Republicans, including Boehner & Cantor, have respect for no one; not for the institution they reside in, not for the legislators they work alongside, not for the American people nor the President of the United States.

I am glad that they are going to at least take a vote. I can't see any one of them in the evil party voting no on this, not if they don't want further damage to their individual selves come primaries in 2014. Even when they do it this way, it speaks loud and clear that the only reason they are doing it is because of the upheaval they brought upon themselves. I truly hope that Boehner gets his walking papers. He deserves no less. He is the worst Speaker this country has seen. I don't have any hope that the 113th will be any better than the 112th was.

"Turning your back on people who are starving and freezing is not a Republican value," King had said this morning on CNN.

However, cutting funds on foodstamps for children, unemployment insurance for those who lost their jobs due to no fault of their own, health care for women, etc. to compensate for emergency assistance for a disaster (and we STILL deny climate change, BTW) are a Republican value!

Hey, Congress, do the right thing, as you just did in the fiscal cliff.

The fiscal cliff is self-made farce, but hurriCane Sandy is a real disaster and its victims are the real priority. But make sure there are no other unrelated pork items in the bill...don't give our taxpayers an unnecessary a burden.

"Turning your back on people who are starving and freezing is not a Republican value," King had said this morning on CNN.

Yes it is!! What say ye Cantor - offsetting cuts are coming from where?

The move also came after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie slammed Boehner and House Republicans earlier in the day.

"Shame on you. Shame on Congress," Christie said in a televised news conference from Trenton, N.J. He called Congress' delay "disgraceful."

"It is why the American people hate Congress," Christie said, adding, "Unlike people in Congress, we have actual responsibilities."

=======
Assuming the quote is complete...find it interesting the Gov did not mention the President as one of those 'hated' entities. Looks like this one belongs all to you House Republicans.

Does anyone know why they are splitting this up? Why go through all the bull@!$%# this Friday for $9B and then go through it again on Jan. 15th for the $51B? Why not just get it all done on Friday so that we can move forward and be done with it? Did I miss an explanation somewhere in this article?

I am in agreement on both accounts Miss Piggy. The Pork that was attached in last night's passage was appalling. *wrinkles my nose*

SeekingSanity

This may very well be the final nail in the coffin for the congressional Republicans. We can only hope the rest of the country wakes up to see them as the obstructionists they are - on anything of value to the American people.

Absolutely,

If this doesn't prove how, cold, greedy, disrespectful and hypocritical the GOP/Tea Potty is; nothing will wake this FAILING Party up to their hypocritical unprincipled values.

Speaker Bohner is a mere country bumpkin unfit for his role. Imagine him putting his speaker ship before human beings. Scandalous!!!!

"There's only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these victims: the House majority and their speaker," Christie said. "It was disappointing and disgusting to watch."

The governor said that the lawmakers had failed to put the country before their own political careers, showing "callous indifference to the suffering of the people of my state."

Christie said he called Boehner four times late last night, and the speaker did not return his calls.

The governor singled out one lawmaker for praise: Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.)…

Christie also said that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) " was working as hard as he could to get this done for us" and called directly to tell him that Boehner had nixed a vote on the aid package.

I took these quotes from a WaPo article, but WOW Christie was hot!

I KNEW Cantor would be backstabbing Boehner!

Cantor called Governor Christie PERSONALLY to advise Christie that "Boehner had nixed a vote on the aid package". I wouldn't necessarily think of Cantor as a "friend" after that.

Peter King (R) NY; Furious Over Blocked Sandy Aid, Says don't Donate to House Republicans.

Words to live by, word to live by my fellow Americans.

Hurricane relief should have been passed already. Hopefully we wont see the waste i seen in mississippi when i was working down there after Katrina.

"Unlike people in Congress, we have actual responsibilities."

Does anybody else think Christie is a little late to this conclusion?

Oh wait! This is the first time he has seen first hand how indifferent these politicians are to the plight that has become the American Dream. Better late than never I suppose.

Just take out the pork, and it should sail through.

AK Girl,

The $9 billion is to cover flood insurance payments owed and past due for payment.

This keep it out of the debate of what to cut to pay for the rest of the funds.

Well, one would certainly hope they could vote on disaster relief in the lameduck. You know, this makes the GOP House look even more ridiculous and incompetent. They've looked completely inept for a long time but even more so the last few weeks. Makes you think the House leadership took lessons from Mitt Romney--flip, flop, flip, flop.

IXLR, the people in NY, NJ and CT already pay more in federal taxes than they get back in services - have for years. We've been paying the way of the takers in states like FL, AZ, TX, AL, etc. for years. So STFU.

Two of the best quotes on this subject: Rep. Michael Grimm, a Republican who represents parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn, called the delay “a personal betrayal.” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand dared Boehner to visit Staten Island, then added that she doubts “he has the dignity nor the guts to do it.”

I think that pretty much sums up Boehner in a nutshell!

Gee, no one else has caught that Friday's vote will be by the NEW House of Reps? (The 112th Congress ended at 12 noon today, and all pending measures are supposedly null and void. How can they now call for a new vote on a null and void measure two days into the 113th Congress? While the aid is needed and has been needed since the storm, this has to be submitted as a new bill and go through the standard chain of committees, etc. And all of the non-germane pork needs to be removed from any bill that comes up for a vote. This should be strictly an aid package for the rebuilding of the affected states, just as any other natural disaster relief bill must address only the rebuilding from that particular disaster. All of the other funding issues MUST be their own separate funding authorizations.

Sources: Enough Republicans Willing to Unseat Speaker Boehner

American Majority Action spokesman Ron Meyer told Breitbart News late Tuesday that enough House Republicans have banded together in an effort to unseat House Speaker John Boehner from his position--they just need a leader to take up the mantle.

“At least 20 House Republican members have gotten together, discussed this and want to unseat Speaker Boehner--and are willing to do what it takes to do it,” Meyer said. “That’s more than enough to get the job done, but the one problem these guys face is they need a leader to coalesce behind.”

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/01/01/Sources-Enough-Republicans-willing-to-band-together-to-unseat-Speaker-John-Boehner-on-Thursday

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Good for Boehnor; this one is for you:

http://www.auper.com/images/pouring-wine.gif

Breaking News …

John Boehner rumored to resigning his Speakership effective midnight tonight

The move also came after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie slammed Boehner and House Republicans earlier in the day.

Seems to me Gov Chris Christie is getting treated way better by those lawmakers with a D by their name than the ones with an R.

After slamming the President the week before the super storm hit (while campaigning for Romney), he then went to the President and got excellent cooperation from the chief Democrat himself. Nothing but praise for the President after the storm relief.

Is it just a matter of time before Christie (R) becomes so disgusted with the Tea Party Republicans and jumps ship?

Jody,

I see it a little differently. How could the Senate send this through with all that pork in it? If the Senate was so concerned with helping Sandy victims why not craft a bill only for that purpose which would have passed the House easily with bi-partisan support?

Thanks, Dennis!

Christie. Boehner. McConnell. Cantor. King.

