Sandy Aid Package Includes Millions for Smithsonian, Space Center, Forests
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A man walks past destroyed homes on the Rockaway Peninsula in the Queens borough of New York, Nov. 27, 2012. A proposal in Congress would provide $60 billion in relief. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)
The Obama administration’s $60-billion emergency aid package for victims of superstorm Sandy is now caught in the crossfire over the “fiscal cliff,” with some critics questioning why millions of dollars are directed to areas far from the epicenter of the storm.
The request, which still needs the approval of Congress, includes billions in urgently needed aide. But it also features some surprising items: $23 million for tree plantings to “help reduce flood effects, protect water sources, decrease soil erosion and improve wildlife habitat” in forested areas touched by Sandy; $2 million to repair roof damage at Smithsonian buildings in Washington that pre-dates the storm; $4 million to repair sand berms and dunes at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida; and $41 million for clean-up and repairs at eight military bases along the storm’s path, including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The FBI is seeking $4 million to replace “vehicles, laboratory and office equipment and furniture,” while Customs and Border Protection wants $2.4 million to replace “destroyed or damaged vehicles, including mobile X-Ray machines.”
Related: Get the Latest on the “Fiscal Cliff”
The Small Business Administration is seeking a $50 million slice of the pie for its post-storm response efforts, including “Small Business Development Centers and Women’s Business Development Centers.”
The relief package also includes a whopping $13 billion request for “mitigation projects” to prepare for future storms.
These line items, and dozens more like them, have some Republicans balking at the size of the relief request and calling for more time to review the deal. The $60 billion price tag, they say, represents nearly the entire amount of additional revenue the government would collect next year by raising rates on the top 2 percent of taxpayers, as Democrats desire.
They also point out that FEMA still has $5 billion in its Disaster Relief Fund — enough to last until March. Therefore, they see no reason to rush through a bill so large with no hearings or negotiations on the size of the bill or how to pay for it.
Democrats defend the entire package — including the funds for federal agencies, which only amount to two-tenths of one percent of the $60 billion price tag — saying it addresses costs incurred by Sandy.
“The White House and Governors Cuomo and Christie have documented extensively the severe need resulting from Sandy,” said Rep. Nita Lowey of New York. “Foot-dragging in Congress only delays state and local governments from beginning the rebuilding process and prevents families, homeowners, and small businesses from getting back on their feet.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the mitigation efforts an essential part of the rebuilding effort.
“It doesn’t make sense to pay to fix subway stations, rebuild a dune or repair a home if we don’t protect it from the next storm,” he said.
A White House official also dismissed criticism of the size of the overall request and the specific amounts sought by federal agencies. The vast majority of the money would go to the affected region.
“The aid to federal agencies is a very small percentage of the entire package,” the official told ABC News. “On the federal items, we know what the damage is because we are the federal government. The storm damage has to be paid for at some point.”
PHOTOS: Superstorm Sandy’s Wide Swath of Destruction
“On other things — larger state-level infrastructure items, like hospitals — in many cases it still hasn’t been determined whether it’s cheaper to repair them or replace them,” the official said, noting that the less-specific “pots” of funds for states were intended to provide greater flexibility during allocation.
Governors of the states that bore the brunt of Sandy’s impact – New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy – had pressed the White House for an $80 billion package. But the administration decided a smaller amount was appropriate in light of deficit concerns.
“Private insurers must fulfill their commitment to the region; public assistance must be targeted for public benefit; resources must be directed to those in greatest need; and impacted States and localities must contribute, as appropriate, to the costs of rebuilding,” OMB director Jeff Zients wrote to Congress as part of the request.
In a joint op-ed in the Washington Post today, the governors pressed lawmakers “not to leave Washington” until they provide Sandy aid to the northeast.
ABC News’ Devin Dwyer contributed to this report. This post has been updated.
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Just more reason to take the plunge.
Posted by: Gunner--59 | December 13, 2012, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
Hopefully, nobody will notice the $475,000 that I got earmarked for my efforts to pray for future divine intervention/protection.
Posted by: Spitting into the Wind | December 13, 2012, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
So please tell me how anything thus far is supposedly better than the response to Katrina as we hear something terrible on a daily basis with this response. Another huge Obama lie while the Government goes around giving themselves kudos for such a wonderful job. Unbelievable!
Posted by: Gunner--59 | December 13, 2012, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm
I was able to earmark $1,000,000 for loss of power for 2 weeks causing damage to my property. Call your congressman when problems like this happen, they will take care of you.
Posted by: adam | December 13, 2012, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
“So please tell me how anything thus far is supposedly better than the response to Katrina …”
Ya just won’t admit to what a fiasco Katrina was…. What is PRIMARILY better is that there were not nearly as many deaths.
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | December 13, 2012, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm
MyTakeOnThis61…Good response!!!
