Dear Commons Community,
House Republicans declined to schedule a vote for Hurricane Sandy aid Tuesday night, after voting to pass a fiscal cliff deal. If the House does not pass a disaster relief bill before noon on Thursday, when the new session of Congress begins, lawmakers will have to start over. This funding is badly needed by the people and communities that were devastated by the storm. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was most critical of the House Republicans especially John Boehner for not holding the vote.
“There is only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims: the House majority and their speaker, John Boehner,” he said. “This is not a Republican or Democratic issue. Natural disasters happen in red states and blue states and states with Democratic governors and Republican governors. We respond to innocent victims of natural disasters, not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans. Or at least we did until last night. Last night, politics was placed before oaths to serve our citizens. For me, it was disappointing and disgusting to watch.”
“Last night the House of Representatives failed that most basic test of public service, and they did so with callous indifference to the suffering of the people of my state,” said Christie. “Sixty-six days and counting — shame on you. Shame on Congress. Despite my anger and disappointment, my hope is that the good people in Congress — and there are good people in Congress — will prevail upon their colleagues to finally, finally put aside the politics and help our people now.”
Congressman Frank Pallone (Democrat – New Jersey) in an interview on MSNBC was just as critical and stated that the Sandy aid bill was cancelled because New York and New Jersey are red states.
What sad commentary on our House of Representatives which Tom Brokaw earlier in the day on MSNBC said was the “worst Congress in the history of our country.”
As of this evening, area representatives were trying to secure a vote later this week for a portion of the Sandy aid bill.
Tony
