Did These Members of Congress Vote for Sandy Relief?

While some members of Congress are dismissive of any federal role in disaster relief, there are plenty of others who wax eloquent about the need for emergency declarations, grants and special appropriations.

At least when their constituents are the ones asking for money.

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Meet the 180 Members of Congress Who Think They're Immune to Natural Disasters

Two and a half months after Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeast, the House of Representatives on Tuesday night approved a $50.7 billion emergency bill to fund emergency relief efforts by a vote of 241 to 180.

"Based on the extent of the damage, federal assistance is in dire need to help these communities recover and also prepare for future storms," wrote Mike Conaway (R-TX).

"I urge the President to approve this assistance without delay," said Sam Graves (R-MO). "Many communities…have been stretched to the limit preparing for and fighting this unprecedented flood."

"This storm left behind a disaster — there is no doubt, and it is the responsibility of the federal government to aid the state and counties in clean-up and repairing the damage the storm caused," pleaded Michael Burgess (R-TX).

Except! These members of Congress were talking about the natural disasters that hit their own communities. They, along with 176 other Republicans and one Democrat must be pretty sure nothing bad will ever happen in their districts again:

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Tweet Untweet: A Liberal Education

Wow, Chris Christie and Pete King sure hate being treated like liberals.

— ben schwartz (@benschwartzy) January 2, 2013

House Fails to Pass Relief for Disaster That Is Congress

The fiscal cliff deal passed by the Senate on New Year's morning became final late Tuesday when the House of Representatives approved the agreement on a 257-167 vote, with almost all Democrats joining 85 Republicans in voting for the measure.

But in case you were worried that the new year would bring an end to congressional dysfunction, the U.S. House of Representatives would like to remind you that there is no relief from the rolling disaster that is the legislative branch. Speaker John Boehner issued this poignant reminder by cancelling a vote on the Sandy disaster aid bill that was scheduled for a vote before the swearing-in of the new Congress on Thursday.

GOP lawmakers blamed inaction on the Senate, which they claim filled the $60 billion aid package with unrelated initiatives.

"They had the opportunity to have a $27 [billion] to $30 billion dollar legit relief package, packed it with pork, then dared us not to vote on it," said the same guys who had no problem voting for abortion restrictions attached to defense spending bills and restraints on the EPA attached to transportation appropriations.

Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Our Endorsements: The UK Throws Political Stones Across the Pond

The No Pressure To Be Funny podcast manages to be just that.

* The 2012 election in movie context.

* Once China owns TMZ, their crack reporting may go downhill.

* Wonkette puts the squeeze on Rep. John Fleming's racial profiling problem.

* "An Open Letter to the Job Market" that, oddly, doesn't begin with "WTF?!"

* Rally Downtown helps small businesses in Lower Manhattan that were affected by Hurricane Sandy, 12/7-8!

* Not surprisingly, there's a lot of politics on this list of 2012 things we should forget.

Tags: China, Daily Links, Hurricane Sandy, John Fleming, New York City, Unemployment, United Kingdom