Connect with us

Christie Errupts: ‘It Was The Speaker’s Decision — His Alone’ To Squash Sandy Relief Bill

Published

on

Chris Christie today said “all I can tell you is it was the Speaker’s decision — his alone” to squash a vote on funding relief to Hurricane Sandy victims last night. The New Jersey Governor did not hold his anger or contempt for Congressional leadership back, and named names loud and repeatedly. The superstorm hit nine weeks ago, yet not a penny has been appropriated. The House was supposed to vote on Sandy relief last night, but at the last minute Speaker John Boehner pulled the hurricane relief bill from a vote.

READ: Chris Christie Erupts Over Boehner’s Refusal To Vote On Relief For Sandy Victims

Stating “this is 66 days and counting,” Christie noted other major disaster that were funded in days or weeks, not months. Christie in his afternoon press conference said things like politicization of disaster relief is “why Americans hate Congress.” “Unlike people in Congress,” and New York Governor Cuomo and he “have actual responsibilities,” noting funding disaster relief is a “basic function of government.”

Christie noted he spent most of New Year’s Eve rounding up votes to get the bill passed, and said he was assured the vote was going to be held after the fiscal cliff vote, which was late last night.

“There is only one person to blame for the continued suffering of innocent people, and that is… John Boehner.” He added that Boehner’s pulling the bill was “irresponsible” and said this is “the toxic politics of Congress.”

Republicans use “the citizens of the country like pawns on a chess board.”

Christie added that he called John Boehner four times last night but the Speaker did not take his calls.

“Governor Cuomo and I are not wallflowers. We are not shrinking violets.”

“He can prove to me he really does care about the people of New York and New Jersey by getting this package done.”

“We sent them there, not to play around with each other… I believe it’s not a regional thing, I believe they are so concerned with their internal politics they forgot they have a job to do,” Christie told reporters, adding, “they’re caught up in their own politics of this fake fiscal cliff, they forget we sent them there.”

“I’m not dealing with the Tea Party,” Christie said, cutting off a reporter who mentioned them.

When one reported stated, “This fiscal cliff debate was a huge, epic battle,” Christie cut him off, responding, “Really? A huge, epic battle?”

Responses on Twitter were astonishing, calling Christie the next President of the U.S. “Gov Christie” was trending worldwide on the social media platform.

There's a reason 10,000 people subscribe to NCRM. You can get the news before it breaks just by subscribing, plus you can learn something new every day.
Continue Reading
Click to comment
 
 

Enjoy this piece?

… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.

NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.

Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.

News

Ethics Committee Reveals Latest Republican to Come Under Review: Report

Published

on

The House Ethics Committee has reportedly announced that U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is facing a review by the Office of Congressional Conduct.

The origin of the review was not been disclosed. Under committee rules, officials are prohibited from stating whether the matter constitutes a formal investigation or identifying its underlying cause. The Committee only stated that there is a “matter regarding Representative Nancy Mace.”

“The Committee notes that the mere fact of a referral or an extension, and the mandatory disclosure of such an extension and the name of the subject of the matter, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any judgment on behalf of the Committee,” the Ethics Committee statement reads. It was posted to social media by congressional journalist Jamie Dupree.

The statement also says the committee will “announce its course of action in this matter on or before March 2, 2026.”

Congresswoman Mace is currently running for governor of South Carolina.

Earlier this month Mace warned that Republicans may lose control of the House, saying they have not “done enough” and could “do a lot more” to implement President Donald Trump’s agenda, The Hill reported.

 

Image via Shutterstock 

Continue Reading

News

Republican Vows to Block Trump’s Greenland Push

Published

on

A prominent Republican lawmaker is vowing to thwart any attempt by President Donald Trump to acquire Greenland through force or financial means.

Speaking from Copenhagen as part of a bipartisan delegation of U.S. congressional lawmakers, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), told reporters it is “an important message for the people of the Kingdom of Denmark to understand” that the United States has “three separate but equal branches” of government.

Reminding them that under the U.S. Constitution it is Congress that controls spending, Senator Murkowski, who has broken ranks and stood up to President Trump at times, said, “In Congress, we have tools at our disposal under our constitutional authority that speaks specifically to the power of the purse through appropriations.”

She noted also that “Congress has a role. Certainly, when it comes to spending authorities, the Congress has a role in basically helping to facilitate the message that comes from our constituents, to be reflected in whether it’s legislation or appropriations, or actions or measures, that can indicate, again, the will of the Congress.”

READ MORE: Trump Dangles Another Insurrection Act Threat for Minnesota

The “vast majority” of Americans do not support the acquisition of Greenland, Senator Murkowski added, noting that “some 75 percent will say we do not think that that is a good idea.”

“Greenland needs to be viewed as our ally, not as an asset,” Murkowski also told reporters.

Politico reported that U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) “also took part in the visit by House and Senate lawmakers,” and “said he would push ahead with legislation to curb Trump’s power to act unilaterally.”

He also denied President Trump’s claims that Greenland is necessary to be owned by the U.S. for national security reasons.

“Are there real, pressing threats to the security of Greenland from China and Russia?” Coons said. “No, not today.”

READ MORE: With Shutdown Looming and Crises Growing Trump Heads Off for Long Mar-a-Lago Weekend

 

Image via Reuters 

Continue Reading

News

Trump Dangles Another Insurrection Act Threat for Minnesota

Published

on

Just one day after threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, which would allow him to unleash domestic military forces onto American streets, President Donald Trump once again on Friday hinted he would do so while suggesting he may be “forced” to take action.

Trump targeted Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both Democrats, claiming they “don’t know what to do” after he deployed roughly 3,000 federal troops to the city.

“In Minnesota,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, “the Troublemakers, Agitators, and Insurrectionists are, in many cases, highly paid professionals.”

“The Governor and Mayor don’t know what to do, they have totally lost control, and our currently being rendered, USELESS! If, and when, I am forced to act, it will be solved, QUICKLY and EFFECTIVELY!”

The Guardian labeled Trump’s claims that protesters are paid as baseless.

Attorney Aaron Reichlin-Melnick wrote: “Note that the Trump admin hasn’t yet been able to produce evidence of a SINGLE ‘paid protestor.’ They’ve had total control of the FBI and the DOJ and ICE HSI and yet despite all of that, they can’t even find ONE person who they can accuse of being paid to protest.”

Separately, The Steady State, a group of over 365 former national security officials, while not referring to Trump’s remarks from Friday morning, noted that the Insurrection Act is “an extraordinary power meant for true emergencies, not a shield for unconstitutional policing. Using it to silence dissent or justify unlawful paramilitary activity at the hand of ICE undermines the rule of law.”

READ MORE: With Shutdown Looming and Crises Growing Trump Heads Off for Long Mar-a-Lago Weekend

 

Image via Reuters

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2020 AlterNet Media.