Sandy Aid Package Includes Millions For Smithsonian, Space Cent

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Dec 13, 2012 2:47pm
By Jonathan
Karl
@jonkarl
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)
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The Obama administrations $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 urgentlyneededaide.Butitalsofeaturessomesurprisingitems:$23million for tree plantings to help reduce flood effects, protect water sources, decrease soil erosion and improve wildlife habitatin 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 storms 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 Womens Business Development Centers. The relief package also includes a whopping $13 billion request for mitigation projectsto prepare for future storms.
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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. TheyalsopointoutthatFEMAstillhas$5billioninitsDisasterReliefFund 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 doesnt make sense to pay to fix subway stations, rebuild a dune or repair a home if we dont 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 Sandys Wide Swath of Destruction
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On other things larger state-level infrastructure items, like hospitals in many cases it still hasnt been determined whether its cheaper to repair them or replace them,the official said, noting that the less-specific potsof funds for states were intended to provide greater flexibility during allocation. Governors of the states that bore the brunt of Sandys 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 Washingtonuntil they provide Sandy aid to the northeast. ABC NewsDevin Dwyer contributed to this report. This post has been updated.
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Just more reason to take the plunge.
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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.
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POSTED BY: SPITTING INTO THE WIND | DECEMBER 13, 2012, 3:14 PM 3:14 PM
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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!
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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.
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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 wont admit to what a fiasco Katrina was. What is PRIMARILY better is that there were not nearly as many deaths.
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POSTED BY: MYTAKEONTHIS61 | DECEMBER 13, 2012, 3:26 PM 3:26 PM
MyTakeOnThis61Good response!!!
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POSTED BY: TW | DECEMBER 13, 2012, 3:28 PM 3:28 PM
I got a better idea, let the states fend for themselves.
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POSTED BY: BILLY BOB | DECEMBER 13, 2012, 3:36 PM 3:36 PM
Just more reason to take the plunge. Posted by: Gunner59 | December 13, 2012, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm Plese do, wed all appreciate that.
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POSTED BY: BILLY BOB | DECEMBER 13, 2012, 3:37 PM 3:37 PM
a questionWhat difference does the $$$ aid amount matter $60 -$80 billionwhen 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 Katrinas 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 earmarksand 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, thats 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 RICHPEOPLE WOULDNT PAY DOWN A PENNY OF OBAMAS 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 cant 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
OBAMAS 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 freefall 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
OBAMAS 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 freefall and a doubled national debt (with interest of about $400 BILLION per year). Too difficult for you to figure out?
Its just TAXPAYER money. What do the Dumocrats and Obama have to worry about. Theyre 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 Im 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.
$23 million for tree plantings to help reduce flood effects, protect water sources, decrease soil erosion and improve wildlife habitatin 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 storms 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 its 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: Gunner59 | December 13, 2012, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm You mean it didnt 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 youve 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: Gunner59 | 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 doesnt 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, well continue to spiral down the tubes. The awful bottom is not far off. Im sure the 47%cannot possibly identify with what Im talking about here. No more money !!! Say, WHAT??!?!?!?
Doug said You mean it didnt 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 racismwhen it blew up in their faces. BY LAW, fema under Bush couldnt 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 doesnt 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 unpatrioticfor the President and Republican and Democrat governors and mayors to want to repair damage from a catastrophic storm.
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, wont tell them) that they wont 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 thats rightthe obama way.
POSTED BY: NURSE SNOW | DECEMBER 13, 2012, 4:26 PM 4:26 PM
Doug said You mean it didnt 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, dont 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 Chiefdont 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 Bushs commands? Serves to remind just how fortunate we are now.
OBAMAS 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 freefall 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 Itss too difficult for all the right wingers to figure out.
The last president handed Obama an ongoing trillion-dollar deficit, two major unfinished wars, an economy in freefall 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 Actpassed by Obama and the Democrats. Without that, the deficit would have been over $700 billion less. The wars Ill 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 wasnt. Bushs 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. Bushs 2009 budget had a deficit of over a trillion dollars before Obama even walked through the door.
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 freefall 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, well just kill all the liberals or theyll just die off then well 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 well keep an eye on you. Does the word BRASS mean anything?
What happened in the past when the debt was even larger? From 1946 to 1973, U.S. national debt went from 109% of GDP (its 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
Ahno worries. Its OK for Democrats to do business like this. Just so long as the Republicans dont 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 (its 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.
OBAMAS 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 freefall 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 Itss 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 aidshould 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, Ive 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, Ive given up caring about what happens. Now its 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 were 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 were 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 dont 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 habitatin 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 storms 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 youre 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 backFEMA has a easy way outThose folks have to apply for a LOAN from FEMA, just like at a bank, if they cant qualify, they get NO help from FEMAI know this because it happened to some friends of mine from a tornado in Missouri! ITs 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 planis simply not true not true at all.
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 peopleslives 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 didnt work during either of the last two presidential elections, and it doesnt work now.
Why is ABC News reporting this as though it were anything out of the ordinary? Whats 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 its 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 isnt. 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 shouldnt those that live near the coast be charged the same.
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 airis not really accurate. Your hysteria is misplaced I think.
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, hell 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 nothingfor victims of Sandy. Now theyre whining hes doing too much. That means its been done about as well as possible.
This is why I dont want to see any more tax increases, just spending cuts, in future budgets. Im not rich, but why waste the money of all those millionaires and billionairesthat we hear so much about? Id 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 systems response to my post! Katrina was a failure but not from Bush. The Louisana Governor (a DEMOCRAT) refused FEMA help until she
studiedthe 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 responsinga decade after Katrina and its 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, theyll be spreading it far and wide. Ive 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, its 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 well 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 peoplelest we forgetRay 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 collapsewhich the Republicans said would happenThe democrat controlled congress was going to pass a TARP anywaybush cut the amount requested by half of what the democrats ultimately wantedAttaching all this crap to an emergency aid billthe dems should be tarred and featheredget 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 Koreathat way they get what they wantI 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 dayfund 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 theyd 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 shouldnt have to share the pain of the recession with the rest of us. But they wont, because theyre the stupid party.
POSTED BY: SOON TO BE EX-REPUBLICAN | DECEMBER 14, 2012, 7:28 AM 7:28 AM
LMAO..Jonathan Karlhe thinks hes 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, Dont 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, lets 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 doesnt 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 amazingBush 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 jokethe money should go to the states with the most direct impact from Sandynot 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
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