Sounds like a recent episode of Sister Wives.....so where is Mitt demanding to be obeyed!?

Beverly and Dennis - thanks for the updates! And, hope both of you had wonderful New Years!

Hello folks, last time I checked the people that were devastated are Americans and need our help. I am but one vote and I vote to give them all the help they need. If we can't come together over a disaster such as this we are hopeless! There should be no hesitation!

RTFS.....you are wrong . THE EAST consumes the Majority of Entitlement Payments./....Get your facts straight .

Both sides in both the Senate and the House need to stop attaching pork to every bill. What should be simple always turns into crap. Just like the 153 page prevent going over the cliff. All the special interests were alive and well in the bill.

four legs good, two legs bad

Moderate, check the Tax Policy Center reports. You don't know what you're talking about - your opinion is not fact.

Moderate in madison - the East includes a number of red states - which consume the most in government funding!

Hopefully we wont see the waste i seen in mississippi when i was working down there after Katrina.

Oh my .. did they go for the outlandish and offer two whole slices of bread with those PB&J sandwiches for the relief workers?

Excellent point, thetotas!

People forget that in times like these, there is a long line of others that want to add "pork" to a bill in an effort to fly under the radar...

The GOP should call themselves the Non doers so the American people can easily identify the party affiliation. They have been and are a total disgrace to American political system for so many years now, that it is unbelievable that they are still a viable party in this country. They don't care about their own constituents let alone people who are relying on them for their well being or even survival, if you will. All they seem to be concerned about is not alienating those who doesn't need their help(the rich and powerful). When will they ever learn that it is the working class and the middle class who are the backbone of this country and will be the ones who make this country great again. When will they learn that having compassion for your fellow American in need is the word of the day and not some stupid GOP ideology or political party principle. Shame on anyone who votes them back in. We are the people with tremendous power and need to exercise this power at the polls. These non -doers need to be reminded again who they are working for, and that no campaign money will help them get re-elected unless they do their job. American voters need to send a very strong message to all incumbants and newly elected. DO YOUR JOB, OR YOU ARE OUT. Period

Go to GerritsenBeach.net and see what funding has done already... nothing. FEMA and others made promises that they didn't keep. That area of Brooklyn was finally named a Zone A area, because water was over the first floor of the whole neighborhood of houses that have only one floor. People don't have heat, and it is freezing winter weather. The Robin Hood concert only gave $25,000 to Gerritsen Beach, the same amount it gave to some organizations just to protect their working conditions, much less to Gerritsen Beach than was expected or promised.

As usual, money passes from big source back again, but the real people who are suffering aren't getting what they need at all. If people want to really make a difference, find neighborhoods like Gerritsen Beach and contribute directly to them. They know what they need, and will get it to their neighbors.

I hope the rumor is true that John Boehmer is resigning from speakership. I hope he goes even further and resigns his house seat all together, because I believe his own state is sick of him and so is everyone else. The party is a total disgrace

Ljiliana - unfortunately what you are hoping for is "pie in the sky." Boehner doesn't have the integrity it takes to resign from the House.

Speaker Boehner’s office just released a statement denying that he will resign

The bill is called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, HR1, and the full text can be found here:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr1eas.pdf

While the focus is on Hurricane Sandy relief, it's generally supposed to cover ALL areas of the US that have been affected by disasters in the last year up to December 28 2012. This bill actually is simply amendment riders to an Act the House of Reps already passed that details defense spending.

The bill's provisions will cover damage from Hurricane Isaac, as well as Hurricane Sandy. And while money from this bill will be going mostly to NY and NJ, CT, DC, WVA, VA, MD, NH, DE, RI, PA, and MA will also be receiving funds from this bill.

See, bills have to pass the House before they go to the Senate. Then the Senate passes it back to the House with suggested changes. The House then votes on those changes. If it passes the House, it goes to the President to be signed.

The same thing happened in this case as with every other bill. The House passed a bill making appropriations for defense spending.

The Senate said,"Okay, we like it, but while you're approving money for defense spending can we suggest that some money be put into disaster relief for everyone in the US who was affected by a disaster this year?" They sent the House bill back to the House with Senate-approved amendments on Friday Dec 28.

It was up to House Speaker John Boehner to call the House to a vote on the Senate's amendments, and based on this article, apparently the House majority would have voted for it--but Speaker Boehner never called it to vote.

Apparently he can call to a vote an act detailing additional defense spending but can't call to vote a couple of amendments to that defense spending that would include spending for domestic disaster relief. In my opinion, that makes him a poor candidate for the position of third-in-line-for-the-Presidency should something happen to President Obama or VP Biden.

"It is why the American people hate Congress," Christie said,

Funny, I didn't need this predicament to raise it's ugly head to come to that conclusion. Let's all hope that Boehner loses his seat and that the 113th can do more in a week than the 112th did in a YEAR!

Moving FORWARD!

I would submit that it is not 'pork' at all, since the bill is titled 'Disaster Relief Appropriations Act' and it is designed to assist EVERYONE all over the country who has been affected by natural disasters in the US last year up to December 28, 2012. This includes the fisheries industry in Alaska that have been affected by the Japan earthquake/tsunami by debris destroying fishery grounds and equipment, damaging boats and affecting fisherman's livelihoods.

This is NOT a 'Sandy Relief' bill, this is an 'All 2012 US Disasters ' bill. When you look at it in that light, no, it's not 'pork' at all.

I would ask that everyone read the bill for yourself before you decide what is pork and what is not. The bill is called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, HR1, and the full text can be found here:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr1eas.pdf

Keep in mind that these additions are simply the Senate's amendments to a defense spending bill that the House already approved, and that the Senate already passed.

I get it. NJ is a very blue state. That is not an excuse for hanging them out to dry. I am a registered Republican and I am withdrawing my support of Boehner. John, you are dead to me.

Yet we rush to give billions in foreign aid to countries in need. But American taxpayers aren't as deserving.

If Boehner is resigning that means he was not going to get the votes he needed and instead of losing in public he can just say he resigned. What do you mean I am fired you can't fire me because I quit!

If it's true my guess is Eric Cantor will be the speaker, and probably contrary to many opinions, I think this will be good for Democrats, he will try to run the house from a Tea Party perspective, and it won't work, he will be no more successful at herding cats than Boehner was, and once again the senate republicans that have to win statewide elections will hang him out to dry as they did to Boehner on the debt ceiling and again last night on the Fiscal Cliff. They (senate republicans) are no longer running scared from the Tea Party, the republicans who were primaried by the Tea Party lost their senate bids, and cost the republican seats in the senate. Remember Sharon Angle, Christine O'Donnell, and Todd Akin that silliness may fly in a Gerrymandered house district but it don't cut it in a statewide election. Eric Cantor will soon learn that he will have to take a more moderate stance, he is not just facing a second term president, he is facing a democratic controlled senate, with plenty of republicans that wish to preserve their jobs, and now huge heat from some well known house republicans and republican Governors as well. If he is not politically astute enough to see that writing on the wall he destroy the the republican majority in the house in 2014. The republicans in the House are in a hell of a shape the democrats hate them, and now the republicans hate them, half the republicans hate them because they are too radical and the other half of republicans hate them because they are not radical enough. Whoever is the republican leader come tomorrow better get himself some meow mix, that's is the only thing I have ever seen that can get a bunch of cats to run in the same direction. With the lowest approval ratings ever recorded, who would really want the title of Speaker of the Outhouse. I hope it is Eric Cantor, I will enjoy watching him have a nervous breakdown.