Posted by: tw | December 13, 2012, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
I got a better idea, let the states fend for themselves.
Posted by: BILLY BOB | December 13, 2012, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
Just more reason to take the plunge.
Posted by: Gunner–59 | December 13, 2012, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
Plese do, we’d all appreciate that.
Posted by: BILLY BOB | December 13, 2012, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
a question…What difference does the $$$ aid amount matter $60 -$80 billion…when it all is printed out of thin air…?..statement..Politicians are liars and thieves as they KNOW the answer to my question..do you
Posted by: dan | December 13, 2012, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
Nothing is simple or straight forward in politics.
Posted by: Tim C | December 13, 2012, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
And you liberals wonder why the House is demanding budget cuts? This goes on all the time, and it has to stop. Before you say “But, Bush. . . .,” we have to start to spend wisely. Anthing DIRECTLY related to Sandy is fine – anythng else NO, NO, NO!!!
To the brain trust that made the comment about Sandy not including loss of life on the same scale as Katrina, I remind you that Katrina’s damage was mostly outside of Louisiana, and you heard hardly anything about anyone else, but the Bush haters just went on and on about the response. FEMA has responded EXACTLY the same way they did back then. Get over yourself.
Posted by: JWinATL | December 13, 2012, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
Welcome to the world of “earmarks” and “special interests”.. the sad fact of the matter is that no matter how much posturing is being done in Washington, there really is NO interest in cutting spending…
Posted by: Buzz | December 13, 2012, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
Own it, that’s what you get for voting the Ultimate Spenders of the Country, in to our Politics.
Posted by: Jon | December 13, 2012, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
AND YOU STILL WONDER WHY WE SAY THE ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUES THE LIBERALS WANT TO TAKE FROM THOSE EVIL, NASTY “RICH” PEOPLE WOULDN’T PAY DOWN A PENNY OF OBAMA’S ANNUAL, $1 TRILLION-PLUS DEFICITS. JUST MORTGAGE WHAT WE HAVE LEFT TO THE CHINESE ALREADY. PUT US OUT OF OUR MISERY.
Posted by: electpatriots | December 13, 2012, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Bush haters just went on and on about the response. FEMA has responded EXACTLY the same way they did back then.
Posted by: JWinATL | December 13, 2012, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
Over 1800 people died in Katrina. The loss of that much human life really brings the focus to the preparations and the response.
Posted by: Jim | December 13, 2012, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
Let these taxpayer and Bloomy pay for this. They have known for decades that a storm could do this damage and they chose to ignore it.
This is typical spending that the liberals want to keep on going. Claim the money is for one thing and divert it to somehwere else to make donors happy.
Liberals can’t help but to spend what other earn, even if the money will not be made for years. Why should they care, the liberal base does not pay taxes, that are the parasites on the taxpayers.
Posted by: nookly | December 13, 2012, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
OBAMA’S ANNUAL, $1 TRILLION-PLUS DEFICITS
Posted by: electpatriots | December 13, 2012, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
The last president handed Obama an ongoing trillion-dollar deficit, two major unfinished wars, an economy in free-fall and a doubled national debt (with interest of about $400 per year).
Too difficult for you to figure out?
Posted by: Bob | December 13, 2012, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
OBAMA’S ANNUAL, $1 TRILLION-PLUS DEFICITS
Posted by: electpatriots | December 13, 2012, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
The last president handed Obama an ongoing trillion-dollar deficit, two major unfinished wars, an economy in free-fall and a doubled national debt (with interest of about $400 BILLION per year).
Too difficult for you to figure out?
Posted by: Bob | December 13, 2012, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
It’s just TAXPAYER money. What do the Dumocrats and Obama have to worry about. They’re trying their best to tax us more.
Posted by: kimdi01 | December 13, 2012, 4:11 pm 4:11 pm
“…The problem is you CAN NOT admit the Obama led response to Sandy has been anything but what he promised to the good people of NJ and NYC. ”
I hate to burst your bubble or fantasy but the good people of NJ and NYC (and I’m one of them) are overall quite happy with the response. Are there some issues? Yes. However, the overwhelming majority feels that the response was superb on all levels. Sorry…
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | December 13, 2012, 4:11 pm 4:11 pm
How about we take care of the American people devastated by the disaster before all these pork barrell give aways. Those things should go through the normal congressional budget process. Disaster relief should be for disasters and directly to those affected by the disasters.
Posted by: Chief P | December 13, 2012, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
The major loss of life in Katrina had to do with the strength of the storm, the levies and local government not heeding the warning to evacuate.
Posted by: Gunner--59 | December 13, 2012, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
“$23 million for tree plantings to “help reduce flood effects, protect water sources, decrease soil erosion and improve wildlife habitat” in forested areas touched by Sandy; $4 million to repair sand berms and dunes at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida; and $41 million for clean-up and repairs at eight military bases along the storm’s path, including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.”
