The House of Representatives just voted, 354 to 67, to provide FEMA $9.7 billion for flood insurance. FEMA says they have as little as one week of funding left for the program. All of the "no" votes were, of course, Republicans, whose primary constituency is the Club for Growth. At least the House Republicans finally deigned to allow a vote on a sliver of the necessary aid to help Sandy-ravaged states. But it took House Speaker John Boehner being embarrassed into action by members of his own party, namely New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Rep. Peter King. Boehner promised that they'll take up the remainder of the aid from the Senate bill, $51 billion, on January 15.
By the way, Congress passed $60 billion in Katrina relief just 10 days after the hurricane struck. It's now been 10 weeks since Sandy hit.
A Senate Democratic aide confirms that the Senate will convene at 12:30, ET, to pass this part of the aid bill by unanimous consent.
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