Rep. Darrell Issa: 'NY Senators Packed Sandy Relief Bill with Pork, Then Dared Us Not to Vote on It'
Earlier today on America's Newsroom, Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) expressed his outrage at the House leadership's failure to hold a vote on a Hurricane Sandy relief bill, saying there had been no explanation. The bill calls for a much-needed $60 billion in aid to be provided to the ravaged Northeast to help in the massive relief efforts.
King even went as far to say that House Speaker John Boehner and other Republicans had "put a knife in the back" of New Yorkers and New Jerseyans who are desperately seeking some help after the storm.
"I've had it. As far as I'm concerned, I'm on my own. (Republicans) are going
to have to go a long way to get my vote on anything," he said.
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However on Fox and Friends this morning, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), told a different story, explaining that the relief bill had been loaded up with unrelated spending that had doubled the cost. Issa put the blame squarely on New York Democrats Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
"(They) packed this with pork, had the opportunity to have a $27 to $30 billion legitimate relief package, packed it with pork, and then dared us not to vote on it. The Speaker made the right decision, which was if the Senate wasn't going to be there to concur with the essential dollars that should have been sent that there was no point in his asking people to take a divided vote for the second time in a night for no particular benefit," said Issa, adding that House Republicans had just taken a very contentious vote in passing the fiscal cliff bill.
He continued, "The fact is, is the Senate didn't do their job. They sent us a bunch of pork, and then left town. And that was just wrong. And I think the speaker has the support of the vast majority of Republicans that if we're going to provide relief, we can't allow it to be doubled, essentially with unrelated pork, no matter where the relief is. And the relief will come early next year, but it will come at the $27 billion level, or I don't expect to be voting for it."
Watch the full discussion:
