
The full roll call vote for the so-called “fiscal cliff” bill can be found here.
“Staten Island’s Grimm says he’ll vote against fiscal cliff bill,” the Staten Island Advance reported of Rep. Michael Grimm. However, Mr. Grimm ended up voting for the bill, explaining in a statement, “This is not the compromise I would have chosen – nor one that I intended to support – but after taking a closer read, the benefits do outweigh the costs.”
Mr. Grimm’s more passionate cause last night, however, was the failed Hurricane Sandy relief bill. “It is with an extremely heavy heart that I stand here almost in disbelief and somewhat ashamed,” Mr. Grimm said, adding, “I am here tonight saying to myself for the first time that I am not proud of the decision that my team has made.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been as angry as I am tonight,” Rep. Eliot Engel piled on. “For us in the Northeast to be treated this way is absolutely unconscionable. Tonight I am ashamed. Shame on you, Mr. Speaker.” While Congressman Jerry Nadler said the night was, “Unprecedented, disgusting, unworthy of the leadership of this House…They should reconsider, or they should hang their heads in shame.”
But maybe it’s to be expected, given the bold negotiating strategies employed in Washington:
It was only a few days before the nation would go over the fiscal cliff, no bipartisan agreement was in sight, and Reid had just publicly accused Boehner of running a “dictatorship” in the House and caring more about holding onto his gavel than striking a deal.
“Go f— yourself,” Boehner sniped as he pointed his finger at Reid, according to multiple sources present.
Reid, a bit startled, replied: “What are you talking about?”
Boehner repeated: “Go f— yourself.”
In other news, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and his wife, Chirlane McCray, gave a joint interview to the Wall Street Journal where they discussed their family’s diversity and role in the campaign.
And Governor Andrew Cuomo welcomed visitors into his house for a rare dose of meet-and-greets:
“I love this,” he said, reaching out to touch the hem of the little girl’s cream-colored corduroy dress. “This is beautiful.”
It was a rare instance of retail politics for an executive held in high regard more for his strong leadership style than his ability to personally connect with voters. He stood stiffly in a black suit and purple tie underneath an oil painting of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, often extending a single hand to greet visitors. Meanwhile, his youngest daughter Michaela, 15, and his girlfriend Sandra Lee, a celebrity chef, hugged guests and kissed them on their cheeks.