Elected officials from the New York area erupted with outrage on Wednesday after the House refused to take up a federal aid package for states that suffered damages from Hurricane Sandy, and even local Republicans blasted their Congressional leaders for their inaction.
“I’m saying right now, anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to Congressional Republicans is out of their minds,” Representative Peter T. King, a Long Island Republican, said during an interview on CNN on Wednesday morning. “Because what they did last night was put a knife in the back of New Yorkers and New Jerseyans. It was an absolute disgrace.”
And Representative Michael G. Grimm, a Republican from Staten Island, said the failure to vote was a “betrayal.” He urged that action be taken as soon as possible.
“It’s not about politics,” he said. “It’s about human lives.”
Last week, the Senate adopted a $60.4 billion aid package, and on Wednesday Mr. King and other local politicians said they had been promised that the House would bring it up for a vote before the current legislative session ends on Thursday.
That is unlikely now, and the aid bill will have to be reintroduced in the new Congress and passed by both chambers.
Brendan Buck, a spokesman for House Speaker John A. Boehner, Republican of Ohio. said the speaker would be meeting with Republicans from the New York and New Jersey delegations Wednesday at 3 p.m. He planned to tell them that passing the aid bill would be his “top priority” when Congress begins its new session, Mr. Buck said.
President Obama issued a statement Wednesday calling for an immediate vote.
“When tragedy strikes, Americans come together to support those in need,” he said. “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.”
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, a Republican, and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, a Democrat, released a joint statement condemning the decision not to vote on the storm aid bill this week.
“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,” they said. They added, “This failure to come to the aid of Americans following a severe and devastating natural disaster is unprecedented.”
Mr. Cuomo, talking with reporters in Albany, went further. He said that House Republicans had “reneged on their word” to vote on the hurricane relief measure this week, and he accused them of “dereliction of duty.”
But Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, a political independent, said that although he was “disappointed,” he would not criticize the Republican leadership. He told reporters in New York City that he had been talking with Mr. Boehner and that “he assured me that this would be considered in the month of January.”
The bill was apparently delayed by its bad timing. It was eclipsed by negotiations between Democrats and Republicans over a plan intended to avert a series of tax increases and spending cuts that automatically took effect in the new year.
Senator Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri, suggested that the aid request was harmed by its size.
“Sometimes when you ask for too much, you don’t get anything,” he told CNN.
As word spread that the House would not bring up the bill for a vote late Tuesday night, lawmakers from both parties who represent people in some of the hardest-hit areas began to speak out.
Representative Nita M. Lowey, a Democrat from Westchester County, said Tuesday, “I truly feel betrayed this evening.”
By Wednesday morning, the anger was even sharper.
“Denying emergency aid to Superstorm Sandy victims is a new low for House Republicans,” said Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, a New Jersey Democrat. “When our neighbors in other states are knocked down by emergency events, we put partisan politics aside and extend a helping hand to help them get back up. Helping struggling families recover from disasters has never been a partisan issue in Washington and it never should be. New Jersey and New York families have been hurt badly by Sandy and it is shameful that Washington Republicans are adding to their pain by standing in the way of their recovery.”
Senator Charles E. Schumer, a New York Democrat, blamed Mr. Boehner.
Congressional Members Blast House for Ignoring Storm Aid Bill
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Congressional Members Blast House for Ignoring Storm Aid Bill
