Furious over the failure of House Republicans on Wednesday to vote on a $60 billion federal aid package for Hurricane Sandy victims, Long Island Republican Congressman Peter King lashed out at his party’s inaction, a move which contributed to House Speaker John Boehner pledging to take up part of the bill on Friday.
“These Republicans have no problem finding New York when they’re out raising millions of dollars,” King told 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, a long-time activist on Irish issues and a former grand marshal of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, singled out Boehner for particular criticism. King also said that he would refuse to join with the Republican Party on other votes in the future.
“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.”
King wasn’t the only Republican to blast Boehner’s decision to cast the Sandy aid package aside. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie called the move “outrageous” and “unprecedented,” and Staten Island Congressman Michael Grimm said, “I feel like I was misled. Personally, I feel betrayed.”
The outpouring of criticism promoted Boehner to do a quick turnaround on the Sandy package, promising an initial vote on $9 billion in aid on Friday, with the remainder of the bill set for a vote on January 15, the first day that the new Congress is in session.
Boehner’s about-face satisfied King, who spent much of Wednesday on the various networks blasting the House speaker. By the evening, he had changed his tone.
“This procedure that is laid out is fully acceptable,” he said. “Fact is, we are getting what New York and New Jersey needs, and that is what counts.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seamus60 | Jan 07, 2013, 04:11 AM EST
Disasters are only that for those on the front line. Beyond that is big business sniffing out the buck.
jflanagan | Jan 04, 2013, 08:46 PM EST
It is reported that over one third of the money, 24 billion, is for things that have nothing to do with the hurricane, NY, NJ or CT. While I don't blame King and Christie for being upset but Senators Schumer and Gilibrand should be also chastised for allowing the others to put their pork in this bill. And people wonder why we are so in debt and sinking more into debt every day.
McNamara31 | Jan 04, 2013, 10:30 AM EST
New York, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut. This isn't the first time the GOP has let us "know" what they really feel about the east coast. How anyone could support the GOP after this is clueless.
seamus60 | Jan 04, 2013, 07:54 AM EST
Proud Canadian2. He`s in a better position than most to throw a tizzy in regards to his own voter base`s welfare. He most likely knows how many billions are going astray to fund dirty ops run by homeland security.
Proud Canadian2 | Jan 03, 2013, 08:13 PM EST
The Republicanns don't give any money out unless they get twice as much back. We have the same puke Conservatives up here that wouldn't give a penny to a starving persnon on the street. Conservatives are all a like money crubbers and the rest of us can go without. I admire this guy I hope he realizes that he is on the wrong side eventually, the democrats could use him. Just saying.
seamus60 | Jan 03, 2013, 07:08 PM EST
The same great humanitarian Peter would waste no time in pushing his vote to the likes of more rendition flights etc.
cillowen | Jan 03, 2013, 06:27 PM EST
he's back on board with his without heart repuggers - such a phoney. He was working for Irish freedom - all thru - I believe him to be cia agent keeping his eye on things like Fauxy O'Reilly.
seamus60 | Jan 03, 2013, 06:22 PM EST
Whats the big fuss. A politician acting like a real politician for a change.
Gaelicpiper | Jan 03, 2013, 03:06 PM EST
A little inside baseball- Chris Christie is responsible fo the problem. That Idiot, Christ, made a fool of himself after Sandy, and before the election, by making nice withe Butthead O'Bumma. The truth, Christy is is own, and New Jersey's worst emeny. The problem is that the pay-back against Christy also impacts the state. But then, the Repubs lose nothing from the slight to Christy- N.J. already voted for the Butthead. Politics, and pay-,are hell. A Pox on both parties.
pilib04 | Jan 03, 2013, 01:57 PM EST
To quote the response to a similar AP story, if it were Ohio, the $$$ would already be there.
pilib04 | Jan 03, 2013, 01:55 PM EST
Chris Christie got a few good jabs in also.
Nicomax | Jan 03, 2013, 01:27 PM EST
To those Tea Party reps, the Tri-State area is not really part of America- too many immigrants, non-believers, Jews, Muslims, gays, or other odd people. The irony is that these un-American states are also donor states meaning they contribute more in federal taxes than they get back in services. Those rebelling states are takers, and have been since they last rebelled in 1861.
Searlit | Jan 03, 2013, 11:49 AM EST
Oh that photo! The caption might be, Read My Face!
JohnKinMD | Jan 03, 2013, 10:49 AM EST
That bill have more PORK in it, less then half goes to help the people that need it.
handsome68 | Jan 03, 2013, 10:22 AM EST
From what I know of him, Peter King has proven himself to be the type of "Irish-American" who is a real American, i.e., the kind who wants to give back to his country, adopted or whatever. Very intelligent, sometimes belligerent, he takes no prisoners and isn't obsequious. Naturally, because of those qualities, even if he wanted it he will never become President.