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.
There need to be restrictions on any post Sandy rebuilding. There is legitimate need by many and they should get help promptly,,,,but those with the McMansions on the beach front lots should not get one red cent of federal money.— moretoit- Chris Christie, there is a group that is sane, rational, and would love to help you. It is called the democratic party. welcome aboard— Ryan
- he needs to talk to his buddy the bamster.— rysagr
- I'm slowly coming around on Christie. If he can fix NJ, he's got my vote.— Vote for Dickie
- stop whining 1982, you sold like a four year old who cant have any candy! BYOTCH!— phillynupe4
- "No demand, no business!!"
You silly person. As long as we shift most of the taxes down to the middle class* and tell those parasites to stop demanding the fruits of their labor so that we further the wealth at the top, everything will be fine. Money in the hands of the common man are wasted on goods and services, not invested in the national casino (excuse me, stock market).
BTW, since I'm sure one of you idiot tea baggers will come back with the top 1% pays 60% of the taxes, I'll save you some time. If they have 90% of the wealth and pay 60% of the taxes, you will make my argument by pointing it out.— Hamlet - Gov. Christie has the cojones to stand up for the people who elected him. He took an oath and he puts that over politics. Thank you Gov. Christie for doing and saying what is right regardless of the political consequences. How refreshing?— BillyBob369
- First lets get one thing straight: The Bill was for $60 BILLION BUT ONLY $27 BILLION WAS FOR SANDY. Boehner wanted to try and cut the waste out so it was only for Sandy and Obama and Harry Reid (Big Democrats if you have to ask) refused and demanded the porked bill. The fault lies with the pigs in the Senate who packed this bill ao less than half went to Sandy efforts. Christi knew better and did it as a stunt. The US is bankrupt and the %!@$ passed this junk?— Dutch-wayne
- Hey christie it's the pork stupid....Look in the mirror! Thought your new pal obama had it all wired for you didn't you?...Hahahaha isn't that what he told all the victims of Sandy? Where is he? He's playing golf in Hawaii. He doesn't care about you or your state!— jmb53
And NJ Seniors & disabled SLAM Tubby for taking away their property tax rebates, hopefully he will lose BIG the upcoming election.- Christie should just switch parties right now. He never misses a chance to get his fat face on TV to bash republicans and pander to his liberal constituents- getting ready for re-election in the Peoples Republic of New Jersey. Maybe instead of whining, he should call his buddy B-Rack Huzzy- didn't he promise to cut through all the red tape and rain money every crook and thief in NJ needs to "repair" "storm damage"?— squarepeg
- Boehner is toast!— chasing history
- though I am no fan of Christie, his latest transformation is intriguing. I'll give Christie this- I think we are looking a Governor who has been sincerely changed by what he saw happen to his 'hood. By his comments, he has positioned himself as the most vocal opponent of the tea party people and to quote Christe their politics of "one upsmanship"GOP is a hot mess.
- Highwater for all the reasons you list, I completely disagree with you...I think we are now seeing the politician in Christie coming out. Gobs of cash from the government is never a good thing...especially when is comes on the heels of a catastrophe and peoples common sense is compromised by compassion. I feel badly for anybody who lost anything in that storm...but if they didn't have insurance, let it be a hard lesson to those who lost and everybody who ever thinks they may buy property or open a business near the shore. Common sense needs to prevail! — Gray Areas
- The truth is Obama asked the Senate to come up with a bill on Dec 8th but the Senate waited until Jan 1st. Then they loaded it up with pork and earmarks and expected the House to rubberstamp it because they were under duress to pass it as fast as possible.— Phillies2008WSChamps
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.
