Israel reports: "When the Senate passed the long-delayed $50.5 billion Hurricane Sandy relief package Monday, 36 Republicans voted against the bill."

30 Republican Senators even voted against a previous bill with only 9 billion in aid for Sany survivors. (photo: AP)

36 Republican Senators Voted Against Sandy Aid

By Josh Israel, ThinkProgress

30 January 13

hen the Senate passed the long-delayed $50.5 billion Hurricane Sandy relief package Monday, 36 Republicans voted against the bill. But of the 32 no-votes from Senators who are not brand-new members, at least 31 came from Republicans who had previously supported emergency aid efforts following disasters in their own states.

While opponents complained that the bill contained too much unrelated "pork," each of the 30 of them who had been present earlier this month when the Senate passed the much-smaller $9 billion Sandy relief bill also voted no. All five top members of the Senate Republican leadership voted no on both.

Most incredible among the no voters were Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Pat Toomey (R-PA). Those two had not just backed disaster aid in the past - they actually sought disaster aid for their own states for relief from Hurricane Sandy. And Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) endorsed disaster relief for snow storms damages in Arkansas just four days before casting his "nay" vote.

The “hypocritical” list includes:

Kelly Ayotte (R-NH): Requested disaster aid after Hurricane Sandy.

John Barrasso (R-WY), Republican Policy Committee Chair: Requested disaster aid after flooding.

Roy Blunt (R-MO), Republican Conference Vice Chair: Demanded the Senate be called back from recess to pass disaster aid during a drought and boasts: "When a disaster surpasses the ability of states and communities to rebuild, Senator Blunt believes the federal government should prioritize spending to help the people whose lives and livelihoods are impacted. During his time in the Senate, he has fought tirelessly to ensure that Missouri gets its fair share of those federal resources specifically dedicated to disaster recovery."

John Boozman (R-AR): Requested disaster aid after snow storms in January 2013.

Richard Burr (R-NC): Requested disaster aid after severe storms.

Saxby Chambliss (R-GA): Requested disaster aid after flooding.

Dan Coats (R-IN): Requested disaster aid after tornadoes.

Tom Coburn (R-OK): Requested disaster aid after winter storms and for extreme drought.

Bob Corker (R-TN): Requested disaster aid after flooding and asked for supplemental emergency flood relief.

John Cornyn (R-TX), Republican Minority Whip: Demanded drought relief aid and requested disaster aid for wildfires.

Mike Crapo (R-ID): Boasted of obtaining a FEMA fire safety grant and pushed for a bill providing emergency drought relief.

Mike Enzi (R-WY): Requested disaster relief after flooding.

Lindsey Graham (R-SC): Requested disaster relief after freezing and boasted of obtaining emergency drought relief.

Chuck Grassley (R-IA): Requested disaster relief after severe hail storms.

Orrin Hatch (R-UT): Requested disaster relief after flooding.

James Inhofe (R-OK): Boasted of obtaining disaster relief after severe storms and drought.

Johnny Isakson (R-GA): Requested disaster aid after flooding.

Mike Johanns (R-NE): Requested disaster relief after flooding and blasted Democrats for "inaction on disaster relief" for drought and wildfires.

Ron Johnson (R-WI): Requested disaster relief after a blizzard.

Mark Kirk (R-IL): Appealed after FEMA denied assistance following severe storms and tornadoes.

Mike Lee (R-UT): After calling federal disaster relief unconstitutional, endorsed relief aid after flooding in Utah.

John McCain (R-AZ): Endorsed disaster relief after flooding.

Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Republican Minority Leader: Requested disaster relief during a drought and after tornadoes.

Jerry Moran (R-KS): Requested disaster relief after tornadoes.

Rand Paul (R-KY): Requested disaster relief during a drought and after tornadoes.

Rob Portman (R-OH): Endorsed disaster relief during a drought and after storms.

Pat Roberts (R-KS): Boasted of obtaining disaster relief after drought and wildfires and criticized the Bush administration for inadequate emergency relief after a blizzard.

Marco Rubio (R-FL): Requested disaster relief after severe freezing.

Jeff Sessions (R-AL): Requested disaster relief after tornadoes and during a drought.

John Thune (R-SD), Republican Conference Chair: Requested disaster relief after flooding and snow storms

Pat Toomey (R-PA): Requested disaster relief for Hurricane Sandy before it even hit landfall.

