New York and New Jersey Republicans who were outraged by House Speaker John Boehner's failure to vote on funding for superstorm Sandy relief Tuesday night (New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called the delay "disgraceful") have changed their tone after a meeting with Boehner and the announcement that the first vote on $9 billion in recovery funds will take place on Friday, NBC reports:
"We're getting what New York and New Jersey need, and that's all that counts," Rep. Peter King, R-New York, told reporters after emerging from a 20-minute meeting with Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. "We're all big boys; we understand that all that counts is the bottom line."
A vote on $9 billion on immediate aid is now set for Friday, with the balance of $51 billion due for consideration January 15.
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In a statement, Boehner and Cantor said "critical aid" to storm victims should be the first priority of the new Congress, which convenes Thursday.
The comity contrasted sharply with the outrage that exploded earlier in the day over Congress' inaction on the package, pitting even fellow Republicans against Boehner.
It was "disappointing and disgusting to watch," said New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, blaming "the toxic internal politics of the House majority."
Read more at NBC News.