Apparently these 180 believe that it's okay to say "Screw you" to their fellow Americans who have suffered. Apparently they believe that it's more important to find offsets in the budget than help their fellow Americans in need. Apparently they believe that it's perfectly okay for federal aid to flow to Florida and Texas after hurricanes or Kansas and Alabama after tornadoes. New York and New Jersey and Connecticut and many other places here in the Northeast are in need. We need the largesse of the federal government to help us after we suffered. It makes us no different than any other part of the country after a major natural disaster.
That 180 House members so easily turn their backs on us is an absolute disgrace. While I haven't checked, I'm sure that all of those that thought even $9 billion was too much also voted against this larger aid package. Thankfully, however, the GOP leadership decided to abandon the Hastert Rule that required a majority of the majority. It still took way too long because of Boehner's machinations, but at least it finally got done, even if it was months too late.
It's important to remember the biggest difference between us and them. When their districts suffered, we didn't look for offsets in the budget. We didn't quibble over how large a package was going to be passed. We simply asked, "How much do you need?" Once we got the figure, we proceeded to support it. And the next time their districts are in need, even though they did their best to kick us in the gut, we'll still simply ask "How much do you need?" because our fellow Americans are suffering and that is enough for us.
