$60B Sandy aid package clears Senate

[Tx4obama]

Source: Politico

A $60.4 billion Hurricane Sandy disaster aid package cleared the Senate Friday evening after Democrats beat back a Republican alternative promising less than half the funding and focused more narrowly on the immediate needs over the next three months.

“It would just stop dead in its tracks the recovery effort so desperately needed,” warned Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). “You cannot plan a recovery on a three month basis. The bottom line is if you want to build a tunnel you can’t say I’ll build a fifth of the tunnel now and then we’ll see if there is more money later.”

Indeed, the final package — approved 61-33 — is heavily weighted with transit and community development funds including long-term capital projects to strengthen the New York subway system and rebuild New Jersey’s devastated shoreline.

An estimated $5.35 billion is provided for the Army Corps of Engineers, for example, and $11.78 billion would be allocated to emergency relief for public transportation. The $17 billion designated for community development block grants is more than eight times what Republicans had proposed for the same account, and the bill also appropriates substantially more to FEMA for its ongoing disaster relief efforts.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/60b-sandy-aid-package-clears-senate-85576.html

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Now watch The House screw it all up.

[freshwest]

1. Democrats in the Senate working for the public. GOP in the House doing their masters' bidding.

Put it to a vote, let them go on record. K.I.S.S. so the public can understand which philosophy is going to preserve their communities. And keep on putting out the word, the media won't.

[tilsammans]

2. Fingers crossed, but . . .

. . . you have a point about the House.

[dreampunk]

3. Tea in the house

doesn't give a rip if you had your house blown away.

[loyalkydem]

4. I'm very afraid for what the house is going to do.

[davidpdx]

5. If and when they ever show up for work

I hate to say it, but it's the truth. lol

[Posteritatis]

6. They'll fight it tooth and nail, of course. (nt)