Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill Filled With $60 Billion Of Pork Barrel Spending

The Hurricane Sandy relief bill is filled with pork spending according to third party analysts. The relief package is ostensibly intended for Hurricane Sandy victims, but in reality the Democratic Senate is exploiting loopholes in the budget process to pile on new so-called emergency spending.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the spending-filled Sandy relief bill was shot down previously by the House because of the high level of pork. The craziest part is that at that time the bill stood at $30 billion and now Democrats have stuffed even more pork spending in, doubling the cost to taxpayers at $60 billion.

Republicans like New Jersey governor Chris Christie have blasted Congress for delaying the Sandy relief bill. According to US News, House Speaker John Boehner has responded by promising to vote Friday on a $9 billion infusion of cash to the National Flood Insurance Program and a vote January 15 on the remaining $51 billion proposal.

This new plan by Boehner sounds like he’s trying to separate the pork spending from the actual relief money. Hopefully, Democrats will find that a reasonable compromise. According to Before It’s News the previous bills were shot down only because the Democratic Senate version of the bill was comprised of 85 percent pork spending that has nothing to do with Hurricane Sandy relief.

American Majority Action spokesman Ron Meyer said the Senate Democrat-created Sandy relief bill is packed with tons of pork barrel spending, some of which won’t even occur until after 2013:

“Why was this in the emergency bill for Sandy? It doesn’t make any sense. Only $1 out of every $6 — $9 billion of the $60 billion will be spent in 2013. That means 85 percent doesn’t come until 2014 and beyond. That’s not immediate relief. What this bill is fundamentally is a pork bill. It’s disgraceful to load a bill like this that has good motives, that has good intentions that is going to help people, with pork. Why are you putting your own projects in it. It’s disgraceful. It’s typical of Washington.”

An example of how disasters can sneak in pork spending and other types of fraud is relayed by The Heritage Foundation:

“Fraud related to Hurricane Katrina spending is estimated to top $2 billion. In addition, debit cards provided to hurricane victims were used to pay for Caribbean vacations, NFL tickets, Dom Perignon champagne, ‘Girls Gone Wild’ videos, and at least one sex change operation.”

What do you think about the antics of Congress now that you know about the pork spending stuffed into the Sandy relief bill?