TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie said today he was disappointed that Congress has not approved additional funding for disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Irene. “I’m not happy about it,” he said. Christie, a Republican, has contradicted some leaders in his party by calling for immediate financial assistance instead of insisting that additional spending be offset by cuts...
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speaks during a town-hall meeting at the Pope John Paul II Learning Center in West Deptford in this February file photo. The governor says he's 'not happy' Congress has yet to approve additional funds to help with aftermath of Hurricane Irene.TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie said today he was disappointed that Congress has not approved additional funding for disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Irene.
“I’m not happy about it,” he said.
Christie, a Republican, has contradicted some leaders in his party by calling for immediate financial assistance instead of insisting that additional spending be offset by cuts to other programs.
Today he blamed both Democrats and Republicans for failing to pass the bill for “parochial reasons.”
The Republican-controlled U.S. House rejected a bill with $3.7 billion in disaster relief on Wednesday. The Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate has already approved $6.9 billion.
However, Christie said he’s not giving up hope on getting additional federal aid.
“I think they’ll get their act together and they’ll get it done,” he said. “Money has been flowing to New Jersey uninterrupted at this point as the president promised it would.”
President Obama visited New Jersey on Sept. 4 to tour damage caused by the hurricane in Wayne and Paterson.