Breaking News …

John Boehner rumored to resigning his Speakership effective midnight tonight

Speaker Boehner’s office just released a statement denying that he will resign

1984 much?

Good. About time those GOP House idiots did the right thing after listening to one of their own...

Now that's more like it.

So the DOPE FAKE conservatives can now go shut the hell up. On account of making themselves sound less stupid. Of course, if they want to keep talking and showing their stupidity, they should go right ahead.

John Boehner is not going to resign. There is too much power inherent in his current position.

Remember, folks, if something happens to the President and the Vice President, the Speaker of the House becomes the next president.

John Boehner is also he head of the Homeland Security Oversight Committee--and Homeland Security has an annual budget of $98 billion. It has also quietly been absorbing a great deal of governmental power like the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and the Office of Legislative Policy, just to name a few. Janet Napolitano,head of Homeland Security and Forbes' 9th most powerful woman in the world, reports directly to him.

And one other thing to keep in mind; Boehner recently asked the President if his 33 member committee (mostly Republican) could have sole oversight of Homeland Security, including budgets and accountability.

No. there's too much power there. He will never even THINK about resigning. He will have to be forced out. Why do you think, when Harry Reid accused him of running a 'dictatorship' in the House, he (reportedly) told Reid to "Go f*** yourself?"

Amanda-2017567

I am impressed ... you are akin to that butterfly in southern Chile that stirs a quiet breeze into a northern storm with but a flap of wing..

Hopefully we wont see the waste i seen in mississippi when i was working down there after Katrina.

Oh my .. did they go for the outlandish and offer two whole slices of bread with those PB&J sandwiches for the relief workers?

I doubt if you ever did any thing for anybody but yourself troll. so i wouldn't comment on something you know nothing about. I'm talking about the give me something crowd like you who take advantage of the system. let me guess not welfare but you get disability right ? to fat to work ?

I'm not trying to stir up controversy, just to present facts, counter emotion with logic, and educate people instead of accepting the rhetoric (from both sides.)

Many many people jumped on the Republicans rhetoric that the greater part of the bill is 'pork' but I've seen very few who have bothered to go hunt out the bill for themselves and read it. If they had, they would have realized that while $60 billion might look like a lot when you look at the area affected by Sandy, when you realize the bill is supposed to cover all those affected by any disaster this year, that $60 billion isn't that large at all.

Look at what happened this year. Warmest year on record. Droughts in the Midwest; fires in the west; mudslides and landslides, sinkholes opening up when heat caused roads to buckle. Superstorm Sandy, and her nearly-forgotten older brother Issac. debris from the Japan tsunami still washing up on our shores, hitting fishing equipment and damaging boats; earthquake swarms all over the country, then add in the tornadoes and early-December blizzards the west just went through....the Smithsonian roof that Republicans were talking about as being 'unrelated'--that's a crack that's been there since (i believe) the East coast earthquake a couple of YEARS ago, and as any homeowner knows, if you don't take care of a little problem when it appears it's just going to get bigger and more costly the longer you delay fixing it. Since some of these funds are going the the Army Corps of Engineers and will help fix the Washington Monument, what's a little bit diverted to repair a museum roof at the same time? both the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian are priceless US national treasures.

When you look at all of that, the $60 billion is really not that that big. At all.

michigan northener - so all you have is nasty comments about someone's looks - which of course you know nothing about. Wow! What intelligent arguments! NOT! However, just about all we expect from you!

Insanity don't try to make it look like you are some kind of intelligent poster on here.

SeekingSanity

Irish - I have NEVER SEEN YOU post anything at all - except attacks on me and Feisty. So look in the mirror, scum, and see who is truly worthless and posts nothing!

musician by night - President Obama was NOT responsible for the monument for 9/11 you moron! It was a committee and determined by New York - and is paid for by a non-profit organization - not the Federal Government Oh Please - and I'll bet you vote Republican!

garcher - when you speak of bumbling idiots you are talking about the entire Republican party and all those who support them. Oh my - looks like that includes you!

• 13

• !

#1.134 - Fri Dec 28, 2012 5:37 PM EST

kettle....pot ?

i made a comment about my expierence in missississippi and your libtard buddy want to be a smart ass. eat what you sow.

"Turning your back on people who are starving and freezing is not a Republican value,"

It isn't? Since when?

just seen this made me laugh.

The food stamp program, administered by the U.S. dept of agriculture is distributing the greatest amount of free meals and food stamps ever, over 46 million people as of july 2012.

meanwhile the national park service, administered by the U.S. dept of the interior asks us "please do not feed the animals " there reason for the policy is the animals will grow dependent on handouts and will not learn to take care of themselves.

History is in the making folks. You are watching the republican party die right before your eyes. Now a feeding frenzy in their own ranks and a vote called after The House adjourned. It is history folks!

Rep Peter King (NY) said he will probably become an Independent. Let's hope Chris Christie follows and leaves the republican/terrorist party of hate.

"The Peter Principle" is a theory that, in an organization where promotion is based on achievement, success, and merit, that organization's members will eventually be promoted beyond their level of ability.

On the eve of the reelection of Boehner, Cantor, Pelosi, Hoyer, Reid and McConnell to the same vaunted positions of 'leadership' at which they failed so miserably and completely in the last Congress, "the Peter Principle" appears more an axiom than a theory, when applied to the US Congress.

Why do the vast majority of Americans "hate" our US Congress (to borrow Gov. Christie's colorful, but apt term)? Well, why should we not? I cannot think of a single, solitary reason why we should NOT hate that sordid collection of rogues, scalawags and rascals. They are an embarrassment to our nation.

Michigan idiot!

My step sister has had a stroke and lives alone in a trailer getting around in a motorized wheel chair. she worked till age 67 and was looking toward retirement. Now, without the food stamps, thank God she gets and you don't give a D about, she can live alone and independently without costing the government more than is necessary. You sound like a real soulless republican! You are all like Bonehead Boehner and that cancer Cantor!

Hey clwyd as much as you lie and make up stuff on here you expect anyone to take you seriously or believe you ? get a job and help her out. by the way i bought one of them motorized wheelchairs off a guy for 50 bucks because he needed the money. I just took it to the salvation army for a tax credit, your welcome.

So, all you haters out there... just WHERE are we going to get $60 BILLION to fund this?? Why should I pay for those people? Hell, I'm already paying for the 47% of Americans that don't pay income taxes!

IF you don't mind helping them out, then YOU give YOUR money to them. I'm tapped out!

