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Wednesday, Jan 2, 2013 6:31 PM UTC

Republicans turn on House GOP leadership over Sandy aid

New York Rep. Peter King calls the House GOP's decision to adjourn before voting on Sandy relief "disgraceful" VIDEO

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Topics: Video, Hurricane Sandy, House Republicans, New York, Peter King, John Boehner, Editor's Picks,

Republicans turn on House GOP leadership over Sandy aidPeter King (Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Republicans in states hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy are lining up against House Republican leadership for adjourning  before allowing a vote to fund relief efforts.

On Wednesday, Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., excoriated John Boehner and House Republicans, calling it “absolutely disgraceful” and saying that “my world turned upside down last night.”

“People in my party, they wonder why they’re becoming a minority party,” King said on CNN. ”They’re writing off New York, they’re writing off New Jersey. Well, they’ve written me off, and they’re gonna have a hard time getting my vote, I can tell you that.”

King added that “anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee should have their head examined.”

Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., said he was “utterly devastated” by the decision, and called it “beyond surprising” that the House adjourned without a vote. He said it was ultimately House Speaker John Boehner’s call to adjourn without a vote, and that he had received signals from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor that the vote would happen.

“I especially feel like the rug was just pulled out from under me, I don’t know how else to say it,” Grimm said on WNYC.

“This is not about people in Congress – this is about constituents whose lives are ruined,” said Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-.N.J. He added:  “To say I’m angry and disappointed would be an understatement.”

Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., released a joint statement with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., saying that “this continued inaction and indifference by the House of Representatives is inexcusable.”

“This failure to come to the aid of Americans following a severe and devastating natural disaster is unprecedented,” Christie and Cuomo continued. “The fact that days continue to go by while people suffer, families are out of their homes, and men and women remain jobless and struggling during these harsh winter months is a dereliction of duty.”

A Boehner aide told TPM that the bill would be be the first priority in the new session.

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Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com. More Jillian Rayfield.

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