Senate Republicans aim to cut Sandy aid bill down to $24 billion

From Reuters:

U.S. Senate Republicans sought to slash a $60.4 billion aid bill to cover reconstruction after Superstorm Sandy, proposing on Wednesday to fund only $23.8 billion in immediate disaster relief while assessing longer-term needs...
"We don't have time right now to get all the way through and analyze the actual losses that were attributable to Sandy," said Republican senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma, adding that the full $60.4 billion looked like a "slush fund."

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Senate Republicans aim to cut Sandy aid bill down to $24 billion | Reuters

Although I have no objections to providing assistance in stages, I take objection to Senator Inhofe's remarks. From running through the news stories, I have found no evidence Senator Inhofe has been to Long Island, Staten Island, or the New Jersey shore to view the damage. He is in no position to suggest that the aid request 'looks' like a "slush fund" given his lack of reviewing the damage. He is speculating without any evidence on which to base his assertion.

In addition, the Senate occasionally has to act in a timely fashion. However, he suggested that the Senate doesn't have sufficient time "right now" to analyze the losses. Is that assumption based on the Senate's recessing in a business-as-usual fashion or after a much shorter-than-usual recess strictly for the holidays?

donsutherland1 said:

From Reuters:
Senate Republicans aim to cut Sandy aid bill down to $24 billion | ReutersAlthough I have no objections to providing assistance in stages, I take objection to Senator Inhofe's remarks. From running through the news stories, I have found no evidence Senator Inhofe has been to Long Island, Staten Island, or the New Jersey shore to view the damage. He is in no position to suggest that the aid request 'looks' like a "slush fund" given his lack of reviewing the damage. He is speculating without any evidence on which to base his assertion. In addition, the Senate occasionally has to act in a timely fashion. However, he suggested that the Senate doesn't have sufficient time "right now" to analyze the losses. Is that assumption based on the Senate's recessing in a business-as-usual fashion or after a much shorter-than-usual recess strictly for the holidays?

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Think there's any chance that Inhofe might have reviewed the categories that made up the total for the 60 billion? Probably several million in there for the ever lovely Michelle to take a trip with her mother somewhere.

Ray410 said:

Think there's any chance that Inhofe might have reviewed the categories that made up the total for the 60 billion? Probably several million in there for the ever lovely Michelle to take a trip with her mother somewhere.

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Feel free to support this idea with evidence.

From USA Today:

Tempers flared Wednesday after the GOP-led House left town without considering aid for Superstorm Sandy, as a senior New York lawmaker blasted House Speaker John Boehner and his fellow Republicans for leaving victims in the lurch.

"Turning your back on people who are starving and freezing is not a Republican value," said Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y., during an interview Wednesday on CNN.

Anger erupts after House scraps vote on Sandy aid

In response, Governors Cuomo and Christie have released the following joint statement:

With all that New York and New Jersey and our millions of residents and small businesses have suffered and endured, this continued inaction and indifference by the House of Representatives is inexcusable. It has now been 66 days since Hurricane Sandy hit and 27 days since President Obama put forth a responsible aid proposal that passed with a bipartisan vote in the Senate while the House has failed to even bring it to the floor. 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 long afford to wait while politicians in Washington play games.

Office of the Governor | Newsroom

IMO, it is unfortunate that the House leadership decided to play politics with what is perhaps the 2nd costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. This is neither an act of leadership nor an exercise in fiscal responsibility. If anything, it is a short-sighted and cheap gimmick to substitute for the lack of credible fiscal consolidation program that should have been adopted well before the 112th Congress concluded. No such program was adopted, not even in the House. No such program was even introduced by the very same House Leadership during the fiscal cliff debate.

In the wake of building criticism, look for excuse-making from the House Leadership to increase. Promises to make the aid a priority will probably be peddled in a bid to evade responsibility for the Leadership's choice not to hold a vote on the package. There was ample time to review the package, as the package was introduced 27 days ago. Governors Cuomo and Christie are on the mark in describing the House Leadership's action as a "dereliction of duty."

This is yet another example of how one can turn states "blue" for the long-term in elections. Actions have consequences.

Even the conservative Republicans like King and Christie are outraged at the stupidity of Congressional Republicans in opposing relief to the hurricane victims.

The GOP is coming apart at the seams, since it's totally intellectually bankrupt.

All this time, with Obama doing nothing to help the Sandy victims and all of a sudden the Dems are going to get their panties in a knot over a spending bill.

I'm with Ray410: Where's the money really going to get spent?

I don't think it is as intellectually bankrupt as it is morally. The Republicans fight tooth and nail for tax breaks for the rich, wont stand for a dime out of the military budget...yet they do this? I really don't get why anyone votes for them.