I feel for them, I truly do, but I'm sorry, I can't give anymore. Who's going to pay MY rent, MY insurance?? Who's giving me free money to buy food and clothing?

Sorry folks, I just can't do it any more... I pay 37% income tax (I'm single, no dependants, and rent), and what do I get?? MORE taxes!

michigan northener wrote:

"just seen this made me laugh.

The food stamp program, administered by the U.S. dept of agriculture is distributing the greatest amount of free meals and food stamps ever, over 46 million people as of july 2012."

Setting aside your attempt at fabricated irony, ...how compassionate and humane it is of you to be moved to laughter, by the desparate plight of tens of millions of Americans to provide adequate nutrition for their children and themselves in these troubled economic times.

I hope you like what you see when you look in the mirror. You will just have to forgive those of us who look at those with your shared mindset as disgraces to humanity. In a nation where the wealthiest 1% possess fully 36% of the collective wealth and assets of the country, many will go hungry.

When one of the two political parties in that nation will do everything possible to prevent the change of those percentages, except to assure even more transfer of diminishing assets from the poor and middle class to increased concentration of that wealth in the hands of very few at the top of the food chain, ... more and more people will go hungry.

But we don't wish to disturb your laughter.

Robert in Oregon . . .

In a nation where the wealthiest 1% possess 36% of the collective wealth and assets of our country, many will go hungry

Agreed. Great post. How can those that chose to support business not choose to support those that could enhance their business. A great nation is formed from the inside out. Taking care of those that need to be fed and educated is something that Democrats GET! Wanting to advance youself and walk on the back of others, Mittens tried and failed. This country is about more than getting ahead and being wealthy ... or is it michigan northerner??? Is it all about the one and not about the ALL?

My vote is for the all. Every person should have a vote, an opportunity, and a good life .....

well sorry robert but i just don't believe that its right i have to work for a living and have all my money taxed so the government can give it to someone to produce more babies to grow up to produce more babies to grow up to produce more babies all on the gov tit, i'm not that stupid to lump all people in this category . but if you don't think the system is abused then i guess you wouldn't get my sic humor.

michigan Idiot,

Da! I have a job and have been helping her out. ( Do you think I would be as cruel and heartless as your comments here!)

My job! I work in educating the public which I guess the newspapers you read haven't helped. Maybe you should stick to reading the facts as what I've written is the truth. ( Not the slanted FOX Propaganda!) I'm retired now, but still work in publishing. Sending money each week to help out my sister. Oh, she lives in Arkansas and they have a lousy system of helping those in need. Sort of backwards you know!

Michigan idiot, You are sick alright!

Drudge has Boehner resigning tonight. His moves in the last month has caused more division with Republicans.

I don't care for Boehner or Cantor. IF Cantor is the selection, that will signal a shift to the Right. Cantor also appears to be able to drive the hard bargain that Boehner has not.

MSNBC

posted

HUNDREDS

of photos on

Sandy's devastation.

.

.

Apparently

FOX did bot

.

.

Explains why the GOP is clueless

RI Mom

My wife watches Fox. The posted pictures a plenty, but maybe not as much as NBC

Got any other crap to spread around people you obviously do not have any associations with?

1.73

QUESTION:

What is your wife's explanation on why the House Republicans didn't vote on aid for the Sandy natural disaster?

The House will now hold a vote Friday on $9 billion in Sandy recovery funds, followed by another vote on $51 billion on Jan. 15th.

What's everyone complaining about? We all know that the average peon American can live in the Northeast winter without a home for another 2 weeks while congress drinks $1000 dollar tax-payer brandy. Sheesh.

Nail in the Republicans coffin, what a stupid comment. This is another nail in the nations coffin, as more spending and more borrowing has this country on the path toward financial collapse. Whatever happened to that lame campaign promise Obama made of cutting our deficit in half by the end of his first term? Oh yeah, things were so much worse then Obama expected so he had to more then double spending. This country has passed the point of no return, and it is not if but when it is going to collapse and everyone in Washington already knows that to be a fact. There isn't so much as a passing thought by anyone in Washington about the debt or deficit, all they want to be is prepared for when the American people wake up one day and their country is gone. Look at what Washington uses to secure our debt, and take some of the mystery out of whom your next landlord is going to be. All anyone in Washington is looking to do, is be gone when the inevitable collapse finally happens.

Time to vote no on Boehner for Speaker of the House. We the people have lost confidence in his ability to govern for the people. We need to get someone to take his place that is willing to work with the President instead of fighting him on every single thing. Someone that does not care that he is Black and is willing to compromise like the President is.

I agree with Christie. To hell with America and the fiscal cliff, let's take care of the tri-state area first.

What a fat farce-face Christie is. People are starving and freezing only if they choose to be, as there has been a tremendous relief effort helping those affected. Politicians make me want to vomit.

And don't forget the liberal Democrat Maher was glad this happened to help get Obama re-elected.

Politics in this country is one big soap opera.

I, for one, hope the House either strips the bill of all the pork before passing it or votes it down and tells the sponsors to get it right. There's no excuse for using a disaster to try to coerce money out of the taxpayers to pay for special interest pork. Unfortunately, there appears to be no one left minding the store. I guess it will make preparation of income tax returns a lot easier. "How much did you make? Send it in!"

Michigan northerner you state a fact about food stamps. I would guess your against unions and love Walmart. Over a million employed Walmart workers rely on food stamp to live though Walmart is the weathest store in the world and since nobody can bargain for a living wage I would call this corporate welfare. I don't here your cry of outrage or 10 billion in oil subsidies . 400 billion over 10 years it might cut spending just a bit. A living wage would grow the economy raise revenue and get them off food stamps.

Real people need real help in a real disaster (hurriCane Sandy is the worst ... second only to hurriCane Katrina ... and GOP in Congress) ... not a trumped up farce in a theater like the 'fiscal cliff'.

.

Hey, folks, we need grassroots campaign too...more volunteering..or at least send your unused items to those victims. Yes, We Can; Yes, We Care.

I'll say it again: go to neighborhood websites such as GerritsenBeach.net which is one for a whole area of Brooklyn that was underwater and read those sites. There are people with no heat in freezing weather, with their houses still torn apart. Neighbors are doing as best they can to tear out rotten walls and floors and replace them, and they have a volunteer fire department helping people with food, but there is very little that either the government or non-governmental organizations (such as Red Cross or Robin Hood) have done. It is a Zone A neighborhood that was completely under water, but didn't get the press that Staten Island or New Jersey did. There are thousands of people affected there, and it is freezing cold. The deaths from the disaster could be happening NOW.

Wouldn't it be great if the American people could force people like John Boehner and the GOP members to live in the condemned areas hit by Sandy until the area is rebuilt in a 50 mile radius. An where they would be staying would be the last area to be rebuilt. But, if that was to happen.....Boehner would have a luxury home trailer brought in at the taxpayers expense....and really not would change. You just can't beat them and yet you can't join the elite of America.