So what? These are all Sandy related repairs. The only exception is the roof of the Smithsonian.
Posted by: Jerry | December 13, 2012, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
Amazing that leading republican presidential contender (a republican) and former republican now independent mayor Bloomberg asked for $20 billion more than FEMA but somehow it’s Pres Obama and democrats that are wanting more taxpayer money. The idiocy and total fantasy-land the fringe right lives in boggles the imagination. Yet they are the first ones with their hands out for government money. Just take Louisianna and Texas for a small example.
Posted by: Chief P | December 13, 2012, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
The major loss of life in Katrina had to do with the strength of the storm, the levies and local government not heeding the warning to evacuate.
Posted by: Gunner–59 | December 13, 2012, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
You mean it didn’t have to do with Bush goofily stumming a guitar at a birthday party while death stormed towards New Orleans? The Commander in Chief indeed.
Posted by: Doug | December 13, 2012, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
Whats sad is these unethical, unprofessional propagandists in the media have done everything they can to cover for obama, to deceive the American people on his behalf, then they act surprised when this and the disastrous healthcare joke he pushed are far far worse than they reported. Go figure!
From many accounts, the response of the admin and fema was ever worse than Katrina – but you’ve heard nothing but glowing reports from the msm, tripping all over themselves to pat him on the back for yet another failure of leadership. Amazing what apparently passes for integrity in journalism these days.
Posted by: djh | December 13, 2012, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
being an Obammy lover
Posted by: Gunner–59 | December 13, 2012, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
Oops, you gave yourself away again as a biased, jjuvenile bigot.
Posted by: Zen | December 13, 2012, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
“The $60 billion price tag, they say, represents nearly the entire amount of additional revenue the government would collect next year by raising rates on the top 2 percent of taxpayers, as Democrats desire.”
If this doesn’t prove the folly of raising taxes nothing will. It is counterproductive and unpatriotic to raise taxes beause the irresponsible Dems will spend every penny and more, not one penny will be used to reduce the 17 trillion Hussein national debt
Posted by: Dems hate America | December 13, 2012, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
This is exactly the kind of garbage that helped get us where we are today. Listen up, you politicians – especially you Demwits — we do NOT have a revenue problem, we have a SPENDING problem. And until you wake up and realize there is NOT an endless supply of money in this country, we’ll continue to spiral down the tubes. The awful bottom is not far off. I’m sure the “47%” cannot possibly identify with what I’m talking about here. No — more — money — !!! “Say, WHAT??!?!?!?”
Posted by: Doug | December 13, 2012, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
Doug said “You mean it didn’t have to do with Bush goofily stumming a guitar at a birthday party while death stormed towards New Orleans? The Commander in Chief indeed.”
No, it was because the dem mayor and the dem gov told the White House to shove it when they recommended evacuation, then pointed their crooked fingers and cried ‘racism’ when it blew up in their faces.
BY LAW, fema under Bush couldn’t do ANYTHING, until after the fact, so goofily would seem to be a perfect adjective for your assessment, apparently reached without a fact to rely on!
Posted by: djh | December 13, 2012, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
“The $60 billion price tag, they say, represents nearly the entire amount of additional revenue the government would collect next year by raising rates on the top 2 percent of taxpayers, as Democrats desire.”
If this doesn’t prove the folly of raising taxes nothing will. It is counterproductive and unpatriotic to raise taxes beause the irresponsible Dems will spend every penny
Posted by: Dems hate America | December 13, 2012, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
Yes, how “counterproductive and unpatriotic” for the President and Republican and Democrat governors and mayors to want to repair damage from a catastrophic storm.
Posted by: zen | December 13, 2012, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
The people of these areas are being told that they would have 60billion but for the Repubs. holding up the funds. Little do they know (because the media,save this article, won’t tell them) that they won’t really see a dime in relief. Unless of course they are union workers planting trees and building berms.
Posted by: LisaC | December 13, 2012, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
NO! NO! NO! Pass a clean bill for Sandy relief or pass nothing. Sorry, NASA and the Smithsonian will have to wait in line.
And how is it being paid for? Oh that’s right…the obama way.
Posted by: Nurse Snow | December 13, 2012, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm
Doug said “You mean it didn’t have to do with Bush goofily stumming a guitar at a birthday party while death stormed towards New Orleans? The Commander in Chief indeed.”
Posted by: djh | December 13, 2012, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
Still, don’t you think Bush cut a commanding figure posing and goofily strumming guitar as death stormed towards New Orleans.
He conveyed the gravity of the situation as “Commander in Chief” don’t you think?
Remember Bush joking about how maybe the weapons of mass destruction were hidden under his desk – after thousands died because of those non-existent weapons of mass destruction and Bush’s commands?
