Christie: Hurricane Victims Need Fed Aid Now

Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says federal aid for victims of Hurricane Irene should be dispensed immediately. Offsetting budget cuts don’t need to be made first, he said Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reports.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said Monday that, as funding for the Federal Emergency Management agency shrinks, storm aid should be offset with budget cuts. But on Wednesday, he said he never meant that aid should be delayed over the issue.

As for Christie, he said, “I don’t want to hear about the fact that offsetting budget cuts have to come first before New Jersey citizens are taken care of.” He was speaking at a gathering of members of the state’s congressional delegation, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.