Washington isn't about helping the victims here at home, only victims in other countries are worthy of our support. This bill has less to do with the victims of Sandy, and more to do with piling on the pork. Because like the Obama administration so aptly coined, never let a good crisis go to waste. The victims of Sandy were just what the politicians needed as an excuse to help their friends and buy more votes and political contributions. Who cares if most of it is just more wasteful spending and continued borrowing, this country is already lost so why stop the party now?

The bill is loaded with PORK -- what part of that don't you people understand???? If it was strictly funded to those affected by the storm it would have PASSED, but NO the democrats have to payback their contributors!

Domenico - You've been busy today. You've been on videos all over the place. Good for you!!

Hey, Domenico, not to nitpick, but as long as you're fixing stuff.....

"Boehner and Reps. Michael Grimm (NJ) and Chris Smith (NJ) also now say they will all support Boehner when he comes up for reelection for speaker tomorrow."

Shouldn't that be King and Grimm and Smith? Or did I miss the part where even Boehner was considering not voting for himself? (Not that I'd blame him or anything.....)

Domenico, good to know our FR hosts still read the comments from time to time. As RedDev said, you have been very busy today!

Domenico----thanks for all your hard work keeping us up to date with the fiscal cliff.

JoAnne, good one.

Clean all the pork out of this bill, then it wouldn't be so expensive now the under insured or the ones that refused to buy insurance should pay their own they should off had enough insurance, why is it always the tax payers problem? Freeloaders!

But what about the deficit? Won't this add to the deficit? How is it going to be paid for? I guess King doesn't care since it will help his district (and his own re-election). What a bunch of hypocrites.

They did follow the time-honored GOP technique of acting like spoiled brats until they got their way.

Nice priorities.

Yes, nice to see Boehner keeping up that other GOP value - Let no crisis go to waste (or my personal political gain).

It's like Eric Cantor demanding off-setting spending cuts for disaster relief....until he needed it for his state then he demanded it be passed immediately, no cuts required. Hypocrites is too nice a word to describe these GOPers.

if they don't back boner,they don't get to meet with the bagman.

steelerfan:

No, this isn't going to add to the deficit.

The House originally passed a defense spending bill. That was sent on to the Senate for approval. The Senate said "Okay, we like this, but see, the Defense committee says this item isn't really necessary, and this item isn't necessary, and they don't need this, or this, or this--so hey, instead of putting money in the defense budget that they don't need, how about we put some of that into 2012 disaster relief?"

So the Senate wrote up this bill as an amendment to the defense spending budget that already passed the House (the money expenditure was already House-approved, the Senate just wanted some spent to help disaster victims rather than going into the war machine who said they really didn't need it anyway.)

They sent it back to the House for approval on Dec 28, expecting that the vote on this piece of legislation was going to be voted on as the last piece of governmental business for 2012. After all, it had passed the Senate, had the President's full support, and also had majority support in the House. It was, they thought, veto-proof.

Except Speaker Boehner never called it to vote, and so it wasn't approved and will be held over for the 2013 session of Congress.

This isn't a win-win. The People are going to lose--some of them, lose everything they worked for, their dream of owning their own small business.

The House passed a bill detailing defense spending. The Senate sent it back with a couple of amendments for disaster relief, taking some of the defense money that the Defense committe saisd wasn't really necessary and shuttling it sideways into disaster relief funding. It had Senate approval, had the President's approval, had the unofficial approval of most of the House. Then Speaker Boehner didn;t call it to a House vote, preferring (apparently) to hold it over for the 2013 session of Congress.

Now here's where the People lose; those who have been affected by the disaster, particularly small businesses, may not be able to claim disaster relief on their taxes this year (if this bill doesn't pass before tax time, and that doesn't look likely at this point), and by the time they can claim it--next year's taxes--they may have already lost their businesses because the money wasn't there to rebuild and get things operational again so they could pay that 'disaster relief loan' back.

I would submit that it is not 'pork' at all, since the bill is titled 'Disaster Relief Appropriations Act' and it is designed to assist EVERYONE all over the country who has been affected by natural disasters in the US up to December 28, 2012. This includes the fisheries industry in Alaska that have been affected by the Japan earthquake/tsunami by debris destroying fishery grounds and equipment, damaging boats and affecting fisherman's livelihoods.

This is NOT a 'Sandy Relief' bill, this is an 'All 2012 US Disasters ' bill. When you look at it in that light, no, it's not 'pork' at all.

I would ask that everyone read the bill for yourself before you decide what is pork and what is not. The bill is called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, HR1, and the full text can be found here:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr1eas.pdf

Keep in mind that these additions are simply the Senate's amendments to a defense spending bill that the House already approved, and that the Senate already passed.

so why cant they pass what was passed, and not keep adding crap/pork or what ever you call it.

if these additions for relief merit passage, then pass it. quit jamming all kinds of crap into every bill

all you morons need to wake up. it ain't D that's bad or R that's bad. it's the fact that we let two companies take over our political process. we need a viable third party. one that ain't full of extremists from the left and right. you know the ones, "my way or forget it"

why was the fiscal cliff there? who put that garbage out there in the first place? why was milk going to double? why is there crap like that ?

Obviously you don't know what "disaster relief" entails. Typical.

alan-static - your post is ridiculous. Did you sleep through Sandy or are you just that damned cold?

Idiot. Totally uncalled for.

Gad, the 'free stuff' mantra from the right just never seems to stop. At least they are consistently tiresome.

alan_static -

I heard a line in a song the other day (Christina Perri, I think?) that said "You're gonna catch a cold from the ice inside your soul".

Man, if that's true, you're bucking for double pneumonia.....

sacred -- can you help me understand what these two items in the sandy aid bill had to do with the disaster relief activities in the northeast?

$150 million for Alaskan fisheries disasters, and $58 million in taxpayer dollars to plant trees on private property in areas where Sandy never touched down.

Billybob:

Alaska's fisheries have sustained losses due to debris from the Japan tsunami that has been damaging fishing equipment, buoys and boats. and planting trees in areas where Sandy didn't hit can help soil erosion if those are in places that do get a lot of rain and mudslides are likely.

While no, it does not have anything to do worth Sandy herself, the bill that the Senate was trying to get Boehner to call a vote on was disaster relief for ALL areas affected in 2012.

Also, you have to understand practically everything on this earth is interconnected. If the Alaska fisheries are damaged and can't produce (or production is limited), the demand for food gets shifted to other fisheries. If those fisheries(like the ones in New England states) are damaged as well and/or non-producing, the price of seafood goes higher resulting in higher grocery bills for Americans as well as any other industries that depend on the fisheries' products.

We are all interconnected, what affects one affects everyone. You may not see those invisible ties holding everything together, but they ARE there. You may not see the value in a certain measure, but rest assured that someone else has, or it would have never been suggested--and passed with a majority Senate vote and substantial support in the House.

so why did harry reid wait for a year to decide to help alaska? the point of the funding was for sandy and that is what everyone is complaining about.

having a bill just for sandy would have resulted in it sailing through -- but i still do not understand why the senate waited until new year's eve to pass this much needed assistance -- a bit of political theater perhaps?

do you believe there is any limit to the amount of money our federal government can spend? is there ever a time when we will just have to say no to things like new roofs on the smithsonian which was also part of the disaster bill?