Serves to remind just how fortunate we are now.
Posted by: Doug | December 13, 2012, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
OBAMA’S ANNUAL, $1 TRILLION-PLUS DEFICITS
Posted by: electpatriots | December 13, 2012, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
The last president handed Obama an ongoing trillion-dollar deficit, two major unfinished wars, an economy in free-fall and a doubled national debt (with interest of about $400 BILLION per year).
Too difficult for you to figure out?
Posted by: Bob | December 13, 2012, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
It’ss too difficult for all the right wingers to figure out.
Posted by: zen | December 13, 2012, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
The last president handed Obama an ongoing trillion-dollar deficit, two major unfinished wars, an economy in free-fall and a doubled national debt (with interest of about $400 per year).
Too difficult for you to figure out?
Posted by: Bob | December 13, 2012, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
Wrong. The 2009 Trillion Dollar deficit was due to the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” passed by Obama and the Democrats. Without that, the deficit would have been over $700 billion less. The wars I’ll give you. As to the economy, Bush inherited a recession as well made only worse after 9/11. (The Stock Market bubble burst before he came into office). It also took him 8 years to double the debt, your man Obama has increased the debt by the SAME amount in only 4 years with no relief in sight.
Posted by: Billy G | December 13, 2012, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
Wrong. The 2009 Trillion Dollar deficit was due to the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act”
Posted by: Billy G | December 13, 2012, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
No it wasn’t. Bush’s submitted budget for 2009 had a built-in deficit of over $400 billion, but (due to the economic collapse on his shift and the loss of millions of jobs and taxes) ended up with a shortfall in revenues of over $600 billion. Bush’s 2009 budget had a deficit of over a trillion dollars before Obama even walked through the door.
Posted by: Bob | December 13, 2012, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
Using Bush (either one) as the paragon of fiscal responsibility is folly.Bush screwed up Spent too much and got us into unnecessary wars. Obama continued the wars and still is. Obama standing alone with atotal congressional control continued the stupid and costly Bush programs. To compare Obama to Bush is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.
Posted by: busseja | December 13, 2012, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm
The last president handed Obama an ongoing trillion-dollar deficit, two major unfinished wars, an economy in free-fall and a doubled national debt (with interest of about $400 BILLION per year).
Too difficult for you to figure out?
Posted by: Bob | December 13, 2012, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
Oh pishaw! That was nothing.
Posted by: Trisha | December 13, 2012, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm
I hope this country goes belly up soon so this kind of crap stops along with welfare fraud and Obama phones, we’ll just kill all the liberals or they’ll just die off then we’ll pick up the pieces and start over.
Posted by: Sean Patriot | December 13, 2012, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
more government waste and inefficiency that they then want more money for doing less, and nobody is accountable
Posted by: barry1817 | December 13, 2012, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
Jacob – we’ll keep an eye on you. Does the word BRASS mean anything?
Posted by: Bob | December 13, 2012, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
What happened in the past when the debt was even larger?
From 1946 to 1973, U.S. national debt went from 109% of GDP (it’s about 65% today) to 24%.
How did they fix it? Not severe cuts. Instead, they GREW THE GDP by investing in America. We can do it again.
Posted by: Maria | December 13, 2012, 5:14 pm 5:14 pm
Ah…no worries. It’s OK for Democrats to do business like this. Just so long as the Republicans don’t do it. Can you say, Hypocrite”? I knew ya could.
Posted by: Mike | December 13, 2012, 5:18 pm 5:18 pm
Give more mitigation money to the Red Cross so they can hand out more cookies and hot cocoa to future storm victims.
Posted by: ISH KIBIBBEL | December 13, 2012, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
The last election was a no brainier. Unfortunately, the no brainers were in the majority and they won.
Posted by: Robert | December 13, 2012, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
this is why FEMA should be dismantled, and states should keep their money and run their own rebuilding programs. big federal govt is not the answer!!! these federal politicians are about raise taxes and take more of your money, do you really think they can spend it appropriately? wake up America, the clock is ticking…
Posted by: Francisco D'Antonia | December 13, 2012, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
What happened in the past when the debt was even larger?
From 1946 to 1973, U.S. national debt went from 109% of GDP (it’s about 65% today) to 24%.
How did they fix it? Not severe cuts. Instead, they GREW THE GDP by investing in America. We can do it again.
Posted by: Maria | December 13, 2012, 5:14 pm 5:14 pm
Interesting.
Posted by: Jim | December 13, 2012, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
OBAMA’S ANNUAL, $1 TRILLION-PLUS DEFICITS
Posted by: electpatriots | December 13, 2012, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
The last president handed Obama an ongoing trillion-dollar deficit, two major unfinished wars, an economy in free-fall and a doubled national debt (with interest of about $400 BILLION per year).