Not one of the opponents has co-sponsored Sen. Harry Reid's (D-NV) "Extreme Weather Prevention and Resilience Act" which would encourage Congress to "prepare and protect communities from extreme weather, sea-level rise, drought, flooding, wildfire, and other changing conditions exacerbated by carbon pollution" and "reducing pollution, promoting the use of clean energy sources, and improving energy efficiency."

ThinkProgrss previously reported that at least 37 House Republicans who opposed Sandy relief had also supported disaster aid for their home states.

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+41 # Northcoaster 2013-01-30 07:58

It's never too early to remind their constituents of this. Bring on the paid media!

+12 # RLF 2013-01-30 11:35

I would hope our Democratic legislators would remember this and make them pay next time, but we know the Dems have no balls.

+27 # Barbara K 2013-01-30 12:44

I hope these names are shown on a regular basis to the public. Wonder how fast the Rs will be wanting to send aid to the southern states who were damaged last night by storms and tornadoes. It should be as long as New York and New Jersey have had to wait -- at least that long. Maybe they will then wake up to what self-serving idiots they are putting in office. The Rs are such heartless fools, they don't deserve to control anything, much less have us paying them for jobs they don't deserve, insurance they don't deserve, and retirements they don't deserve. We need to rid ourselves of them asap if we ever want to be a stable country again. They want to make us feel like we live off the government. That is pure BS, the Congressmen live off US, we do the paying, they do the taking.
Any voter who voted for anyone on this list needs to stand up and take stock at the crap they are sending to Washington. I am lucky to have 2 great Dem Senators, but a lousy R Representative.

+4 # TrueAmericanPatriot 2013-01-30 18:31

Quoting Barbara K:

I hope these names are shown on a regular basis to the public. Wonder how fast the Rs will be wanting to send aid to the southern states who were damaged last night by storms and tornadoes. It should be as long as New York and New Jersey have had to wait -- at least that long. Maybe they will then wake up to what self-serving idiots they are putting in office. The Rs are such heartless fools, they don't deserve to control anything, much less have us paying them for jobs they don't deserve, insurance they don't deserve, and retirements they don't deserve. We need to rid ourselves of them asap if we ever want to be a stable country again. They want to make us feel like we live off the government. That is pure BS, the Congressmen live off US, we do the paying, they do the taking.
Any voter who voted for anyone on this list needs to stand up and take stock at the crap they are sending to Washington. I am lucky to have 2 great Dem Senators, but a lousy R Representative.

I couldn't of said it better myself, Barbara K. The climate change off-season tornadoes and other storms are starting to hit. Now watch these hypocritical slow-bellied cretins come begging for aid when THEIR DISTRICTS GET HIT..and they will.

-12 # MidwestTom 2013-01-30 21:11

Qll the listed request do not equal $60 Billion, and most were not paid. $60 Billion is excessive.

+4 # kelly 2013-01-31 08:21

You did add it up? when I added it it was about 2+Billion per senator. And Portman along with most of the rest of them ask for relief for Iraq that totalled several billion without any dollar-for-doll ar exchange. No wonder Sandy vitims are p.o.'d to put it nicely. And, I noticed that three of those same senators also refused to vote for Senator Kerry during the confirmation hearing. What was that, for cryin' out loud?They are supposed to want the seat. A stupid show of party loyalty to a quickly vanishing breed...the T.Pers.

+42 # WFBrenner 2013-01-30 08:00

My state senator, Pat Toomey, clearly shows us here how glibly he can talk out of both sides of his mouth! I hope Pennsylvania voters are paying attention to his behavior.

+36 # CAMUS1111 2013-01-30 08:23

Everyone of these scumsucking bastards should be relentlessly targeted by progressives and humiliated (although they clearly have no shame) at every possible moment.

+37 # tbcrawford 2013-01-30 08:25

Ironic they all had their hands out when they suffered! I hope their constituents will lear of this. May they emember with shame when the droughts, fires, floods and tornadoes hit them again. A true 1% stance...I want mine when trouble hits but I sure won't help you out when you suffer disaster! Great country we live in.

-51 # MidwestTom 2013-01-30 08:32

Requesting aid after a disaster is expected and understandable. However, none of the above requested an amount equal to over $200 from every man, women, and child in this country. We are rebuilding beach front homes and streets for properties that sell for small and large fortunes. The first $9 Billion should have been enough, The next $50 Billion will probably result in a lot of campaign contributions.

+18 # kalpal 2013-01-30 11:00

I suppose the notion that the bulk of the money is going to the richest Americans is a bit specious since the GOP is known to be craven in their kowtowing to the rich. If the Republicans are punishing the rich in this instance then we have all misjudged the GOP. I suspect that you have read some right wing drivel somewhere and chose to believe it.