Amanda, glad to see you understand some of my ancestors' understanding of the universe, that we are all part of one existence, from the smallest molecule to the largest tree or mountain, and every creature that exists or ever existed on this planet (as well as the entire universe.) Like the old song said, no man is an island. We are all interconnected whether we want to accept that fact or not.

BTW, I stand corrected on one thing, the new Congress gets sworn in at noon tomorrow, not today.

billybob, get your facts straight. The Senate passed the bill in late November, not on New Year's Eve. The only bill they passed on 12/31 was the Cliff Prevention bill. The National Disaster Relief bill that they passed in November was a compilation appropriation for all 2012 disaster relief that had not yet been addressed. It had been going through committees when Sandy hit in October, and was amended to add the necessary relief for that major disaster. The NDR was just one of many departmental appropriations bills that Congress is supposed to have resolved before the beginning of the FY2013 on October 1. But as we all know, both houses of Congress have failed in their responsibilities for several decades now. Continuing Resolutions have become the SOP instead of the proper Budget Resolution passage by both houses no later than May 15, and all appropriations measures passed before the beginning of the new fiscal year.

is there ever a time when we will just have to say no to things like new roofs on the smithsonian

Well, now, that makes sense. Let's lose our national treasures valued in the billions on display at the Smithsonian due to a leaky roof. For even more fun, let's let the building suffer millions in damage because we are too cheap to fix the leaks. Why spend a few million now for repairs when we can kick the can down the road and spend a billion on a new building.

billybob-6210632,

Read Amanda's prior posts. The bill wasn't just for Sandy, it was for all areas who had costs this year by different natural diseasters. Sandy is just what the media is focusing on. And, as stated by the NY rep this morning, the states had to get documentation of their costs to Congress, which they have now done, so I assume that took some time, hence no immediate action. Additionally, the House did have the option of voting only on Sandy funding, but they didn't even do that much. They had time and opportunity to do it, they just chose not to. Lastly, for those yelling about the tunnels and the Smithsonian funding, the tunnels were flooded, remember? Where else is money to fix the federal monuments/museums going to come from?

anti-trust:

I'm Wiccan, a witch--a 'white witch', to use laymans terms. I work elemental magick, using natural items--rocks and crystals; water, fire, and air. In order to work with the Elements I have to understand the interconnections, interactions, and once you understand those, you understand how all life (including humans, since they are made of earth, air, water and fire) are interconnected with everything. If, as I suspect from your post, you have some Native American blood in you, then our beliefs are not that dissimilar. I simply prefer to believe my Deity is female--the Goddess Trine.

The rainstorm and the river are my brothers

The heron and the otter are my friends

And we are all connected to each other

In a circle--in a hoop that never ends.

Exactly Right Red! While i do not like "pork" in my politics or our uncontrolled spending or the indifference of our politicians. It sure seems like the far right would like to ignore re-investing in the United States of America and its institutions. Pretty sad!

Look up some of the pork in it. Rebuild fisheries in Louisiana, reroof the Smithsonian to the tune of millions and millions? Don't think they needed just to willy nilly pass it to appease the state leaders.

Beaner needed his beauty sleep. This shows the Republicans don't care about the working class. This vote should have been top priority for the House but their leader didn't care. Let them sleep on the streets or in shelters he just doesn't care

Anita...

I guess the fiscal cliff deal was more than they could bear.

Probably to give the outgoing bunch a chance to say they didn't vote for any more expenses, preserving a shot at getting their jobs back in 2014

Your right-Talk to the Hand- It's called infrastructure Obama has fixed more bridges , roads and other infrastructure than almost any other president. It may not be what you want money spent on but our infrastructure has to be kept up so the country doesn't fall apart. Remember this--

President Bush visits the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse

fast -- so bush was responsible for the bridge collapse? that is a new one.

Just pay attention I can come up with hundreds more. Did you see the sides of the towers blowing out floor by floor and that the government had the cameras shut down that day, it was all planned by Bush just watch the videos

Talk to the hand:

The bill is called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, HR1, and the full text can be found here:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr1eas.pdf

While the focus is on Hurricane Sandy relief, it's generally supposed to cover ALL areas of the US that have been affected by disasters in the last year up to December 28 2012. It'snot just Sandy relief. Here's the breakdown on the stats of this bill, I post here so the reader can decide what is 'pork' and what isn't:

$11.5 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's chief disaster relief fund

$17 billion for community development block grants, much of which would help homeowners repair or replace their homes.

$11.7 billion would help repair New York City's subways and other mass transit damage and protect them from future storms.

$9.7 billion would go toward the government's flood insurance program.

$5.3 billion would go to the US Army Corps of Engineers to help mitigate flood future risks and rebuild damaged projects.

$150 million for fisheries disasters that would go toall coastal fisheries projectsnot just the ones affected in the New England states.

The bill's provisions will cover damage from Hurricane Isaac, as well as Hurricane Sandy and all other disasters this year. And while money from this bill will be going mostly to NY and NJ, CT, DC, WVA, VA, MD, NH, DE, RI, PA, and MA will also be receiving funds from this bill.

The Senate voted on this Friday, passed it 62-32. It went on to the House of Reps to be voted on, but Speaker Boehner and Eric Cantor adjourned the House session without calling it to a vote.

Talk to the Hand

Hmmm, the Smithsonian is pork? Had I to chose but one thing to save in America, it would be that August collection of museums.

No Bush wasn't responsible for the bridge collapsing. But he was responsible for spending all our money (and money we don't have) on bullsh1t wars of conquest instead of spending it here on America. Go ahead and try to contradict that fact.

Amanda -

I personally haven't had a chance to read the bill in its entirety, so I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your research - and that I totally agree with your way of thinking in some of your other posts on this thread today.

That being said, maybe I'm missing something, but I think we're ALL losing track of what's really at issue here, which has nothing to do with the relative value of the Smithsonian (and hey, I agree with BCWC on that one, too!) or the Alaskan fisheries, or anything else. The problem is the way our Congress - and I mean both parties and both the House and the Senate - are seemingly incapable of having a straight up and down vote on ANYTHING any more. We need Sandy relief? Fine - let's vote on it. We need to repair the Smithsonian roof? Fine, let's vote on that too. But if we're going to constantly delay important legislation because everybody wants to add something else to the mix, then we're rarely if ever going to get anything accomplished.

Maybe I'm over-simplifying things. Then again, maybe Congress is just over-complicating them?

Amanda,

I've appreciated all of your very reasonable posts today.

JoAnne,

Yours have been delightful as well. Regarding this ...

But if we're going to constantly delay important legislation because everybody wants to add something else to the mix, then we're rarely if ever going to get anything accomplished.