Too difficult for you to figure out?
Posted by: Bob | December 13, 2012, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
It’ss too difficult for all the right wingers to figure out.
Posted by: zen | December 13, 2012, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
You got that right!
Posted by: Jim Bob jr. | December 13, 2012, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
Any funding for “emergency aid” should be for immediate needs. Once those immediate needs are accounted for then mitigation can occur. Rebuild/mitigation funding should only be authorized with an equal amount of spending cuts and the appropriate source for those cuts should come from federal aid to foreign countries. Deficit spending, I’ve been told, is illegal.
Posted by: Phillyfarmer | December 13, 2012, 6:14 pm 6:14 pm
Maria, Good analysis, however, the reason the last three recessions have been called jobless recoveries is that as consumer purchases have grown, today that growth is reflected in increased imports of finished goods. In the past it was the increase in imports of raw materials such that the growth was reflected in an increase in manufacturing output. With that output shifted to overseas, the rate of growth is stimied, unfortunately and the job increases are in the service areas where just over minimum wage is the norm.
Posted by: John | December 13, 2012, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
@MyTakeOnThis61
The PRIMARY reason there were fewer deaths with Sandy as there were with Katrina is because those in the path of Sandy did as they were advised and cleared out.
Posted by: Al | December 13, 2012, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm
Since the election, I’ve given up caring about what happens. Now it’s all so amusing.
Posted by: Marco | December 13, 2012, 6:50 pm 6:50 pm
The PRIMARY reason there were fewer deaths with Sandy as there were with Katrina is because those in the path of Sandy did as they were advised and cleared out.
Posted by: Al | December 13, 2012, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm
Perhaps if the Commander in Chief (Bush) had not diminished the gravity of the situation by posing goofily strumming guitar while death stormed towards New Orleans, more people might have understood the gravity of the situation.
Posted by: Reggie | December 13, 2012, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
This is complete BS. The country is broke and we’re still giving money merrily away for questionable projects and fluff. This money should go to rebuild all the homes and businesses that were lost along the coast. IF there is money left over, THEN it can be used for all these extra projects. But not before. The government has to stop piddling away our money.
Posted by: Senior in FL | December 13, 2012, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm
This is how you buy votes.
Posted by: jayburd | December 13, 2012, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
The country is broke and we’re still giving money merrily away for questionable projects and fluff.
Posted by: Senior in FL | December 13, 2012, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm
I don’t think repairing damage from Sandy should be considered ‘fluff’. It caused damage to more than houses.
$23 million for tree plantings to “help reduce flood effects, protect water sources, decrease soil erosion and improve wildlife habitat” in forested areas touched by Sandy;$4 million to repair sand berms and dunes at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida; and $41 million for clean-up and repairs at eight military bases along the storm’s path, including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Posted by: Trisha | December 13, 2012, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
If you blame Bush for the problems after Katrina, you must blame Obama for the problems after Sandy.
If you blame one but not the other, you should have enough integrity left to admit at least to yourself that you’re being hypocritical.
Sadly, those who are completely immersed in their ideology (on both the left and right) are blind to their own hypocrisy.
Posted by: MizFW | December 13, 2012, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
The sad reason people died during katrina is that the local and state government had absolutely no evacuation plan.
Posted by: laura jacobs | December 13, 2012, 7:29 pm 7:29 pm
My guess is, not one dime will those devastated people, their families, or their homes see from any of that money. Those thieving leeches, politicians, will figure every way they can to siffon it all away to their pet projects, at the cost of people never getting their lives back… FEMA has a easy way out… Those folks have to apply for a LOAN from FEMA, just like at a bank, if they can’t qualify, they get NO help from FEMA… I know this because it happened to some friends of mine from a tornado in Missouri! IT’s all a lie…
Posted by: Kate47 | December 13, 2012, 7:39 pm 7:39 pm
The sad reason people died during katrina is that the local and state government had absolutely no evacuation plan.
Posted by: laura jacobs | December 13, 2012, 7:29 pm 7:29 pm
“Absolutely no evacuation plan” is simply not true – not true at all.
Posted by: Jim | December 13, 2012, 7:43 pm 7:43 pm
What reconstruction? ABC told me the weekend before the election that President Obama fixed everything.
Posted by: Andrew in Toronto | December 13, 2012, 7:48 pm 7:48 pm
New Orleans last GOP mayor 1890. Chicago 1933. Detroit 1957 etc etc. Moral of the story. Deliver decade after decade of poverty, high crime and bad schools and they will line up to vote for you ..
Posted by: Dennis D | December 13, 2012, 7:51 pm 7:51 pm
I pray every day that we just go off the cliff, raise taxes on everyone, dramatically cut spending, and yes, we may have another recession, yes some peoples’ lives will get harder, but we will emerge from that much stronger and better prepared for the future without sentencing our children and their children to a life of slavery to the debt those who care very little about anyone but themselves want to pile on.
