House panel blocks most GOP attempts to trim Sandy disaster-relief bill

The Hill ^ | 01/14/13 10:08 PM ET | Pete Kasperowicz

[BradtotheBone]

The Republican-led House Rules Committee late Monday approved a rule for a massive Hurricane Sandy relief package that shuts out most GOP proposals to pare back the size of the bill.

The main bill provides $17 billion in relief, and an amendment made in order would add another $33.7 billion, for a total of $50.7 billion.

Late last week, Republicans offered amendments that would trim the bill significantly, but few of those were made "in order" by the Rules Committee on Monday. For example, Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) proposed amendments that would have slashed $22 billion from the total package, but none of them were accepted by the committee.

And Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) proposed several amendments that would have cut more than $300 million from the bill. House Rules made just one of these in order — to cut $13 million in funding to "accelerate the National Weather Service ground readiness project."

All told, Republican amendments were made in order that would cut less than $200 million from the $50.7 billion package. One of these, from Rep. Bill Flores (R-Texas), would cut $150 million for Regional Ocean Partnership grants.

[BradtotheBone]

Cut less that 200 Million of PORK?!?

Thanks for NOTHING, GOP!!!!!!!!!

[cripplecreek]

That’s the way the game is played.

My congressman sought a $50 cut in funding to the endowment for the arts. After considerable wheeling and dealing it was cut by $20 million but yearly increases were actually raised so they walk away with more in the long run than before the cuts.

[ForMyChildren]

What happened to the role here of private property insurers, along with the already gov’nt subsidized flood insurance?

[skeeter]

Submitted for all ‘team players’ consideration.

[cripplecreek]

I agree. Government should not be responsible for acts of God. At most they should rebuild vital infrastructure after a natural disaster.

[jakerobins]

Gutless wonders. And these are the people I am suppossed to count on to block Obama’s Gun tyranny?? BS! Considering a run in 2014 on the Block Obama ticket.....LOL

[KarlInOhio]

This is a case the Republicans could really win on. Ridicule the idea of Guam and Alaska getting "Sandy emergency" money. Pick apart every bit of pork and name names of who added it to make them look like a bunch of greedy vultures latching onto a disaster to fund their own parasitic cash lust. It could be a 2013 bridge-to-nowhere issue. But the feckless GOP chokes once again.

The current GOP is like a hollow oak tree. Mighty and strong in its day, but now rotten to the core and only good in consuming ground that could be used for a younger healthy tree.

[Don Corleone]

My congressman sought a $50 cut in funding to the endowment for the arts. After considerable wheeling and dealing it was cut by $20 million but yearly increases were actually raised so they walk away with more in the long run than before the cuts.

This is called "Zero Based Budgeting" and is the criminal system the government has been using for a couple of generations now to grow itself into the fat pig that it has become. Lock and load citizens. Lock and load.

[montag813]

Whores and criminals. We once had a solution for them...

Above: Criminal being tarred and feathered

[ProudFossil]

When I dropped my memebership from the Republican party last week the lady taking the form asked why I did so. My reply: “At least when the Democrats waste the money they make no bones about it, the Republicans just lie about it.” I am no liar.

[Venturer]

The current GOP is like a hollow oak tree. Mighty and strong in its day, but now rotten to the core and only good in consuming ground that could be used for a younger healthy tree.

---

That is right on the money.

I woiuld have said a Hollow Gum tree though.

An Oak is a noble tree, the gum is just full of balls that keep falling off. Which is an apt description of Republicans today, all of their balls have fallen off.

[cripplecreek]

This is called "Zero Based Budgeting" and is the criminal system the government has been using for a couple of generations now to grow itself into the fat pig that it has become. Lock and load citizens. Lock and load.

The worst part is that a good congressman is forever tied to the scam by the mere virtue of proposing something good. If he votes against his own bill he'll get beat up over that as well and possibly face punishment from leadership.

Its kinda like a mob boss making sure everyone is equally guilty so no one talks.

[ProudFossil]

And another thing. Notice the thread title, “House panel blocks most GOP attempts to ...”. Then read the article and you see it was a GOP COMMITTEE that blocked the so called attempts to remove pork. The whole party and its support has become worse liars and frauds than Clinton ever was. WE DESERVE WHAT WE HAVE GOTTEN, AND THAT IS OBAMA.

[cotton1706]

This is the result of Boehner’s moderate Rules Committee members. The gravy train continues with whomever is in charge.

[lodi90]

I don’t see how the Gutless Old Party retains the House in 2014. They are rudderless and without an ounce of common sense between them.

[Uncle Chip]

Find out who these representatives are and Primary them out.

[Arm_Bears]

Remind me why we worked so hard to keep the House.

[BradtotheBone]

Here are the members of the Committee:

Members of the Committee on Rules
One Hundred Thirteenth Congress

Rep. Pete Sessions
Chairman
Texas

Rep. Virginia Foxx
Vice-Chairman
North Carolina

Rep. Louise McIntosh Slaughter
Ranking Minority Member
New York

Rep. Rob Bishop
Utah

Rep. James P. McGovern
Massachusetts

Rep. Tom Cole
Oklahoma

Rep. Alcee L. Hastings
Florida

Rep. Rob Woodall
Georgia

Rep. Jared Polis
Colorado

Rep. Richard B. Nugent
Florida

Rep. Daniel Webster
Florida

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Florida

Rep. Michael C. Burgess
Texas

[SoFloFreeper]

What is the publicly given reason for not trimming the pork?

[jpsb]

Hope all those opposed to a 3rd party read this. Perfect example of why the GOP is no better then the Rats.