House Ignores Storm Relief, to Fury of Local Republicans

“I’m saying right now, anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to Congressional Republicans is out of their minds,” Representative Peter T. King, a Long Island Republican, said during an interview on CNN on Wednesday morning. “Because what they did last night was put a knife in the back of New Yorkers and New Jerseyans. It was an absolute disgrace.”

Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, a Republican, furiously accused the Congressional leadership of his own party of “duplicity” and “selfishness,” and called the decision not to hold a vote on the storm-relief measure “irresponsible.” He said the legislation had fallen victim to “palace intrigue,” and “it’s why the American people hate Congress.”

And Representative Michael G. Grimm, a Republican from Staten Island, said the failure to vote was a “betrayal.” He urged that action be taken as soon as possible.

“It’s not about politics,” Mr. Grimm said. “It’s about human lives.”

Last week, the Senate adopted a $60.4 billion aid package, and New York and New Jersey officials said they had been promised the House would vote on the measure Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, as the outcry over the House’s decision not to hold a vote on the measure intensified, President Obama issued a statement calling for an immediate vote.

“When tragedy strikes, Americans come together to support those in need,” Mr. Obama said. “I urge Republicans in the House of Representatives to do the same, bring this important request to a vote today, and pass it without delay for our fellow Americans.”

Speaker John A. Boehner, Republican of Ohio, met Wednesday with Republican lawmakers from the region and pledged to advance a portion of the legislation on Friday, providing $9 billion for flood insurance. The rest of the package would come up for a vote by Jan. 15.

“Getting critical aid to the victims of Hurricane Sandy should be the first priority in the new Congress, and that was reaffirmed today with members of the New York and New Jersey delegations,” Mr. Boehner said in a joint statement issued with the House majority leader, Representative Eric Cantor, Republican of Virginia. “The House will vote Friday to direct needed resources to the National Flood Insurance Program. And on January 15th, the first full legislative day of the 113th Congress, the House will consider the remaining supplemental request for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.”

Mr. King said that schedule would be acceptable.

“This procedure that is laid out is fully acceptable” he said. “Fact is, we are getting what New York and New Jersey needs, and that is what counts.”

Mr. Christie and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, a Democrat, released a joint statement condemning the decision not to vote on the storm aid bill this week.

“With all that New York and New Jersey and our millions of residents and small businesses have suffered and endured, this continued inaction and indifference by the House of Representatives is inexcusable,” they said, adding, “This failure to come to the aid of Americans following a severe and devastating natural disaster is unprecedented.”

Mr. Cuomo, talking with reporters in Albany, went further. He said that House Republicans had “reneged on their word” to vote on the hurricane relief measure this week, and he accused them of “dereliction of duty.”

But Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, a political independent, said that although he was “disappointed,” he would not criticize the Republican leadership. He told reporters in New York City that he had been talking with Mr. Boehner and that “he assured me that this would be considered in the month of January.”