NO FLUKE: Arizona GOP Delegation Again Votes As Block Against Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill; Delegation's Amendments Not Voted On

Arizona's four Republican Congresspeople all voted against the second Hurricane Sandy relief package last night, proving that their January 4 block vote against the first installment was no fluke.

However, unlike two weeks ago, the Arizona GOP delegation was not in a minority of their party members last night - only 49 Republicans joined almost all of the Democrats in passing the measure, 241-180.  179 Republicans voted against the $50.7 Billion bill.

Two of Arizona's Republicans issued statements about their votes last night.  Rep. David Schweikert (R-CD6) said: “Sadly, as happens so often in Washington, the debate surrounding Sandy disaster relief funding was misleading at best and rhetorically false at worst.

“This $50.7 billion bill was packed with pork and pet projects unrelated to disaster spending without the foresight necessary to determine how we could begin to pay for this new spending.

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-CD4) echoed the pork line: "“I strongly support rebuilding our communities after natural disasters, and I am more than willing to support the people and businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy, but that would not take over $50 billion taxpayer dollars. I refuse to vote for a bill stuffed with pork but sold as aid for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. We owe it to the taxpayers.”  

Both Gosar and Schweikert had proposed amendments to the relief bill; neither made it through the Rules Committee and got to the floor.  Gosar had pitched a Rand Paul proposal to lift Davis-Bacon Act restrictions on the relief spending, and Schweikert offered an amendment to have the Treasury Department look into issuing longgggg-term (70-99 years) bonds to finance the relief spending.

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