The Issue: The House’s decision to delay voting on Sandy aid until late last week and later this month.
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We heard the criticism of House Speaker John Boehner for not immediately going the full route to pass the Sandy-aid bill (“Boehner Sees the Light,” Editorial, Jan. 3).
What we didn’t hear was that part of this bill is riddled with, as usual, extra goodies not related to this storm.
The president promised to cut the red tape and stop the waste and fraud.
Too bad this administration and Congress don’t have a clue on how that is done, so the people affected by this devastating storm are still waiting.
Meanwhile, those who believed that their taxes won’t be affected by ObamaCare are going to be scratching their heads wondering what happened.
We hear too much fluff and very little fact.
Sam King
Manhattan
Regarding the huge amounts of money we send to foreign countries, some of it must be directed to our long-waiting victims of Superstorm Sandy.
A concerted effort must be made to grant immediate funds to the many people who are suffering as a result of the storm. They must get back to their daily life with dignity.
These nations will have to understand that now we must help our own.
Lives are in jeopardy, and time is being wasted. The government needs to take immediate action to help eliminate this dreadful situation.
Josephine Savoy
Rego Park
First, we deal with Sandy relief. Then all senators who packed Sandy legislation with pork need to be outed. They are the enemies of hurricane relief.
Needless to say, incumbents need to be booted out of office, but experience has taught that the electorate is often dumb.
This is not a Republican or Democratic issue; it is a Washington issue.
Maybe motor-mouth Sen. Chuck Schumer will out his fellow senators who went into the pork business.
Or maybe Chuck ain’t so kosher.Edmond Day
Rotterdam
I find it embarrassing that Schumer blamed the House GOP for dragging its feet on getting the disaster funds passed.
I know how the game is played, but just how does Schumer explain having $154 million in the hurricane-relief fund for Alaskan fisheries?
How can he explain $2 million for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC?
How does a New York senator allow that to hold up the very sorely needed funding for his constituents?
Schumer’s out of touch with New Yorkers and worships too much at the Temple of Obama.
Can we find a leader anywhere?Leo Nadolske
Mamaroneck
The people in New York and New Jersey need between $27 billion and $42 billion.
Schumer, who is extremely powerful, could have lobbied his party and passed the bill in that form. But, as usual, he put politics ahead of people.
By fattening the bill, he has helped other senators with pork, which he hopes will give him their vote to succeed Sen. Harry Reid when the opportunity presents itself.
The truly sad part is that two men I have admired — Rep. Pete King and Gov. Chris Christie — beat up the Republican House, rather then facing down Schumer & Co. and telling them to cut the pork.
They took the easy way out and, unfortunately, blamed their own party, rather than point to the true obstruction.
John Kiernan
Vorheesville
The delay of the Sandy relief bill is the result of selfish members of Congress who have no remorse over America’s ongoing financial disaster, and played poker with the fund without concern for the victims of Superstorm Sandy.
I know I’m naive to think the media might ask those who put pork into the bill to explain.
Hopefully we can point these parasites out so that the voters can see the kind of people to whom Obama wants to give raises while America collapses economically.Joseph DuPont
Towanda, Pa.