House passes Sandy aid package after rejecting budget offsets

Washington -- The House on Tuesday passed legislation providing nearly $51 billion in aid for Northeast communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy. The vote came after the House rejected a Republican amendment that would have offset $17 billion in aide with a 1.63 percent across the board cut in discretionary federal funding for the remainder of the 2013 fiscal year....

Washington -- The House on Tuesday passed legislation providing nearly $51 billion in aid for Northeast communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy. The vote came after the House rejected a Republican amendment that would have offset $17 billion in aide with a 1.63 percent across the board cut in discretionary federal funding for the remainder of the 2013 fiscal year.

Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, said it was "shameful" that people desperate for the federal aid included in the Hurricane Sandy legislation had to wait on "pins and needles" to see if Congress would act.

Richmond said the aid package passed, without offsets sought by some Republicans, because there were "enough Republicans who put the people in need of our help above politics."

Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, made the case to offset a portion of the Hurricane Sandy aid package with across the board cuts in federal spending.

"The federal government continues to run trillion dollar deficits, and it's unfortunate that we don't adequately budget for disasters that we know will occur every single year," Scalise said. "As I've always said, paying for disasters and being fiscally responsible are not mutually exclusive, and while we're working to fund aid in fiscally responsible ways, we can also be working to provide immediate assistance to people in disaster areas."

On the amendment to offset $17 billion in Sandy funding with a 1.63 percent across the board cut in discretionary federal spending for the remainder of 2013, Scalise and Reps.  Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, John Fleming, R-Minden and Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, voted yes. Voting no were Richmond and Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman.

Voting for the $17 billion in aid were Scalise, Richmond, Cassidy, Boustany, and Alexander. Fleming cast the only no vote from Louisiana.

On the final vote, providing $33 billion in Sandy assistance, Reps. Alexander, Richmond and Boustany voted yes. Reps. Scalise, Cassidy, and Fleming voted no.

Voting for the $33 billion package were 192 Democrats and 49 Republicans. Voting no were one Democrat and 179 Republicans.

Cassidy explained his votes this way: "All victims need relief. All taxpayers need transparency. In Louisiana, we understand the need for both. However, this bill provided relief but lacked transparency."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said it would have been unfair to require offsets for Sandy aid for his state, when it was required for Hurricane Katrina.

"If they want to make new rules about disasters, they picked the wrong state to make the new rules with. And we're going to continue to fight as hard as we need to," Christie said.

Richmond said the aid package's adoption is good news for millions of Americans.

"As someone who has witnessed the devastation of hurricanes firsthand, I know the road to recovery is long and challenging," Richmond said. "This vote is a significant victory not only for Sandy victims but also for the nation."

"I am proud to report that this legislation contains common sense reforms that will expedite disaster aid, streamline disaster recovery efforts, and reduce federal costs. In Louisiana, communities damaged by Hurricane Isaac will see 25 percent of mitigation funding up front. Across South Louisiana, cities and schools will be rebuilt faster and with more flexibility."