Why Boehner Delayed the Sandy Bill

foundit66 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-09-2013, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Pretty well everyone was shocked when John Boehner announced, immediately after dodging the fiscal cliff, that Congress would delay voting on the bill for Hurricane Sandy repair money. The reaction was swift and furious. So, why did he do it?

Former Rep. Steve LaTourette told (our mothership) The Atlantic's Molly Ball about speaking to Boehner the night the House passed the cliff deal, and moments before they were to vote on the Sandy bill:

During the roll call on the tax bill, I walked into the cloakroom, and Boehner was sitting there. I said, 'This Sandy thing is really important. We've got to do something.' He said, 'Not tonight.' I asked if we were going to do it tomorrow, and he said no. He said, 'After this mess, I just can't do it tonight.'

LaTourette went onto explain that Boehner "felt a little betrayed that the other members of the elected leadership walked on him," and was afraid of the "insurrection" forming around him. The insurrection ended up being the 12 members of Congress who voted against his speakership, the most no votes in any speaker election in over two decades.

So, in essence, he thought spent all of his political capital passing the cliff deal, was mad at Eric Cantor, and scared of the murmurs he wouldn't get elected Speaker of the House again.

Of course, we know now the move backfired on him anyway. Peter King told his wealthy donors not to give any money to House Republicans. Chris Christie cut a pro-wrestling worthy promo on his fellow Republicans, calling them 'know nothings.' The fury forced the first part of the bill to go to a vote on Friday, passing with near unanimous numbers.

Why Boehner Delayed the Sandy Bill - Politics - The Atlantic Wire

You want to talk about lack of leadership...

cnredd · #2 (**permalink**) 01-09-2013, 11:23 AM

Hysterical!!!...

LaTourette is attempting to say that "A"('After this mess, I just can't do it tonight.') EQUATES to Bohener saying "B" ("felt a little betrayed that the other members of the elected leadership walked on him,")...It does no such thing...

For people who want to see the truth, let's click the link and see what LaTourette said BEFORE the clipped quote...

Quote:

LaTourette: The Sandy thing could have been handled better. But Boehner had expended so much political capital on the tax bill, and now these same 20 to 60 people were grousing that [the aid money] was unpaid for. You look at the roll call on the tax bill -- Boehner votes yes, and every other [member of the GOP leadership] except Cathy McMorris Rodgers voted no.

During the roll call on the tax bill, I walked into the cloakroom, and Boehner was sitting there. I said, 'This Sandy thing is really important. We've got to do something.' He said, 'Not tonight.' I asked if we were going to do it tomorrow, and he said no. He said, 'After this mess, I just can't do it tonight.

So Boehner didn't get the votes because so many (correctly) felt the bill was a pork-laden piece of crap (which I pointed out last week)...

NOT because he "felt a little betrayed"...

LaTourette just wants everyone to have a big pity party for Boehner and say he's a victim of those evil, Tea Party Republicans didn't want to pass a bill that spends frivolously...

As quoted in the same article The Atlantic Wire links to...

Quote:

Q: You're a defender of Boehner, not the insurgents who've rebelled against him.

That's all this is...A moderate Republican lashing out at fiscal Republicans by defending the guy who was trying to push a bad bill...

saltwn · #3 (**permalink**) 01-09-2013, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foundit66

Why Boehner Delayed the Sandy Bill - Politics - The Atlantic Wire

You want to talk about lack of leadership...

Perpetrated by his own damned party.

joec · #4 (**permalink**) 01-09-2013, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnredd

Hysterical!!!...

LaTourette is attempting to say that "A"('After this mess, I just can't do it tonight.') EQUATES to Bohener saying "B" ("felt a little betrayed that the other members of the elected leadership walked on him,")...It does no such thing...

For people who want to see the truth, let's click the link and see what LaTourette said BEFORE the clipped quote...

So Boehner didn't get the votes because so many (correctly) felt the bill was a pork-laden piece of crap (which I pointed out last week)...

NOT because he "felt a little betrayed"...

LaTourette just wants everyone to have a big pity party for Boehner and say he's a victim of those evil, Tea Party Republicans didn't want to pass a bill that spends frivolously...

As quoted in the same article The Atlantic Wire links to...

That's all this is...A moderate Republican lashing out at fiscal Republicans by defending the guy who was trying to push a bad bill...

The house had been sitting on this bill though not as long as the fiscal cliff bill (500 days) they had it for a few weeks. They had stripped out the pork that was put in by the Senate (look at who got the pork before you make any claims) so the house bill was clean. This is why it was sent back to the Senate and fast tracked to the presidents desk to be signed. Now that is facts folks not some biased right wing slant. Fact is those that voted against it for the most part all wanted the very same flood relief when they needed it in their areas. Oh and this was to supplement the federal flood insurance programs which no for profit insurance company will touch.

Jackass master · #5 (**permalink**) 01-09-2013, 07:50 PM

They passed the flood insurance part to get money flowing to folks. The rest of the 60 billion will be coming up next week and the pork will be all over it like the original bill had. This swapping votes for pet projects has to end. It is the reason we have pissed so many tax dollars away already. The farm bill is another classic example. They throw in all kinds of bogus expenditures that would never fly on their own merits. This whoring for votes is why we don't even bother with a budget anymore.

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