Angry Christie slams Boehner for abandoning Sandy victims
Citing "selfishness" and "duplicity," an angry and frustrated Gov. Christie blamed a fellow Republican, House Speaker John Boehner, for withholding $60 billion in aid for Sandy victims. "Last night politics was placed before our oath to serve our citizens," Christie said at news conference carried live on CNN. "For me it was disappointing and disgusting to watch." Christie said he was assured that the House of Representatives would vote on the Sandy aid package before the current Congress adjourns. But at 11:20 pm last night, he was told Boehner pulled the bill without explanation, and then Boehner wouldn't take Christie's four follow-up phone calls.
Angry Christie slams Boehner for abandoning Sandy victims
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
Full story in Thursday's paper, here.
TRENTON – Citing “selfishness” and “duplicity,” an angry and frustrated Gov. Christie blamed a fellow Republican, House Speaker John Boehner, for withholding $60 billion in aid for Sandy victims.
“Last night politics was placed before our oath to serve our citizens,” Christie said at news conference carried live on CNN. “For me it was disappointing and disgusting to watch.”
Minutes after Christie wrapped up his remarks, which dominated cable news and trended on Twitter, House Republicans said votes on Sandy aid would be held by Jan. 15. Two votes may be held, with the first coming this Friday for $9 billion in flood relief.
But Christie had been assured that the House of Representatives would vote on the Sandy aid package before the current Congress adjourns tomorrow. The Senate, with bipartisan support, had already approved it. Then, at 11:20 last night, he was told Boehner pulled the bill without explanation.
So Christie called Boehner. He called four times. But the highest-ranked Republican in the country wouldn't take the governor's calls.
Christie began his remarks this afternoon by listing the amount of time it took Congress to send aid to victims of other natural disasters – like 10 days for Hurricane Katrina. By contrast, it's been 66 days since Sandy damaged or destroyed 346,000 New Jersey homes and housing units, and sent more than 7,000 people to shelters.
"Sixty-six days and counting: Shame on you, shame on Congress," Christie said. Congress showed “callous indifference to the suffering of the people of my state.”
And while the governor praised the Republican leadership’s No. 2 in the House, U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor (R., Va.), he laid the blame, specifically and squarely, on Boehner.
“The speaker’s irresponsible action in not moving on anything at least appears, from the information I’ve been given, will leave the flood insurance program broke by the end of next week,” Christie said.
Christie spoke with Boehner this morning, he said, and was told that the speaker would meet with New Jersey congressmen today. Christie didn’t disclose any more of their conversation, and he said he wasn’t sure what caused the last-minute tabling of the bill, but he indicated a power struggle -- "palace intrigue" -- between Boehner and Cantor may have been the cause.
“On a political chessboard of internal palace intrigue and politics our people were played last night as a pawn, and that's why people hate Washington DC, that's why people hate this politics," he said. "Last night it was my party responsible."
Christie dismissed my suggestion that the failure to bring the spending bill up for a vote had something to do with the right wing of his party, embodied by the anti-spending tea party, which since the 2010 GOP takeover of the House has wielded considerable sway among Republicans.
“No, no, no, no, no no no," he said. "I'm telling you, Matt, it's internal politics."
Later, he added: "If one set of Republicans was trying to prove something to another set of Republicans, I hope they proved it."
Christie fell short of calling for Republicans to withhold donations from the House GOP, as one Republican congressman from New York has suggested, but he said: “Certainly at the moment I wouldn’t be looking to do much for House leadership.” He also threatened to campaign against incumbent House Republicans who played a part.
“Primaries are an ugly thing,” he said.
But, "tomorrow's a new day, and he can prove to me that he really cares about the people of New York and New Jersey and get this done," Christie said.
What a fraud Christie is. He is all about cutting waste when it doesn't affect his state. Whay isnt he blathering about who loaded this bill with all the cr@p? Don't they have insurance companies in New Jersey? Why is the federal government involved?
I guess pork isn't just for dinner anymore for Chris.— Wiseman6- @high water- Then the Smithsonian roof repairs should be included in the 2013 budget proposal and NOT in a Sandy aid bill. Don't load up the bill with all this non-Sandy nonsense and complain that Republicans are screwing the poor beachfront property owners. Aren't they part of the evil 1%?
You must remember budgets even though Barry hasn't even gotten any votes on any he has submitted....— Wiseman6 - I can't believe that the GOP is arguing over GUVMENT HANDOUTS. I guess PULL YOURSELF UP BY YOUR OWN BOOTSTRAPS doesn't apply here. Lol.— phillygtown
- Boy when this guy was cutting costs and gaining fiscal control of state unions, I thought he was the real thing. But real estate taxes have not gone down. That's what I want to see him fired up about. Don't care about the "Sandy" relief, that's what insurance is for. Sandy, Irene and Katerina funds are nothing but quick cash for crooked politicians and unethical contractors. LOWER THE G.D. REAL ESTATE TAXES IN NEW JERSEY!!!!!— Gray Areas
- Just when I think Christie might be getting it together, he does it again. He just discovered that the GOP has been putting politics in front of their duty to serve? They've done it for Obama's entire term with their obstructionist policies. It my opinion, it borders on treason.— Boru
- $60 Billion they want? For the shore? $60 Billion? recovery for some peoples 2nd vacation homes?— uandwhosearmy
- 60 billions? Christie again demostrates he is a greedy blow hard. There are estimates that the most they would need is less than half of that, it just goes to show greed and gluttony are in more than one part of Christie's life. Besides, who is interested in using tax payer money to rebuild a millionaire's beach front home when working people are having their homes foreclosed on? Because Christie demonstrates that this greedy demeanor he should simply change his party affiliation democrats would welcome him with open arms. There is nothing conservative about Chris Christie, he's about as conservative as he is skinny.— Speak-truth-2-power
- What a child this man is. There is more than enough money in the FEMA budget to take care of immediate needs and he knows (or ought to know) it. If the Obama administration isn't providing relief fast enought, he should say so. Really at this point Snooki would be a more capable governor— InquiringMindz
Christi is tring to help the people and Boehner and the GOP are screwing the people!- Been six months and I do not know one single person who received anything. Naturally, the insurance companies hire forensic consultants to tell me that all the water damage is from previous storms denying liability. They stated specific terms in the policy but could not pin point one prior event of damage. And the government allows it. That is why the court system is so over logged with frivolous claim denials and no other recourse butto hire a lawyer and cross your fingers. And wait... Maybe another 2 years for Sandy damage check. Life goes on and the politicians lie to suit their political gains. Then say their interest is in the tragedy not politics. Disgusting.— SocialReject
Reach him at mkatz@phillynews.com or 609-217-8355.
Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattkatz00. Reach Matt at mkatz@phillynews.com or 609-217-8355.
