The U.S. House of Representatives is headed for a vote on aid for Superstorm Sandy victims after House Speaker John Boehner mollified fellow Republicans from New York and New Jersey upset with his decision to cancel action on the bill.
Facing intense pressure from local lawmakers, Boehner agreed Wednesday to schedule a vote Friday on $9 billion for the national flood insurance program and another vote on Jan. 15 for a remaining $51 billion in the package.
Rep. Peter King (R-LI) left a meeting with Boehner Wednesday without the anger that led him to rip into the speaker Tuesday night.
"We had a meeting with John Boehner and Eric Cantor yesterday. The speaker agreed to bring the legislation up. The first 9 billion will be voted on tomorrow and the remaining will be voted on January 15," King told Good Day NY on Thursday.
"This really was brass knuckle politics. This is a local issue that really matters to all of us who have friends that are still digging out. Peter King and Chris Christie deserve all the credit in the world because their one-two punch, their blistering attack at the incompetence, division in Congress made all the difference because John Boehner back tracked within a few hours," said John Avlon, senior columnist for Newsweek and the Daily Beast.
Sandy was the most costly natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and one of the worst storms ever in the Northeast.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:12 AM EDT2013-05-24 15:12:21 GMT
AP photo
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:55 AM EDT2013-05-24 14:55:44 GMT
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not so perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this weekend following the destruction and rebuilding due to superstorm Sandy.
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not so perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this weekend following the destruction and rebuilding due to superstorm Sandy.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:23 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:23:33 GMT
New Jersey's education commissioner has overturned the firing of a high school athletic director who was caught on camera putting dog waste on his ex-wife's car.
New Jersey's education commissioner has overturned the firing of a high school athletic director who was caught on camera putting dog waste on his ex-wife's car.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:17 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:17:32 GMT
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:11 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:11:26 GMT
An Edison, N.J., police officer was arrested and accused of setting fire to the home of a police captain in his department, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
An Edison, N.J., police officer was arrested and accused of setting fire to the home of a police captain in his department, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:50 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:50:04 GMT
Heavy downpours sparked flash flooding across the tristate area on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued numerous weather alerts for many counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Heavy downpours sparked flash flooding across the tristate area on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued numerous weather alerts for many counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:55 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:55:29 GMT
A $1,000 reward has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two men seen running to and away from a homicide scene Tuesday night in Camden.
A $1,000 reward has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two men seen running to and away from a homicide scene Tuesday night in Camden.
