Another Reason Why Boehner Was Right Not To bring The Hurricane Sandy Bill To A Vote



 

From the Weekly Standard: But one of the big objections to the bill was that Senate Democrats had filled it with pork. 

In fact, "Democrats expanded the legislation during a mark-up to include not just areas affected by Sandy, but also to provide money for 'storm events that occurred in 2012 along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast within the boundaries of the North Atlantic and Mississippi Valley divisions of the Corps that were affected by Hurricanes Sandy and Isaac,'" we reported previously. 
The expansion of the bill was a way to provide a financial incentive for senators from red states--"two Republicans senators from Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas, and the one Republican senator from Louisiana"--to vote for the bill. "The Sandy kickbacks provide an incentive for those Republicans to vote on the bill," we wrote.
It is true that the Sandy bill in the House strips the legislation of at least some of the pork, but after yesterday's fight over the "fiscal cliff" deal it seems reasonable that Congress might not have been up for another battle just yet. http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/christie-craving-pork-filled-sandy-bill_693530.html
And from the Inquisitor:

“Your two senators packed this with pork. They had the opportunity to have a $27 to $30 billion dollar legit relief packages, packed it with pork, then dared us not to vote for it.”

Representative Issa was referring to New York Senators Kristen Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer. Some of the disputed items in the Super Storm Sandy disaster aid bill include a $150 million in funding for Alaskan fisheries. The bill would also have reportedly increased spending to the national flood insurance program, which is expected to max out its borrowing limit next week. If the flood insurance program cannot borrow more money, it will reportedly only be able to pay 12,000 of the estimated 139,000 of the Hurricane Sandy related claims, according to The Atlantic Wire.
The Bennington Banner notes multiple “pet projects” which have caused angst among Republican lawmakers who likely want to help Hurricane Sandy victims. Some of the disputed hurricane relief bill pork measures in $336 million in Amtrak expenses and $2 million in taxpayer funds to repair a room on one of the Smithsonian buildings in Washington D.C.
The publication also reports that the Super Storm Sandy relief legislation also includes $8 million to purchase new vehicles for federal agencies. A total of $4 million for repairs to the Kennedy Space Center were also added to the disaster relief bill.
Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/464823/hurricane-sandy-relief-pork-spending-stalls-passage/#FPmbz5P3IqdO2Ko2.99
And if the people who lost their homes businesses or the homes and businesses were severely damaged thought they were going to get help paying for their new homes or businesses are sadly mistaken.  The Federal government should not be in the business of rebuilding homes and businesses, after all, that is what private insurance is all about.  If people didn't purchase insurance to cover their losses, then maybe they can get a low interest loan but they should not expect the government to pay for their damages.
So, the GOP did do a good thing last night and that was not bringing the Hurricane sandy to a vote. They should start over and redo the bill and get rid of the pork.
And the Democrats and Republicans from the Northeast ought not be so damn greedy.