Maybe it has something to do with fox saying over and over it was Obama's Katrina during the election?

head of joaquin said:

Even the conservative Republicans like King and Christie are outraged at the stupidity of Congressional Republicans in opposing relief to the hurricane victims.

The GOP is coming apart at the seams, since it's totally intellectually bankrupt.

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Lets give them a trillion! Make it 2 trillion! Apparently that's what American government is for.... To make it rain like their in a strip club.

Perfect example. Is a natural disaster something like going to the strip club? really. Yea, make it rain...

Paratrooper said:

Lets give them a trillion! Make it 2 trillion! Apparently that's what American government is for.... To make it rain like their in a strip club.

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And a quick internet search reveals the answer to our questions.

An additional $13 billion has also been added in to protect against future storms, a cost some Republican lawmakers say isn’t emergency-related and should be scaled back.

Other sweeteners include $150 million for fisheries in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico, and $125 million for a Department of Agriculture program that would help Colorado cope with summer wildfires.


Read more: Pet projects tacked on to Sandy relief bill | Fox News

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It's not just a emergency relief bill, it's also filled with vote buying pork.

I think it needs to be trimmed down, too! Good for the Republicans for standing their ground!

Seems like every bill contains pork and special breaks for special someones.

You'd think they could just have a specific bill for the specific issue alone and that would pass more readily. But no bill ever goes anywhere without the gravy train riders.

Disgusting, really.

apdst said:

And a quick internet search reveals the answer to our questions.



It's not just a emergency relief bill, it's also filled with vote buying pork.

I think it needs to be trimmed down, too! Good for the Republicans for standing their ground!

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agreed.. but even more.. IMO, no funding should be sent..

didnt these people pay more in taxes to live by the shore? why not use that funding to help build whatever they think mother nature can send..

also, where is their insurance companies theyve been paying? if they didnt have insurance for damages from harsh weather, yet knowingly live in these areas, too bad..
if they did and the insurance company balked, then the USG should fine the insurance companies until they pay up.

though it may sound harsh, ive little to no sympathy for those who live in areas that regularly get beat up by mother nature. move or deal with it.

i dont expect the USG to come and give the state of IL a pile of money if/when a tornado destroys my home.. nor would i expect anything for flooding if i lived near a river that breaks its banks every 20yrs or so.. nor if i lived in the extreme north and a blizzard hits.. etc..

these arent suprises in any way.. its all happened before, so prepare better or deal with the consequences.

i knew the risk for hurricanes when i lived on the east coast and i know the risks now living in a relative tornado alley..

enough with the handouts for irresponsibility, pull your own pants up..

WhyteRash said:

agreed.. but even more.. IMO, no funding should be sent..

didnt these people pay more in taxes to live by the shore? why not use that funding to help build whatever they think mother nature can send..

also, where is their insurance companies theyve been paying? if they didnt have insurance for damages from harsh weather, yet knowingly live in these areas, too bad..
if they did and the insurance company balked, then the USG should fine the insurance companies until they pay up.

though it may sound harsh, ive little to no sympathy for those who live in areas that regularly get beat up by mother nature. move or deal with it.

i dont expect the USG to come and give the state of IL a pile of money if/when a tornado destroys my home.. nor would i expect anything for flooding if i lived near a river that breaks its banks every 20yrs or so.. nor if i lived in the extreme north and a blizzard hits.. etc..

these arent suprises in any way.. its all happened before, so prepare better or deal with the consequences.

i knew the risk for hurricanes when i lived on the east coast and i know the risks now living in a relative tornado alley..

enough with the handouts for irresponsibility, pull your own pants up..

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I agree with what you're saying. At the same time, I don't have a problem with some government money being thrown in to help out. Help out, where help is really needed.

If the Dems think this bill is so damn important, then why not leave the pork out of it, so there's no way anyone can bitch about how much money is being spent? If it was really that important, none of this pork would be a part of it.

apdst said:

I agree with what you're saying. At the same time, I don't have a problem with some government money being thrown in to help out. Help out, where help is really needed.

If the Dems think this bill is so damn important, then why not leave the pork out of it, so there's no way anyone can bitch about how much money is being spent? If it was really that important, none of this pork would be a part of it.

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i agree the pork spending should stop, but people really, really need to wipe their own butts here..

how long did some of those fools live in the FEMA trailers? (eventually even complaining about them.) i know people in the NOLA area very well and they knew the risks and dealt with them.. none received welfare because they lived prepared for the inevitablility.

head of joaquin said:

Even the conservative Republicans like King and Christie are outraged at the stupidity of Congressional Republicans in opposing relief to the hurricane victims.

The GOP is coming apart at the seams, since it's totally intellectually bankrupt.

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Christie and the jersey ny gop are running shortly for re election...that is what all the noise is all about..