House panel blocks most GOP attempts to trim Sandy disaster-relief bill

The Hill ^ | 01/14/13 10:08 PM ET | Pete Kasperowicz

[BradtotheBone]

The Republican-led House Rules Committee late Monday approved a rule for a massive Hurricane Sandy relief package that shuts out most GOP proposals to pare back the size of the bill.

The main bill provides $17 billion in relief, and an amendment made in order would add another $33.7 billion, for a total of $50.7 billion.

Late last week, Republicans offered amendments that would trim the bill significantly, but few of those were made "in order" by the Rules Committee on Monday. For example, Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) proposed amendments that would have slashed $22 billion from the total package, but none of them were accepted by the committee.

And Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) proposed several amendments that would have cut more than $300 million from the bill. House Rules made just one of these in order — to cut $13 million in funding to "accelerate the National Weather Service ground readiness project."

All told, Republican amendments were made in order that would cut less than $200 million from the $50.7 billion package. One of these, from Rep. Bill Flores (R-Texas), would cut $150 million for Regional Ocean Partnership grants.

[jpsb]

Sessions needs a primary fight.

[Lancey Howard]

The main bill provides $17 billion in relief, and an amendment made in order would add another $33.7 billion, for a total of $50.7 billion.

[TurboZamboni]

[Truth29]

Boehner strikes again. The bill has passed the House with mostly Democrat votes and just enough Republicrat votes to put it over the top. Is Boehner the Republican leader or has he gone over to the good cocktail party side?