicans of "writing off" New York and New Jersey, and suggested he might vote against Boehner in his bid to hold on to his speakership -- the prospects of which some see as precarious due to the "fiscal cliff" negotiations. King also urged Republicans from New York and New Jersey not to donate to the House GOP.
"I'm saying right now, anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to congressional Republicans is out of their minds," he said in an appearance on Fox News. "Because what they did last night was put a knife in the back of New Yorkers and New Jerseyans. It was an absolute disgrace."
Christie, meanwhile, called publicly shamed House Republicans for falling prey to what he cast as "palace intrigue," and specifically targeted Boehner's role in the process.
"There's only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims: The House majority and their speaker John Boehner," Christie told reporters. "I called the speaker four times. He did not take my calls."
Boehner's reversal, however, was enough to appease some dissident Republicans -- including Grimm and King, both of whom expressed support for Boehner and his new approach.
"As far as I'm concerned, that was a lifetime ago. I know it was last night, but the bottom line is we're going forward and getting what we believe is necessary and to me there's no reason to question him for so long as we got the commitment," King told reporters this afternoon. "We've got the group commitment and that's what we need."
"I don't think I've ever questioned where his heart was," added Grimm. "I don't agree with his call to delay the vote. I don't. I don't support it at all. I think it was the wrong call. It was his call to make. But it wasn't because he didn't want to help New York and New Jersey, it was because of a timing issue."
Christie's office said it would let the governor's previous comments stand.
Cantor's office, meanwhile, told CBS News the Virginia Republican is not considering a run for speaker, despite some speculation to the contrary.
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House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) said Wednesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had "plenty of money" and that the failure to pass the aid bill would not impact relief and recovery efforts. "There's no immediate needs," Rogers told CNN.
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Seems like very conflicting statements, and I wonder exactly how much partisan politics this republican from the RED welfare state of KY is playing into this need for disaster relief in the Blue states of NJ & NY?
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People like you disgust REAL Americans that can see so many average Americans that have been hurt so badly from this natural disaster, yet the tea potty extremists will continue to hold up any disaster funding for people in need!
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Yes, I'm seeing many very moronic comments from the tea potty extremists, that only want to make this into a highly-partisan political fight, which funds and subsidizes the RED welfare states, but leaves the BLUE states to fend for themselves.
This is getting very disgusting to say the least!
And the Democrats admit it. Granted, the GOP is playing the same game. Make sure you spread the blame around to everyone who deserves it, quanty.
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Sorry mr. partisan republican -- but this is disaster relief for a very densely populated part of the U.S., and only you faux nooz parrots would be calling it a "marketing ploy"!
Which RED welfare state do you live in, being subsidized by BLUE states like NJ & NY?
JHIHMOAC says: "Why should Boehner care? The Northeast isn't where his bread's 'cocoa buttered'"!
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Certainly appears this is just a partisan political fight, where the tea potty extremists in the GOP House just don't want to fund any of the severe devastation in the N.E., but fund the RED welfare states in a heartbeat!
This is just wrong, and republicans will pay for this in the future!
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Funny how these hypocritical republicans have no problem getting FEMA money and aid to RED welfare states after hurricanes or tornadoes or floods, but cannot get aid to NJ/NY in a timely fashion.
I get the money needed to fix roads and bridges, but shouldn't there be some personal responsibility here too? If it's that bad, why don't these people take their insurance money, cut their losses and move somewhere else???? Don't rebuild - MOVE!
Over $100 Billion for Louisiana right after Katrina?
Must we only help the RED welfare states?
I have two honorable discharges hanging on my wall and am above getting riled over cowards who hide behind their keyboards.
As for you, you promote thievery which shows what you are, void.
***
Whether or not you were ever a Marine is doubtful. You've dropped some clues over the years that bring your credibility on that into question. Maybe you were, maybe you weren't. But TWO discharges? lol
You would be surprised at the number of people who were and are fed up with the shenanigans credit card companies pulled, especially back then. Things like cashing my payment check before my due date but not posting it to my account until after the due date -- so they could declare me in default and start charging higher interest.
The only thing my web site did or advised was how to fight back. And that makes *me* a thief? Like I said: idiot.
My web site traffic spiked 300% above normal just from the hissy you pulled right here on CBS. You must be so proud. I actually did think about holding classes and charging $50 a head. Hell, I could have worked 20 hours a week and retired after a year. But I wasn't in it for money. I wanted to kick the credit card companies back.
As far as all of this pissing you off at me; I'm tickled to death over that. Because if I ever did do something to meet with your approval, I would know I was screwing up then. Besides, you're not qualified to judge me.
LOL! I always called this person "ma'am.