-17 # RLF 2013-01-30 11:39

It is ironic that we are rebuilding beaches so the people of these communities can use them to make money and charge us out the yang for a visit. Probably $10B was for crap in other states and pork...some for corruption just like New Orleans, and I'm sure the Hamptons will get fixed first.

+3 # dkonstruction 2013-01-31 06:25

Quoting RLF:

It is ironic that we are rebuilding beaches so the people of these communities can use them to make money and charge us out the yang for a visit. Probably $10B was for crap in other states and pork...some for corruption just like New Orleans, and I'm sure the Hamptons will get fixed first.

RLF, while it is true that some NY communities (particularly those on Long Island such as the Hamptons...alth ough there are also many blue collar communities out there as well) hit by Sandy were affluent the bulk were not (particularly those in NYC which were for the most part solidly blue-collar low- and moderate-income communities).

The real danger here is that these folks will be both screwed by their insurance companies (if they had proper and sufficient insurance in the first place), ripped off by contractors and or not have access to grant or low-interest loans sufficient so that they can rebuild. In these cases, people are going to bought out at pennies on the dollar and these communities may forever be changed; no longer being blue-collar, low- and moderate-income . These folks may well be pushed out and these neighborhoods transformed into much more affluent ones by developers and more wealthy individuals that have the money to buy these folks out on the cheap and then rebuild on their own putting up their Mcmansions that forever change these neighborhoods.

+1 # kelly 2013-01-31 08:24

Too bad you didn't feel that way when these senators were voting on the relief spending bills they all voted for on Iraq.And do you want to protest about the corruption there?

+23 # Todd Williams 2013-01-30 12:15

Well, if you ever lived through disasters of epic proportions, you would know why this federal aid is so important to the victims. I have lived though floods, tornadoes and several hurricanes and have seen what federal aid does to help these suffering people. I strongly feel that this aid is one of the prime responsibilitie s of our governmnet, much more so than needless wars founght on a credit card.

+2 # rockieball 2013-01-31 07:51

Quiet true Todd. When it comes to Republicans it's seems to be "ME first," "Where can I profit?" They say nothing about a war that was totally for the profit of Corporations and big oil at the expense of the American taxpayer and Human lives. But when it comes down to helping other people in this country they say no. I have no doubt they looked at the way the states affected by Sandy voted in the last election and felt it was fitting revenge to say NO!!!!!

+2 # dkonstruction 2013-01-31 06:20

Quoting MidwestTom:

Requesting aid after a disaster is expected and understandable. However, none of the above requested an amount equal to over $200 from every man, women, and child in this country. We are rebuilding beach front homes and streets for properties that sell for small and large fortunes. The first $9 Billion should have been enough, The next $50 Billion will probably result in a lot of campaign contributions.

Midwest Tom,

For what it's worth, i'm in NYC and while most of us imagine waterfront or beachfront neighborhoods/c ommunities to be affluent this was not the case when it comes to the majority of the NYC neighborhoods that were hit hardest by Sandy. Virtually all are solid blue collar low- and moderate income communities and several (e.g., Coney Island and Red Hook in Brooklyn and some of the neighborhoods in the Rockaways in Queens -- in two of the Rockaways zip codes 12.3% and 14.6% have household incomes of under $10,000) are predominantly African American with sizable a significant % of the population living below the poverty line.

The problem is not the total amount of the Sandy package but rather that far too little of this is going to go help low- and moderate-income homeowners and small businesses rebuild and the bulk is going to go to larger scale infrastructure projects (which are also needed for sure).

+22 # ThinkRodan 2013-01-30 08:45

It is SAD to see so many SENATORS who LACK COMPASSION for others!

+23 # Regina 2013-01-30 10:21

It's OUTRAGEOUS to see so many senators who lack human decency, except for people who might vote for them next time.

+2 # marienka 2013-01-30 09:01

Just how much 'pork' was isn this bill and for what was it earmarked? Why are these items laid oyt for us to see in advance of a Congressional vote. That takes away our voice via contact with our representatives.
M

+7 # marienka 2013-01-30 09:13

Quoting marienka:

Just how much 'pork' was isn this bill and for what was it earmarked? Why are these items laid oyt for us to see in advance of a Congressional vote. That takes away our voice via contact with our representatives.
M

My poor typing skills..."Why were these items NOT laid out..."

