Hurricane Sandy Relief Proposal

Just 21 percent of the total $60.4B, will be directed to Hurricane Sandy response and recovery. The rest is going to fund unrelated projects such as:

Roughly $28 billion of the request is marked for future disaster-mitigation projects on the East Coast, including $3.2 million for erosion control projects and $15 billion for Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grants;

$3 billion for federal departments and agencies to repair or replace federal assets, including $2 million for roof repairs at the Smithsonian;

$200 million for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to be used freely at the discretion of the Secretary;

$6 million to purchase food for food banks, a need that could be better met by local companies and the nonprofit sector.

The "Fiscal Cliff" ?

Over a year ago the Republican leadership caved on a debt-ceiling increase. Democrats got an immediate debt-ceiling increase and Republicans got a promise of spending cuts to be determined by a super-committee. When the bi-partisan group did nothing to cut spending, then automatic spending cuts will happen 1 January.

The Republican leaders - who happen to like big government - were conned again. Even Reagan in the 1980s agreed to amnesty in return for tougher immigration reform. The legislation was passed, but the Democrats had no intention of paying for enforcement.

Obviously sequestration was acceptable to the Republicans and the Democrats because that is what they agreed to over a year ago! At this point the Republicans should let the tax cuts die and across-the-board cuts take place. They have already compromised to get to this point. Admit that last year's deal was bad for America. There should be no other concessions.