I couldn't agree more! Why does everything have to be bickered about, discussed, added to, to the point the bill is so large, nobody wants to vote on it ... I think a lot of it is they can slip their own personal projects in and get them buried and then voted on. I think we the People need to start asking for bills that are drafted for one purpose only.

Just my $.02.

Hey, Layton -

We've got your $.02 and my $.02 - if we could just get one or two billion more, we could form our own SuperPAC!

JoAnne and Layton - agreed. We shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get things passed that are necessary.

Amanda - your posts have been very helpful to one who works and tries to post throughout the day. Your facts are welcome!

JoAnne, Layton, SeekingSanity:

I've been tracking this story in its various incarnations throughout the day and appreciate the level-headedness, reasoning, logic, and common sense you too have displayed. While dissenting opinion is always welcome in a reasoning discussion because it advances differnet points of view, many of the comments today have simply been parroting talking points and rhetoric (spit out by both sides of the fence today) with few truly seeking to learn the heart of the issue--and few even caring to learn what it is. It seems to be much easier for many to simply run with the talking points advanced by the party they favor than to truly think independently.

There's a line between dissenting opinion and repetitious parroting--I think we've all seen ample evidence of what that line is today. It's called 'knowledge'. My belief system says all knowledge is worth having--but the caveat to that is that the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself. The truths you seek yourself are worth more than listening to what others tell you you should think.

Keep seeking your own truth. An enlightened, thinking people are the best defenders to the democratic republic that our Founding Fathers sought to establish.

You have never watched two women in an office. I can't believe she wore that, look at her hair that's for someone twenty years younger, she doesn't do any work, just piles it on my desk, they just pay attention to her because of her boob job, that fat cow keeps eating all the candy in the dish, oh those shoes have four inch heels I would never wear anything like that and look at how tight her dress is and so one and so on

And who spearheaded those raises?

Actually if you had read the cliff legislation, it bans their $900 raise for 2013.

obama proposed the pay raises, simply paying back old debts from his elections.

standard politician behavior

No, President Obama merely lifted the pay freeze on federal employees. You know, billybob is the perfect name for you.

anti-trust is correct. The fiscal cliff bill requires that any raises be delayed until after the fiscal year ends (September 2013). that will give congress time to review and hopefully reflect on their performance over the year and also reflect on how the rest of the U.S. is suffering in the private sector before getting their own pay raise.

Chances are congress will ignore the plight of Americans (especially so for the GOP given what they've done with Sandy disaster relief), and decide to get their raise anyway. Probably THE most undeserved raise in our history.

I would propose that congress never receive any sort of 'automatic' raise unless their approval rate with the voter was over 50%. Most people in the real world have to work for a living, and meet at least a minimum level of performance and approval from their bosses .Why should congress any different?

The 1989 Ethics Reform Act created the current formula, which is based on changes in private sector wages as measured by the Employment Cost Index, and automatically takes effect unless Congress votes against it, or it's more than the pay raise given to federal workers.

Blame congress. All funding originates in the house. Congress passed the above act to automatically give them a raise every year unless they specifically vote against it. You can guess that such a vote happens very rarely. Prior to this, they used to have to publicly vote themselves a raise. Now it just happens. No muss, no fuss, no shame. It has nothing to do with Obama.

DJ.........

you are correct. a cost of living raise is automatically put into effect unless there is a vote against it. congress passed an amendment in 1989 allowing for the automatic raises unless lawmakers vote against it. every congress up until 2000 voted against it.

I'll bet he will. They won't take the chance.

That might help him more than it will hurt at this point.

Agreed, I looked through that amended bill and it is full of so much other stuff not related to this disaster. The House will punt it, give some Friday and redo it it the next Congress.

Friday is two days into the new Congress Twistedwords. The 113th Congress began at the noon swearing in today. The Senate passed bill that the House failed to act upon yesterday is now technically and legally dead and needs to go through the entire process before it can be voted upon. I guess the GOP leadership is simply trying to save some face and going to try to over-ride their own rules and the Constitution.

Anti-Trust you are correct, but Boehner basically said the new Congress will hear some of a new bill on Friday. They can do this.

This story doesn't give that indication. It says that they MAY vote on the relief bill, but amending how much of it will be voted on in two steps. When researching where all of the pork came from (who sponsored what amendments, I learned that the Sandy relief funds are in actuality the "pork" in a prior Senate bill authorizing all of the other funding projects. The bill got renamed after the amendment was added, probably with the intention that the Sandy relief would stand a better chance of getting passed than the rest of the appropriations measures in the bill. Another example of the games our politicians play every day. But as noted in my earlier comments, at noon today with the swearing in of the 113th Congress, all old pending measures are null and void, and MUST go through the entire process, which WON'T be done in less than the two days before this vote. And that means that it must go through both houses of Congress again before it can go to the President for signing. Any changes in the original legislation will have to go through all of the related committees, where it will be open for all kinds of amendments, then to the floor of each body, where once again it will be open to more amendments, and MAYBE six month to a year later, we will finally see a bill come to a final vote in both bodies of Congress. After all, they have to keep those overpaid staff members busy doing something (and take time to train the newbees and their staffs before any real important votes are taken.) That is why nothing ever gets done during the first 30-60 days of each new Congress.

The House passed a bill making appropriations for defense spending.

The Senate said,"Okay, we like it, but while you're approving money for defense spending can we suggest that some money be put into disaster relief for everyone in the US who was affected by a disaster this year?" They sent the House bill back to the House with Senate-approved amendments on Friday Dec 28. Those amendments allocate funds for ALL people affected by ANY disaster in 2012--not just Sandy.

It was up to House Speaker John Boehner to call the House to a vote on the Senate's amendments, but Speaker Boehner never called it to the vote before the session broke.

Who's fault is it that the Senate delayed Dealing with the BCA bill passed in August of 2011?

Something they had over a year to resolve.

They knew THE BCA was going to expire Jan 1st and yet they waited until it become a "Crisis" before acting.

How does your "crisis" rate over other "crises" created by Congress?

David Noah......

Perhaps you can explain what the Budget Control Act has to do with the GOP's refusal to consider legislative relief for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

And yet the Loudmouth Panderer Schumer is the most vocal in Boehners' decision NOT to introduce a Pork Laden bill for vote on the heels of a monstous Tax Bill. Shades of Obamacare...let's hurry up and pass it before anyone finds out what is in the Bill....Schumer is a turd always looking for a Photo Op, and running his mouth via his big azz.

THIS BILL IS NOT PORK.

The bill is called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, HR1, and the full text can be found here:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr1eas.pdf

While the focus is on Hurricane Sandy relief, it's generally supposed to cover ALL areas of the US that have been affected by disasters in the last year up to December 28 2012.

loud mouth

Perhaps you should kind of read more. Schumer is a Senator, Boehner is a Representative. Nice call.

i agree yo uneed to question it and look at it closely but in Florida we are built for hurricanes, they never were there. I'm not sure where the aid stops and home insirnace begins.

The bill is called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, HR1, and the full text can be found here:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr1eas.pdf

While the focus is on Hurricane Sandy relief, it's generally supposed to cover ALL areas of the US that have been affected by disasters up to December 28 2012.

Here's the breakdown on the stats of this bill, I post here so the reader can decide what is 'pork' and what isn't:

$11.5 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's chief disaster relief fund

$17 billion for community development block grants, much of which would help homeowners repair or replace their homes.

$11.7 billion would help repair New York City's subways and other mass transit damage and protect them from future storms.

$9.7 billion would go toward the government's flood insurance program.

$5.3 billion would go to the US Army Corps of Engineers to help mitigate flood future risks and rebuild damaged projects.

$150 million for fisheries disasters that would go to all coastal fisheries projects, not just the ones affected in the New England states.

The bill's provisions will cover damage from Hurricane Isaac, as well as Hurricane Sandy and everyone affected by any disaster this year. And while money from this bill will be going mostly to NY and NJ, CT, DC, WVA, VA, MD, NH, DE, RI, PA, and MA will also be receiving funds from this bill.

Hopefully, the global warming we now experience won't make destructive storms in the NY-NJ area a regular event. That could get very expensive and heartbreaking.

Ray in JAX....I am with you completely. My elderly parents went through Hurricane Ike in 2008 and did not receive a dime from the government. Don't these people have insurance? And where did all the Bruce Springsteen money go, not to mention all the relief agencies that have helped out. I'm proud of John Boehner for delaying the vote and I hope it doesn't pass, at least in its present form.

The bill is called the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, HR1, and the full text can be found here:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr1eas.pdf

While the focus is on Hurricane Sandy relief, it's generally supposed to cover ALL areas of the US that have been affected by disasters in the last year up to December 28 2012.

Here's the breakdown on the stats of this bill, I post here so the reader can decide what is 'pork' and what isn't:

$11.5 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's chief disaster relief fund

$17 billion for community development block grants, much of which would help homeowners repair or replace their homes.

$11.7 billion would help repair New York City's subways and other mass transit damage and protect them from future storms.

$9.7 billion would go toward the government's flood insurance program.

$5.3 billion would go to the US Army Corps of Engineers to help mitigate flood future risks and rebuild damaged projects.

$150 million for fisheries disasters that would go to all coastal fisheries projects, not just the ones affected in the New England states.

The bill's provisions will cover any damage from any disaster this year. And while money from this bill will be going mostly to NY and NJ, CT, DC, WVA, VA, MD, NH, DE, RI, PA, and MA will also be receiving funds from this bill.

Amanda, don't confuse them with facts. Those things just contradict the mantras drilled into them by Fox and Rush the drug addict.

With fisheries in New England severely damaged by Sandy, the fisheries in AK are straining to continue providing seafood not only to grocery stores but also other industries that rely on sea-based products That's because they too are damaged from tsunami debris damaging equipment and boats and gear.

The crack in the Smithsonian roof has (I believe) been waiting since the east Coast earthquake. after the quake the crack was discovered. Not much of a concern then, but the longer it sits the worse it gets, then rain starts leaking, destroying priceless artifacts, or some unsavory terrorist could exploit that weakness and blow up the museum--or a thief could break in and steal whatever they want. As the US Army Corps of Engineers is working on the Washington Monument, repairing the Smithsonian roof could be done at the same time if funds are available.

Dahly - not true but you know that.

PORK?

Ohio Rep. Steve LaTourette slammed his Republican colleagues Wednesday for blocking aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy, calling lawmakers who opposed the relief “chuckleheads,” while Rep. Darrell Issa said he opposed the measure because it was stuffed with pork.

“Your two senators packed this with pork,” Issa said Wednesday on “Fox & Friends,” which airs from New York City, referring to Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. “They had the opportunity to have a $27 [billion] to $30 billion legit relief package, packed it with pork, then dared us not to vote on it.

“Your two senators packed this with pork,” Issa said Wednesday on “Fox & Friends,”

Ah, the great Issa who packed a committee looking into a woman's reproductive rights with only men ... yup, there's a guy to follow every word as being righteously true.

If Congress didn't spend every Penny it gets as fast as it can, and borrow more pennies it doesn't even have to spend, then Maybe FEMA would have had the Funds to begin with to help the Sandy victims instead of having to run to Congress to beg for more money to borrow to add to our National Debt.

Who are the ones that have been spending us into oblivion for the last six years?

Here's a Hint. The Democrats have controlled the House and Senate in 2007,2008,2009,and 2010, and the Senate all those years. The Republicans have only controlled the House for 2011 and 2012.

When the coffers are empty who's fault is it when they reach in and there's no money to grab?

David Noah - you know your post is a total lie. The Democrats had a filibuster proof majority for only 44 days in 2009 then Republicans began filibustering more than EVER before in history. At least try to make your lie believable!

The money in FEMA's current disaster fund is $4.9 billion. (They are, in case anyone doesn't know this, part of Janet Napolitano's Homeland Security, which had a budget of $98 billion in 2011.)

Most of that is going into technology research to enhance national security. For example, FAST, Future Attribute Screening Technology, a software program (primarily designed for airports) which uses biophysical indicators to predict who is likely to commit a crime--someone who is out of breath, pulse pounding,and heavily sweating in an airport is planning on sneaking a bomb on a plane, for example--that technology got about $200 million to develop, and they are (last I heard) testing it in an 'undisclosed location in the Northeast.'

And stuff like the through-wall imaging system, a scanning surveillance technology that will allow the imager to see through certain types of building materials to get an accurate picture of what is inside a house,who is in it, and what they are doing. Though developed fr the military, Homeland Security is researching domestic applications for it--last I heard they were fitting those to drones and testing them over Nogales, AZ.)

But $4.9 billion is not nearly enough to get fixed what needs to get fixed--and that's not counting whatever weather might bring in the coming year. It is better to have and not need, than to need and not have.

I swear, Amanda has to be a wikipedia server that's taken on a conciousness of it's own. You are on almost every article with a plethora of information and data, it isn't humanly possible.

PS. Thanks.

riverboy:

Thank you. Don't worry, our being impressed will wear off after a while and you're going to start finding me annoying--many people do!

I am simply blessed with the ability to speedread--and absorb what I'm reading--and I type at 120 words a minute. I'm also something of an independent thinker, don't like being told what to think, and my belief system prohibits blind acceptance of someone's rhetoric; I'm practically obligated to find my own truths. Oftentimes what is put out in news articles and media isn't the whole truth, or the real truth is buried under layers of emotion-grabbing headlines that obscure facts. There's nothing wrong with that--the news is not only informative but also a business, and a business has to make money to keep presenting news, so its up to a reader to go past the emotion to the logic.

When I see something that interests me, on whatever topic (and I have very wide-ranging tastes) I'll go read EVERYTHING I can find on that topic, and while I may sometimes have a skewed, biased viewpoint on cetain topics (see my previous posts on immigration articles for that story) for the most part I try to find and present only the facts and little of the emotion.

P.S. Dude! That is ONE. IMPRESSIVE. FISH. Wow!

Thanks! That's what I do, work and fish.