The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
January 2, 2013

House Leaders Draw Ire for Dropping Sandy Relief Package 
---------------------------------------------------------


 
House Republicans have reversed their pledge to take up an emergency aid
bill this week for states devastated by Superstorm Sandy. The move
potentially leaves the $60 billion aid package to die at the end of the
legislative session Thursday. The House was expected to consider the
bill today but dropped it following lengthy talks on the "fiscal cliff."
The decision drew harsh condemnation from both sides of the aisle.
Republican Rep. Michael Grimm of Staten Island — one of the areas
hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy — said, "It is with an extremely
heavy heart that I stand here almost in disbelief and somewhat ashamed."
Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York blasted his colleagues for
failing to take urgent action.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler: "Hurricane Sandy struck on October 29. Eight, nine
weeks ago. It's unprecedented that it should take so long. I can
understand, I would not sympathize, but I can understand, with members
who might say the amount requested is too much, we should change it, we
should quibble it, we should debate it, fine. But to ignore it? To
ignore the plight of millions of American citizens? Unprecedented,
disgusting, unworthy of the leadership of this house. They should
reconsider, or they should hang their heads in shame, Mr. Speaker."

 

.