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WASHINGTON — President Obama’s $60.4 billion request for Hurricane Sandy relief has morphed into a huge Christmas stocking of goodies for federal agencies and even the state of Alaska, The Post has learned. The pork-barrel feast includes more than $8 million to buy cars and equipment for the Homeland Security and Justice departments. It also includes a whopping $150 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to dole out to fisheries in Alaska and $2 million for the Smithsonian Institution to repair museum roofs in DC. An eye-popping $13 billion would go to “mitigation” projects to prepare for future storms. BARELY HOLDING ON: A woman stands amid rubble in Sandy-thrashed Breezy Point, Queens, where more federal assistance would be welcome.
Dan Callister BARELY HOLDING ON: A woman stands amid rubble in Sandy-thrashed Breezy Point, Queens, where more federal assistance would be welcome. Other big-ticket items in the bill include $207 million for the VA Manhattan Medical Center; $41 million to fix up eight military bases along the storm’s path, including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; $4 million for repairs at Kennedy Space Center in Florida; $3.3 million for the Plum Island Animal Disease Center and $1.1 million to repair national cemeteries. Budget watchdogs have dubbed the 94-page emergency-spending bill “Sandy Scam.” Matt Mayer of the conservative Heritage Foundation slammed the request as an “enormous Christmas gift worth of stuff.” “The funding here should be focused on helping the community and the people, not replacing federal assets or federal items,” he said. Republican lawmakers say the lack of details and justifications for the spending will delay approval until after Christmas, while they analyze and document what spending is “appropriate.” “To throw out a number this large without in-depth analysis and formal request detailing the basis for it I think is premature and I wouldn’t support that,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.).
Gov. Cuomo yesterday warned Congress not to hold up the money. “There is no Plan B,” declared Cuomo at a press conference at the governor’s office in Manhattan, where he was joined by business and union leaders. Mayor Bloomberg, however, called for careful scrutiny of the federal spending. “You would think they’d want to ask questions before they give away the public’s money,” the mayor said on his radio program.
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
I guess this is what they mean by never letting a crisis go to waste?
You know, Louisiana is among several states which have a very nice law that we ought to consider nationally. Bills submitted to their statehouse must be S I N G L E I S S U E. No making a bill for victims even Scrooge would feel bad for....then loading it with enough crap to make the victims it was all for the LEAST important part of the thing by the end.
I say we see a new change in Congress to outright prohibit this game of screwing us over regularly by presenting a bill the public understands one way but has little or no relation to that understanding for what it really does.
Corruption comes in many forms. Fleecing the victims of a major disaster for pork has got to be among the worst forms.
Originally posted by newcovenant
reply to post by eXia7
These other's might grab for anything dangling in front of them that looks like food... Sheepfish!
but I am not biting.
Where is your link?
If it is ok with you...I'd like to consider the source.
This is suspicious and needs explaining... sure, but might be another in a long line of manufactured BS - the only "business" some extremist factions in the GOP seem to be manufacturing lately.edit on 17-12-2012 by newcovenant because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by shaneslaughta
Obama came in at 14 billion debt marker....he intends to go out at 28 billion or more.
there are no spending cuts, he knows its a sinking ship and he dont care.
He is only leaving bush and his mess for the in line to deal with.edit on 17-12-2012 by shaneslaughta because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by newcovenant
reply to post by eXia7
These others might grab for anything dangling in front of them that looks like food...
but I am not biting.
Where is your link?
If it is ok with you...I'd like to consider the source.
This is suspicious but might be another in a long line of manufactured BS.
The only "business" some extremist factions in the GOP seem to be involved in lately.edit on 17-12-2012 by newcovenant because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
Originally posted by newcovenant
reply to post by eXia7
These others might grab for anything dangling in front of them that looks like food...
but I am not biting.
Where is your link?
If it is ok with you...I'd like to consider the source.
This is suspicious but might be another in a long line of manufactured BS.
The only "business" some extremist factions in the GOP seem to be involved in lately.edit on 17-12-2012 by newcovenant because: (no reason given)
I'd hate for anyone to think it was made up....especially in any political sense for a bad source or lying OP. Err... So I went and got a few sources.
Emergency Sandy Relief Bill Shows Washington's Fiscal Folly - AJC
Sandy Aid Package Includes Millions for Smithsonian, Space Center, Forests - ABC News
Senate Turns to Sandy Aid Bill on Monday - Associated Press
Republicans question need for $60.4 billion in Hurricane Sandy aid - The Hill
Hope that helps support the OP a bit. After all, I don't think OPs bring news stories in bad faith and this one is so heavily reported right now, it's a wonder you hadn't seen it on any News site you're bringing up? Oh well.. there are some sources for far more detail of the waste and issues though.
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
Originally posted by newcovenant
reply to post by eXia7
These others might grab for anything dangling in front of them that looks like food...
but I am not biting.
Where is your link?
If it is ok with you...I'd like to consider the source.
This is suspicious but might be another in a long line of manufactured BS.
The only "business" some extremist factions in the GOP seem to be involved in lately.edit on 17-12-2012 by newcovenant because: (no reason given)
I'd hate for anyone to think it was made up....especially in any political sense for a bad source or lying OP. Err... So I went and got a few sources.
Emergency Sandy Relief Bill Shows Washington's Fiscal Folly - AJC
Sandy Aid Package Includes Millions for Smithsonian, Space Center, Forests - ABC News
Senate Turns to Sandy Aid Bill on Monday - Associated Press
Republicans question need for $60.4 billion in Hurricane Sandy aid - The Hill
Hope that helps support the OP a bit. After all, I don't think OPs bring news stories in bad faith and this one is so heavily reported right now, it's a wonder you hadn't seen it on any News site you're bringing up? Oh well.. there are some sources for far more detail of the waste and issues though.
Bush signs $51.8 billion bill for hurricane relief President pledges faster disbursement of aid to hurricane survivors
Lopsided votes mask concerns The overwhelming support for the measure by both Republicans and Democrats — it passed 410-11 in the House and 97-0 in the Senate — masked murmurs of concern about a rapidly rising price tag as well as a growing atmosphere of political jockeying in Congress less than two weeks after the hurricane battered the Gulf Coast. Congressional Democratic leaders said they would refuse to appoint members to a committee that Republican leaders intend to create to investigate the administration’s readiness and response to the storm. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called the GOP plan “a sham that is just the latest example of congressional Republicans being the foxes guarding the president’s henhouse.” Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said it was like a baseball pitcher calling “his own balls and strikes.” Both urged appointment of an independent panel like the Sept. 11 commission.
Republicans said they intended to go ahead despite the threatened boycott. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee told reporters there had been a “systemwide failure” in the response to the storm. Citing problems at the local, state and federal levels, he said, “We will get to the bottom of that” in a congressional investigation. Beyond that, said New York Rep. Tom Reynolds, chairman of the House GOP campaign committee, “it is reprehensible that some elected officials are looking to score political points in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation.” Text
Originally posted by chrismarco
reply to post by eXia7
If it's all Sandy related I'm of the belief that it should be in this bill. It's easier to lump this stuff in together. It would be like you going shopping buying fifteen different things...you wouldn't want them to be rung up individually...this is the standard course of action...
including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba;
$4 million for repairs at Kennedy Space Center in Florida;
If it's all Sandy related I'm of the belief that it should be in this bill. It's easier to lump this stuff in together. It would be like you going shopping buying fifteen different things...you wouldn't want them to be rung up individually...this is the standard course of action...