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Furious Chris Christie Rips John Boehner Over Canceled Sandy Vote in Heated Presser

Jan. 2, 2013 3:18pm Madeleine Morgenstern

A furious New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie unloaded on House Speaker John Boehner Wednesday following the cancellation of a promised vote for Hurricane Sandy relief, saying the people of his state were “played last night as a pawn” by his own Republican Party.

“There is only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims,” Christie said after the 11th-hour decision to scrap the vote. “The House majority and their speaker, John Boehner. This is not a Republican or Democratic issue. National disasters happen in red states and blue states and states with Democratic governors and Republican governors. We respond to innocent victims of natural disasters not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans. Or at least we did until last night.”

Christie said he had been given personal assurance that the $60 billion aid bill would go before the House on Tuesday. The Senate passed the measure last week. With Congress’ term coming to a close on Thursday, members will have to start from scratch to help the hundreds of thousands affected by the megastorm.

“Last night, the House majority failed the most basic test of leadership and they did so with callous disregard to the people of my state,” Christie said. “Our people were played last night as a pawn. That’s why people hate Washington.”

Christie said he has yet to be given a “substantive, credible reason” for why the bill wasn’t put to a vote. He said he tried to reach Boehner four times Tuesday night to find out what happened, but “he did not take my calls.”

“Sixty-six days and counting [since Sandy],” Christie said. “Shame on you. Shame on Congress.”

Christie’s criticisms echoed those of Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), who said earlier on Wednesday that New Yorkers shouldn’t give a penny to House Republicans after Tuesday’s “knife in the back.”

But National Review’s Daniel Foster and Betsy Woodruff each pushed back against the outrage that has erupted since Tuesday night. Foster wrote:

[T]he Sandy “relief” bill is really a Sandy “recovery” bill. It’s about the size and shape of the second wave of Sandy spending, which can and should be much more deliberate than the the first wave. The first wave of Sandy spending is already happening. Is it happening quickly or efficiently enough? There is no such thing as quickly or efficiently enough for the people of Staten Island or Seaside Heights, but it’s nevertheless safe to assume that if you think private charities and emergency responders aren’t allocating efficiently, you’re probably going to be disappointed by Congress, too. In fact, according to an analysis released by Sens. Coburn and McCain, “64 percent of the $60.4 billion in ‘emergency’ spending in this legislation will not be spent for nearly two years.

And among some of the provisions in the Senate-passed bill:

•$2 million to repair damage to the roofs of museums in Washington, D.C., while many in Hurricane Sandy’s path still have no roof over their own heads.

•$150 million for fisheries as far away from the storm’s path as Alaska.

•$125 million for the Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Watershed Protection program, which helps restore watersheds damaged by wildfires and drought.

•$20 million for a nationwide Water Resources Priorities Study.

•$15 million for NASA facilities, though NASA itself has called its damage from the hurricane ‘minimal.’

•$50 million in subsidies for tree planting on private properties.

This post has been updated.

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Comments (230)

liam_o_b
Posted on January 4, 2013 at 1:00am
Precedence proves that ALL federal pork spending as aid to victims is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Judicial decisions throughout the 19th century ruled that it was unconstitutional to take money from one person and give it to another. Every federal program that steals from the taxpayer and gives the money to others is illegal. The idea that the feds can rush in and aid people is an invention of the 20th century. Regardless of the intentions, remember: The road to HELL is paved with good intentions.

Our servants are stealing from us and giving to others in our name. The only legitimate way for help to be given to the victims is by voluntary contributions by individuals.

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pahrumper
Posted on January 4, 2013 at 12:42am
That fat freak gave NJ to Obama, and now he is bad mouthing Boener!?!?!? If he would have read the bill and notced what all the PORK was in it, he may have had a different thing to say,,,,but I doubt it!?!? Hey Christy,,,set down and shut up!

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kalayaan
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 10:04pm
Hey Gov. Christie…why don’t you call your BFF Obama?…have you forgotten Obama or has your BFF Obama forgotten you already?…BFF Obama is just a phone away, boy!!!!

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Tepeyac
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 9:47pm
Christie finally showed his true colors…he’s a Democrat through and through/

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Dudemau
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 7:01pm
Christie is a hack. Search google for “Not Yours to Give” by Col. David Crockett.

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NDPINDNT
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 12:00pm
30 Billion in Pork added to the bill. I’m glad they didn’t vote on it. It’s the Senate and Democrats who screwed this up. Not Boehner. Christy just lost my vote if he runs. I’ll never vote for him now. He blamed the wrong people just to look good in the press.

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2dogs
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 11:01am
The fat man loves pork and is throwing a tantrum like the spoiled piggy he is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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TruthPolice60
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 10:58am
Fat Boy ought to go on a hunger strike until he gets what he wants. He should be able to hold out until 2015.

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- yiska8
  Posted on January 3, 2013 at 3:08pm
  Hee hee!!
  
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ynotindependent
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 10:35am
I have always like Chris Christie….and I admire his fighting for the people of his state. With that said, he needs to sit down and shut his mouth on this deal. They were right for not passing a $60B “emergency relief” bill that saw roughly half going for the “emergency relief” effort. It is this type of B.S. that has gotten us this far down the fiscal insanity path.

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Bob DD
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 9:57am
Hey Chris, while you don’t care, I’ll not vote for you for any office. After your embrace of BHO in NJ, your self-serving speech at the convention, and looking for PORK in that bankrupting bill.

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temple62
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 9:54am
Fattums should expect a little payback for support Obama’s re-election bid on their political walk through ravaged New Jersey.

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bhosux
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 8:24am
It’s all about future POSTURING for Christie. In time he will do a party change to the Demoncrats. He knows that no GOP candidate will win in 2016. His pathetic speech at the convention proves this in scope and foundation. He will use this Boehner event as the moment that he realized the GOP is not sensitive to dependent class Sandy citizens.The only thing that will prevent this. Is when that large hamburger clot travels through his heart.Wasn’t he a villain in Austin Powers?

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lgccac
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 7:45am
Why am I being forced to pay to rebuild someone else’s home?

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rbolt
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 7:27am
If this pork filled legislation is what Christie wants, there is no way I would vote for him. Stick him with a fork, he’s done.

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robert0418
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:46am
Go ask your friend the President for the money, he’ll take it from his stash….or issue the kings proclamation..
You helped him win now get your reward

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Deane
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:46am
I thought Crispy Creme was a conservative? He’s showing us what he’s made of, stuffed with pork and creme. Why doesn’t he fly to Hawaii with his new BFF and give him a big hug and ask him why he has to wait more than15 minutes for Hussain to act?

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BobtheMoron
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 6:36am
STFU, Fatboy! There was enough pork in that bill to feed most of South America. That pork got chopped just like it should have. Maybe the new Speaker will have the guts to say that out loud.

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koz226
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 3:36am
Christie’s really only for Christie. It’s time that people see through that.

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xendude
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 12:04am
Just take out the B.S. spending, and yes you know that, but its showtime now and you have become one of them. It is not democrats and republicans and has not been for a long time. The question is be we Republic or be we Democracy. Do we remain free with glitches or slide into mob rule??

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