Rep. Gregory Meeks,D-N.Y., says he’s concerned Republican amendments could derail the superstorm Sandy relief package. “I’m nervous until we get the votes,” Meeks told Jansing & Co. “We pride ourselves that the House of Representatives is the people’s house. And we’re going to turn our backs on our American citizens? That is so unamerican”.
Several Republican amendments could be added to the $50 billion Sandy relief package. Those amendment could include spending reductions to offset the hefty price tag. And some of those offsets could be objectionable to Democrats, who could kill the bill.
Meeks says he’s invited Speaker John Boehner to visit his district, which includes devastated areas like the Rockaways and Long Island. “Look into the eyes of Americans—not Democrats, not Republicans, but Americans who’ve had their lives turned upside down by superstorm Sandy. How are you going to deny these Americans the opportunity to get back on their feet? We’ve never done this before. We’ve always come to the aid of Americans in natural disasters”.
Meeks says it’s shocking to him that some of the Republican lawmakers who voted no on the first Sandy relief package come from Gulf states that have benefited from disaster aid in the past.
John Wilson