Posted by: madmax | December 13, 2012, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
“Never let a crisis go to waste.” Chicago gangland style…
Posted by: Bryan | December 13, 2012, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
“Never let a crisis go to waste.” Chicago gangland style…
Posted by: Bryan | December 13, 2012, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
Idiotic extremism didn’t work during either of the last two presidential elections, and it doesn’t work now.
Posted by: Jim | December 13, 2012, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm
Why is ABC News reporting this as though it were anything out of the ordinary?
What’s the problem? Seriously. All the projects described here are important and require funding. Tying smaller spending packages to larger spending bills is normal Congressional mode, and it’s necessary to circumvent the poisonously hyper-partisanism in which any Senator can block bills on a whim.
For those trying to turn this into a partisan issue, it isn’t. Republicans did it, Democrats are doing it. Newsflash to Republicans: YOU LOST. Get over it, and stop trying to block essential government functions. Hint: this is not a good strategy unless you want to keep losing more elections. We have the numbers and you need to adapt to reality.
Posted by: Oomingmak | December 13, 2012, 8:10 pm 8:10 pm
Pigs at the trough. All of them Going Wee Wee Wee all the way back to Washington D.C.
Posted by: SIck of All Them Oinkers | December 13, 2012, 8:28 pm 8:28 pm
i hate govt. how could they possibly know the total cost to repar? asking for 80B is just a number out of thin air, and reducing in to 60B is the same thing. there will be so many people/agencies that will profit enormously as money is handed out like candy with no accountability or reason. i hate govt and starting to hate this country.
Posted by: joes | December 13, 2012, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
In California those of us that live in the WUI ( wildland urban interface) are charged a premium for our home owner insurance plus we are charged an additional tax by the state department of forestry for wild land maintenance and fire protection. Why shouldn’t those that live near the coast be charged the same.
Posted by: Doug | December 13, 2012, 9:54 pm 9:54 pm
asking for 80B is just a number out of thin air, and reducing in to 60B is the same thing.
Posted by: joes | December 13, 2012, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
No, they would have been getting appraisals done by insurance adjusters, engineers, contractors and every professional source available, so ‘out of thin air’ is not really accurate. Your hysteria is misplaced I think.
Posted by: Jim | December 13, 2012, 11:16 pm 11:16 pm
Not surprising. Every federal spending bill becomes nothing but canned ham full of pork byproducts.
Posted by: Andy Howe | December 13, 2012, 11:20 pm 11:20 pm
I voted for Dingle-Barry and got my mansion replaced. Call Chuck E. Choomer, he’ll hook you up. Yo, bacon is good here.
Posted by: recalcitrant | December 13, 2012, 11:23 pm 11:23 pm
First the wingers whined Obama had done “nothing” for victims of Sandy. Now they’re whining he’s doing too much. That means it’s been done about as well as possible.
Posted by: Jim | December 13, 2012, 11:28 pm 11:28 pm
This is why I don’t want to see any more tax increases, just spending cuts, in future budgets. I’m not rich, but why waste the money of all those ‘millionaires and billionaires’ that we hear so much about? I’d rather their money (and mine) be spent wisely, which the govt. will NOT do.
Posted by: GulfFrit | December 14, 2012, 12:05 am 12:05 am
Posted by: GulfFrit | December 14, 2012, 12:05 am 12:05 am
Better to leave the destruction from the storm to just rot and decay, and all the people with it
Posted by: Jim | December 14, 2012, 12:22 am 12:22 am
You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down.
That was the system’s response to my post!
Katrina was a failure but not from Bush. The Louisana Governor (a DEMOCRAT) refused FEMA help until she “studied” the problem. Bush CALLED HER to AGAIN OFFER HELP AHEAD of the storm, she again refused. The DEMOCRATIC Mayor of New Orleans did NOT use the school buses and actually turned away help from AMTRAK to evacuate. FEMA is still terrible at responsing… a decade after Katrina and it’s no better than before hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent? The Dead in New Orleans belong to the Democrats, not Bush.
Posted by: Kingcruiser | December 14, 2012, 2:38 am 2:38 am
Oink, Oink, line up at the troth for the pork, they’ll be spreading it far and wide. I’ve always thought that the folks impacted by Sandy should have asked for $250 Billion and then when Congress gives them only $100 Billion, they can all run around patting themselves on the back for “saving the country $150 Billion”. Like someone said above, it’s all Monopoly money anyway, backed by nothing other than hubris and bigger guns than the other countries, at least for now. Someday our creditors will come knocking and we’ll have nothing to pay them with and nobody to bail US out.
Posted by: Fred | December 14, 2012, 3:08 am 3:08 am
These polticians are inhuman. Rather than focus on the humanity endangered and hurt right now, they use this as an excuse to feed their pet projects. Disgusting.
