Conservatives Won't Pass Sandy Relief Package Until Dems Cut The Pork

After passing $9.7 billion in Hurricane Sandy Relief funding, Northeastern governors and policy makers are pushing the House of Representatives to allocate another $50.7 in federal funds to help aid the Sandy disaster recovery effort on Tuesday. But Conservatives and watch-dog groups say the $50 billion request is loaded with pork.

According to Republicans, the package proposal, which includes a bill for $17 billion and a $34 billion amendment, is loaded with unnecessary funding that is indirectly linked to damage caused by the super storm in late October. In turn, House GOP members are proposing their own package of just $17 billion, less than half of what New York and New Jersey politicians say is needed.  The $17 billion covers basic needs including $5.4 billion for the NY and NJ mass transit systems and $5.4 billion for FEMA. Whereas the extra $33.7 billion would also allocate money for block grants for previous disasters, improve weather forecasting and provisions to prevent damage from future storms.  

The $12.1 billion allocated for the Department of Housing and Urban Development emergency block grants is the biggest gripe that conservatives have with package. These grants would qualify almost every state struck by a major disaster in 2011, 2012 or 2013 to receive funding. Typically, state and local governments support block grants because it provides them with flexibility and the option to spend the money on different needs including hospitals, utilities and small businesses.

President Obama supported the $50.7 billion package which was passed by Senate Democrats.  It is also being pushed by top elected officials like NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo and NJ Gov. Chris Christie who criticize Congress for stalling the process.

According to the Associated Press, Republican Sen. Dan Coats rejected the $50.7 billion proposal stating, "an emergency funding bill should focus on the emergency needs of the victims, not the needs of politicians. Loading up a massive $60.4 billion package with unrelated projects and earmarks for other states is not the way we should use taxpayer dollars."