+2 # Regina 2013-01-30 10:18

Proofread before you send. Doesn't take much time.

0 # MidwestTom 2013-01-30 09:18

Realize that most of the houses SHOULD be covered by insurance, unless they are too close to the shore to get insurance, in which case the taxpayers should not be rebuilding them.For $50 Billion ($60 Billion total) the government could probably simply buy everything within two blocks of the shore and make it public ground.

+5 # Regina 2013-01-30 10:19

Insurance covers individual mishaps, not catastrophes, which are "acts of God." So much for the "premium."

+11 # Todd Williams 2013-01-30 12:18

I agree with you, Midwest Tom. However, I should point out that insurance companies will not pay a claim unless the home is rebuilt on the same piece of ground. I suspect many people would love to be paid for their loss, then move a safer location.

+2 # dkonstruction 2013-01-31 06:28

Quoting MidwestTom:

Realize that most of the houses SHOULD be covered by insurance, unless they are too close to the shore to get insurance, in which case the taxpayers should not be rebuilding them.For $50 Billion ($60 Billion total) the government could probably simply buy everything within two blocks of the shore and make it public ground.

In fact, many of the low- and moderate-income homeowners did not have either proper or sufficient insurance and the insurance companies (who never want to pay off anyway) are sytstematically trying to screw these folks. And, for low- and moderate-income homeowners who are not experienced in dealing with insurance companies and have no one to advocate for them they are getting screwed and may not have enough money to repair their homes to make them safe and habitable again and will thus be forced to sell on the cheap to those who will come in and try and gentrify these neighborhoods. Many of the neighborhoods in NYC hit hardest were not rich neighborhoods but rather solidly blue-collar low- and moderate-income and in the case of areas like Coney Island and some of the Rockaways are predominently African American with sizable percentages of the inhabitants living well below the poverty line.

+9 # kalpal 2013-01-30 10:56

How is that these civic minded politicians are not on record as declining aid to their constituents in the past? Surely, their constituents insisted that no aid be provided to them when disaster has struck their homes or businesses in the past. I feel certain few in those states will ever appeal for aid in any future event that wreaks havoc within their states. If this so called Xtian nation has so many within it who feel aid to citizens and communities in distress is a waste of money, then I guess whatever lessons Jesus intended to convey managed to pass well over their heads.

+15 # angelfish 2013-01-30 11:16

ALL of them have slopped at the Trough when THEIR States were suffering! IMPEACH their sorry A**es!

+13 # reiverpacific 2013-01-30 12:15

As I've said before, these cyphers and elected bums should be made to go and shovel shit from the wastewater treatment plants -in the shiny shoes and suits. Make a good "reality" show would'n it!

+6 # djgreeneyes 2013-01-30 14:06

Sad to see that Illinois' Mark Kirk was among the nay-sayers for Hurricane Sandy relief. You'd think he'd have more compassion given his recent personal brush with catastrophe.

+2 # Cassandra2012 2013-01-30 16:42

But he is a good = 'loyal' Repugnican and his healthcare package is clearly way better than for us ordinary folk... .

+1 # rockieball 2013-01-31 08:09

LOL tongue in cheek satire love it. You're right they think only of themselves and being loyal to the party and the big campaign contributions. They got theirs so it's give the shaft to the rest.

+9 # NAVYVET 2013-01-30 17:07

Sounds like they learned a lot from Ayn Rand who dissed Social Security with violent words, but happily registered for hers as soon she she was eligible and collected it until she died.

Ah, hypocrisy!

0 # VivaldiCO 2013-01-30 19:08

Something's wrong here. The headline says 36 senators, but only 31 are listed. How about the non-representat ives? I'm sure my non-Rep Lamebrain (CO) would oppose helping anybody.

+1 # kelly 2013-01-31 08:38

It said in the first line of the article that of the 36 who voted against, 32 were not brand new. Then it said that 31 of the "non-rookies" had voting record showing that they had all voted for somesort of relief for their own states while, ironically voting against this bill.

+1 # tm7devils 2013-01-30 21:25

I wonder if any of these (ahem) highly moral, but hypocritical, congressmen expect to be re-elected next time around...?
If they are, shame on their constituants.

+1 # kelly 2013-01-31 08:41

They can only expect to lose their seats if the NRA is gunning for them(all puns intended) apparently. Otherwise their seats are secure. If it were merely a question of competence, do you really think people like Bachmann or Gohmert or Perry(I know they aren't senators but go with me) would get elected?

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