Posted by: mike | December 14, 2012, 3:17 am 3:17 am
Whatta boondoggle! The corruption in DC has reached epic proportions. Maybe this really IS the end.
Posted by: WagTheDog | December 14, 2012, 4:40 am 4:40 am
It truly is a free-for-all with the citizens personal hard earned money….
theyre just voting and raiding peoples money right out from their pocklets as they see fit.
Dont look now, but thats whats called “tyranny”.
Posted by: Kess | December 14, 2012, 5:34 am 5:34 am
Geez people…lest we forget…Ray Naggin …mayor of the chocolate city, and democrat governor squandered 5Billion provided them by FEMA and other federal programs to prestage MRE’/Water and emergency supplies and equipment. Dumb head Barney Frank and democrat controlled congress passed the crap the broke Fannie/Freddie which was the ultimate cause of the economic collapse…which the Republicans said would happen… The democrat controlled congress was going to pass a TARP anyway…bush cut the amount requested by half of what the democrats ultimately wanted…Attaching all this crap to an emergency aid bill…the dems should be tarred and feathered…get the emergency aid to the people that need it! The MSM (Pravda) and the democrats really need to go far away …to China or North Korea…that way they get what they want…I want to keep my freedom.
Posted by: tojo | December 14, 2012, 7:03 am 7:03 am
When state politicians do not plan for a “rainy day” fund or insure the assets of the people, why do they look to the Federal Government for a bailout? Include states in the National Flood Insurance Program and make the insurance companies pay out the amounts of the policies without quibbling. Why is anyone allowed to build in a flood plain? Once destroyed, why allow them to rebuild so it can happen again?
In regards to trees, I just brought 10 trees for $10 from the National Arbor Organization, I will be using my own sweat to plant them without pay. So $23 million for 23 million trees seems like a stretch of pork of massive portions.
Why is government funding all of those museums and art galleries? Consolidate them into one building, retain the best works then sell the rest and empty buildings putting the money towards reducing the deficit. We need to change our priorities and some things we will just have to do without until the debt is zero.
I feel for the people of NY and NJ, however, those in charge have a long, long history of wasteful spending, cronyism and corruption. I personally would like to see a detailed transparent spending spreadsheet posted on the Internet. I would like to see every school district, city bus, rail station, cab company and ambulance do an emergency evacuation runs prior to any storm or natural disaster for those that cannot fend for themselves. Any one staying behind does so at their own peril with full knowledge that help will not come. Any one robbing or looting gets a mandatory life sentence and any business caught gauging is entered into the hall of shame so the public can put them out of business. The hall of shame put every business out of business after the blizzard of 1977 that got caught gauging.
This disaster is not the only one to hit the US and it will not be the last, so stop handing out foreign aid and use the money at home, because after all it belongs to the taxpayers – not to the politicians to curry favor with despots of the world or protect corporate interests that invested in the wrong region. If they want to fight and kill each other, let them.
As far as the military spending goes, who where the idiots that chose not to close military bases in the path of major storms. Close them and open up the ones that are moth-balled. Stop burying equipment to boost your budgets and clean up the toxic waste you buried, then and only then should the military be considered for any more funding. In the meantime, they have their own house cleaning to take care of internally, because the troops are talking.
Posted by: ListenUp | December 14, 2012, 7:06 am 7:06 am
Politicians never want to let an emergency get by without piling on the additions. Creeps!!!!
Posted by: Tommy | December 14, 2012, 7:18 am 7:18 am
If Republicans were smart they’d tie every issue the White House cared about to a 5%, across the board, cut of Federal worker salaries. Just 5%, and let Obama get up and say that Federal workers are hard working Americans who shouldn’t have to share the pain of the recession with the rest of us.
But they won’t, because they’re the stupid party.
Posted by: Soon to be Ex-Republican | December 14, 2012, 7:28 am 7:28 am
LMAO..Jonathan Karl…he thinks he’s a journalist LMAO..Obama will shut this talk down or will not give ABC the time of day
Posted by: the sinking of the USA | December 14, 2012, 9:20 am 9:20 am
This reminds me of a line from the Journey song, “Don’t Stop Believin”….”It goes on and on and on and on”…..
Posted by: Dave | December 14, 2012, 9:29 am 9:29 am
What a bunch of inhuman pieces of crap. All of them should be at Guantanamo bay. This kind of crime against people is no different than what saddam hussein had done or bashar al-assad today is doing to his people except in a slower process, let’s starve and freeze them to death, nice and slow.
Ok people this is NOT a partisan deal we need to be bipartisan on this put all your petty little social differences aside and start demanding these people that redirected these funds be prosecuted for crimes against humanity and we need to follow through with. It doesn’t matter of what rank they are from the obama down, anybody and everybody period!
