Analysis: Republican House Members Threaten To Slash Sandy Aid Package
By Larry Kane
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - After getting a blast from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the leadership of the US House has promised a vote today on an initial $9.7 billion aid package for victims of Hurricane Sandy. Then, there will be another vote on another $51 billion measure on January 15. But the story is even more complicated.
For Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, it was one thing to have a promised vote on Sandy aid killed by the Speaker of the House. It was even worse according to sources that some tea party conservatives are still at this point threatening to slash aid to New Jersey and New York by half, from over $60 billion to about $27 billion.
Speaker John Boehner, embarrassed by the mess, and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, who was supportive of Christie have now promised a vote by January 15th or 16th, but there is already Republican infighting about the amount.
The White House will play a role in the lobbying for the $60 billion dollars, but congressional sources tell us the fight over the amount of money could be another photo finish in the House.
