Remember how the year started? With local Republicans joining Democrats to trash the House GOP for not waving through $60 billion in federal aid for Superstorm Sandy?
Long Island Rep. Peter King accused his fellow Republicans of having “put a knife in the back of New Yorkers and New Jerseyans.” His colleague from Staten Island, Michael Grimm, called it a “betrayal.” NJ Gov. Chris Christie called it “disgusting.” In the end, the piling on had its effect, and the aid bill sailed through, loaded with pork.
Now comes news that $648 million of this money meant for housing recovery sits largely unused, with only one woman in Staten Island having received funds.
This is exactly what’s wrong with our politics: All the emphasis is put on the symbolism of “doing something” — by which is often meant throwing taxpayer dollars at the problem — with little follow-up for what happens next. At the time, The Post stated that lawmakers not only have the right but the responsibility to ensure that any aid dollars would be spent wisely, responsibly and as was intended.
Local officials are blaming federal rules. Maybe. But plainly, relief that Congress funded is not going where it ought. So we’d sure like to hear all those who blasted Republicans earlier this year for raising questions about all this spending speak as loudly, as passionately and as mercilessly on the failure we are now seeing.
But don’t hold your breath.
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