Posted by: SFXDM9MM | December 14, 2012, 9:47 am 9:47 am
You people are amazing…Bush cant be blamed for Katrina response anymore than Obama can be hailed for Sandy Response! The ONLY WAY the Feds can get involved is if the Mayors and govs declare states of emergency then ask for Federal response/threat assistance! As for the real topic….this spending bil>>.What a joke…the money should go to the states with the most direct impact from Sandy…not the other slush fund spending crap that will never be used for what they say it will be used for! I dont understand why Liberals are so deaf, dumb, and blind to government spending???
Posted by: PLEASE USE LOGIC | December 14, 2012, 9:52 am 9:52 am
Never wanted to take a dive off something so much as I want us all to take the plunge off the fiscal cliff. It will do more to help our nation than anything. The primary thing is that Demonrats will be shown for the spenders of your hard earned taxes that they are. Go for it. 1, 2, 3, ….GO!
Posted by: LTCB | December 14, 2012, 10:04 am 10:04 am
As long as so many elected officials believe the very basis of their job is ‘to bring home the bacon’, this kind of unaccountable, profligate spending will continue.
Posted by: I. M. Taxpayer | December 14, 2012, 10:15 am 10:15 am
The budget deficit for 2007 was 168 billion. This was the last budget passed by a Republican congress under Bush. After that the democrats had FULL CONTROL of the budget strings and we immediately saw a massive increase in spending. Bush was dumb enough to not veto the bills, but the democrats were using our troops safety in Iraq and Afgahnistan as hostages saying that they wouldn’t send the necessary funds to keep them going if they didn’t get their spending approved.
The financial collapse happened under the watch of Barney Frank and Chris Dodd. The democrats were the ones that stonewalled Bush when he was trying to audit Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
These are facts. I’m sorry that they don’t conform to the liberal fantasy about everything being Bush’s fault, but they are facts none the less. democrats caused our finanaical collapse and democrats are making it worse every day.
OWN IT.
Posted by: Mikey | December 14, 2012, 10:22 am 10:22 am
And the delusional left thought that Obama sided with the 99%. Fools.
Posted by: EPU | December 14, 2012, 10:22 am 10:22 am
This is all irrelevant. Sean Penn has commandeered another rowboat and is on the way to evaluate the situation and deliver supplies.
Posted by: Bill Bitterass | December 14, 2012, 10:30 am 10:30 am
This is like the incident where a public bus had an accident and the onboard cameras showed 30 people jumping aboard and tried to claim injuries.
Aren’t Congressmen supposed to be better than this?
Posted by: Give us a break | December 14, 2012, 10:31 am 10:31 am
Not all idiots think like democrats, but ALL democrats think like idiots.
Posted by: Mtxun | December 14, 2012, 11:15 am 11:15 am
Nero fiddled while Rome burned.
Posted by: Senior in FL | December 14, 2012, 11:20 am 11:20 am
Bloated government programs = Corrupt politicians = uninformed voters = failing public schools = falling education results compared to other countries = growing slums = shrinking rural communities
Merry Christmas
Posted by: TreeTrimmerJim | December 14, 2012, 11:38 am 11:38 am
Doesn’t this country have a spending v’s revenue problem? When is the continued overspending going to stop?
Posted by: rollaman | December 14, 2012, 11:40 am 11:40 am
pass it…I need my four trillion bailout as my investment in Martian gold mining has not been profitable…Tell Nan Peloser to take the loot from her husband’s bank and Jesse Jackson’s wife…I need to start my solar sun shield business to cool Venus to human habitation levels…and My Jupiter ice delivery system is slow to produce funds…Give Me my Bailout, OBLAMER…
Posted by: mac | December 14, 2012, 11:59 am 11:59 am
Shame on NY and NJ for not being responsible enough to have funds on hand for such occasions. Why is Americans always expect others to cover their loses ? Lets grow up and be adults !
Posted by: derfel cadarn | December 14, 2012, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
I bet you will not hear on any TV news program any reporter asking any Congressman why they added this pork into the bill. First it comes from Democrats and you cannot make them look bad and second it might hurt Obama’s feelings. Also this will not be discussed on any Sunday show, even as it could show an affect on the “fiscal cliff” issues between Boehner and Obama.
Nothing is ever said of why we send so much money to other countries and the UN and yet we get nothing but hate from them. We should be eliminating our foreign spending and use that money to pay off our debt. I really do not expect anything good out of Obama and we haven’t had it in four years, and I see the rest of the Pols on each side equally as bad.
Posted by: JeffG | December 14, 2012, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
Right after ‘Sandy’ was quite upset about the damage some 3,000 miles away from where I lived at the time. Therefore, I am demanding 2 million dollars in compensation for my unrest.
Posted by: Clearhead | December 14, 2012, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm