Christie rips GOP for casting aside storm aid

"They are so consumed with their internal politics, they've forgotten they have a

 job to do," ... Everything is the subject of one-upmanship. It is why

 the American people hate Congress."

--N.J. Gov Chris Christie

Two prominent Republicans, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Rep. Peter King of Long Island, have ripped the House GOP leadership and in particular Speaker John Boehner for blocking a vote last night on a $61 billion aid bill for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

After a $61 billion aid vote was postponed until the new Congress that takes office on Thursday, Christie characteristically used blunt language, saying Republican lawmakers showed “callous indifference” to the Northeast while they’re consumed with “palace intrigue.”

“It’s absolutely disgraceful. This used to be something that was not political. Disaster relief was something that you didn’t play games with,” Christie said at a press conference, noting that 66 days have passed since the Sandy superstorm hit land.
The governor noted that he called the speaker four times after 11 p.m. last night and didn’t get a return call. Assurances offered today about an upcoming relief bill vote have not pacified the gruff governor. As is par for the course – a phrase Boehner knows well – he has again ti-toed away from his extremist GOP colleagues by promising, just minutes ago, a vote on Sandy aid by Jan. 15.

“There is no reason at the moment for me to believe anything they tell me. Because they have been telling me stuff for weeks, and they didn’t deliver.”

“Our people were played last night as a pawn, and that’s why people hate Washington. Last night, my party was responsible for this,” he said.
He added that he and Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will continue helping storm victims while House members bumble. "Unlike people in Congress, (governors) have actual responsibilities,” he said.

Meanwhile, New York Republican Rep. Peter King, never one to shrink from a fight, went to war with his GOP colleagues today, calling on New Yorkers to stop all donations to GOP House members.

Some of King’s colleagues shot back, claiming the bill forwarded by the Senate was loaded down with pork. But their examples, while unrelated to Sandy, certainly did not demonstrate the old earmarks politics: $150 million in aid for fisheries in Alaska, which is more than 3,300 miles away; $2 million for a new roof for the Smithsonian museum; and $8 million for equipment for the Homeland Security and Justice departments.

But King said the real issue is that some states routinely received billions of dollars in natural disaster aid but when New York and New Jersey – two deep Blue States -- unexpectedly need help, his GOP colleagues drag their feet.

“These Republicans have no problem finding New York when they’re out raising millions of dollars,” King said on Fox News. “They’re in New York all the time filling their pockets with money from New Yorkers. I’m saying right now, anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to congressional Republicans is out of their minds. Because what they did last night was put a knife in the back of New Yorkers and New Jerseyans. It was an absolute disgrace.”

King also said he was ready to buck Republican leaders on every issue until the Sandy aid is approved.

“As far as I’m concerned, I’m on my own,” King said. “They’re going to have to go a long way to get my vote on anything.”