Republican congressman Peter King is angrily hinting he’ll quit the GOP after House Speaker John Boehner failed to put a $60 billion Hurricane Sandy relief package up for vote on Tuesday night.
“I’m going to do what I have to do, I’m going to be independent minded, as John Kennedy said, ‘Sometimes party loyalty demands too much,’’’ a furious King told CNN when asked if he might switch his political affiliation.
“Often, you give the benefit of the doubt to your party, but I’m over that.”
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The bitter Long Island-based lawmaker said Republicans in New York and New Jersey have doggedly supported the GOP financially for years, but hinted that support should stop.
“These people have no problem finding New York, these Republicans, when they are trying to raise money,” he told CNN.
“They raised millions of dollars in New York City and New Jersey, they sent Governor Christie around the country raising millions of dollars for them.
“I’m saying, anyone from New York and New Jersey who gives one penny to the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee should have their head examined.”
New York and New Jersey suffered tens of billions of dollars in damages when Sandy hit the Northeast, with hundreds of residents losing their homes or suffering massive damages.
“People in my party, they wonder why they’re becoming a minority party, they’re writing off New York, they’re writing off New Jersey,” King said.
“Well, they’ve written me off, and they’re going to have a hard time getting my vote, I can tell you that.”
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