NJ Congressional delegation is pissed at #Sandy aid package getting killed by Boehner and GOP leaders.

“It’s a disaster dealing with a disaster,” said Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2), who represents the southern coast of New Jersey, which was devastated by the October storm. “To say I’m angry and disappointed would be an understatement.”

“It was a total shock — a commitment had been made,” added Frank Pallone, (D-6), who represents the northern part of the shore. “The issue wasn’t whether it would come up – it was when it would come up. There was no explanation.”

While House representatives try to piece together why the vote was called off today, several sources have confirmed that House members have a meeting scheduled with Rep. Eric Cantor, (R-Va.) the House’s Majority leader, in an effort to convene members for the Sandy aid vote before Congress adjourns Thursday. If Congress adjourns without voting on the bill, the process in both the House and Senate would have to start again, said LoBiondo – causing delays that could seriously impact recovery efforts.

“Every tick of the clock works against us now,” LoBiondo said.

House Republicans proposed their $27 billion Sandy disaster aid proposal Wedneday – a scaled-back version of the $60 billion package which passed the Senate last Friday. But LoBiondo and Pallone and others are pushing for the full $60 billion to rebuild their communities, they both said.

Mind you that both NY and NJ governors, plus CT had estimated the damage from Sandy at $87 billion. The Obama request was for $60 billion. So, the House GOP plan would be a third of what the damage tally really is, and they’re claiming that it’s the prudent plan?

They claim that the $60b plan was larded up with pork, and that the $27b was more targeted and focused, but they ignore that one can’t simply build back as things were - it leaves everyone exposed to the same damage for the next inevitable storm. It’s got to be built back better and stronger - more durable. That’s more costly.

If anything, the Katrina experience was lost on the GOP. Again.