Politics & Government
Rothfus Votes Against Hurricane Sandy Relief
The Sewickley Republican was one of 67 House Republicans to vote against the $9.7 billion in hurricane relief aid while Tim Murphy joined the 354 in support.
In his first legislative act as a new congressman, U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus voted against the Hurricane Sandy relief package.
Rothfus, R-Sewickley, was one of 67 House Republicans to vote Friday against the bill authorizing $9.7 billion in relief. U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, whose district includes Edgeworth, Leet Township and supported the legislation (H.R. 41), which passed the House by a 354-67 margin.
Rothfus told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review the reason behind his vote, calling it “irresponsible to raise an insolvent program's debt ceiling without making reforms.”
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“My problem with the bill is that we are funding offsets for the National Flood Insurance Program,” Rothfus told the Trib.
Friday's vote extends the borrowing authority of the National Flood Insurance Program, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency warned was set to run out of money this week without additional funds from Congress. If the mandatory insurance program went broke, payments on more than 115,000 claims from Sandy would be delayed, the agency said.
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The $9.7 billion is the first part of a $60 billion relief package for residents of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut impacted by the late October super storm. The House plans to consider a second relief package to fund long-term rebuilding projects by mid-January.
Do you support the hurricane relief bill? Why or why not?
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