None of these same Wind Bag People spoke out in opposition to President George Bush's spending (giving) $87 billion dollars in 2004 to Rebuild Iraq after Bush invaded that country. None of those Bags spoke out in opposition to the $130 Billion George Bush spent after Hurricane Katina to help far fewer people along the Gulf Coast. None of these same Bag people spoke out in opposition to the $1 billion the federal government spent to assist Texas with their wildfires last summer.

Why is it that people on the left always resort to name calling right off the bat - even before they make their point, they start calling the other side names.
Besides, you are wrong. Both Lonegan and the leader of a local watchdog group called Liberty and Prosperity who is on the radio have often criticized Bush for his reckless overspending. And it is not a matter of assistance - everyone wants the allocated money to go to restoring the hurricane damage. It is all of the goodies and add-ons in the bill that have nothing to do with the hurricane. If you go to read a list of the stuff added on to the bill that has nothing to do with hurricane damage repair and that will add to everyones taxes you might object too. The list of that stuff is posted online.

At least this money is for Americans not another country.

Lonegan and his ultra-conservative group are precisely why the Tea Party and their lapdogs (Romney & Ryan) lost big-time.

A millionare who still has his million dollar house. What did you expect?

Unless you live here, or work in the construction trades, you just don't get the devastation. The thousands of homes here in Southern Ocean County are not all owned by millionaires. Many of these homes are just little 800 square foot bungalow with families just getting by. I am offended by Lonegans arrogance and ignorance. Benny go home.

There is one thing stated here that we all know is true: "and would be misspent at all levels of government by officials glomming for every last nickel." No one is going to be checking to make sure those who really need aid will get it. Unfortunately even with Freedom of Information, we as the people have no way of stopping our politicians from stealing money from these funds. It's a tragedy the politicians cry that the money is needed to help the people knowing damn well much of it won't be used for such.

f you go to read a list of the stuff added on to the bill that has nothing to do with hurricane damage repair and that will add to everyones taxes you might object too. The list of that stuff is posted online , Sure would like to see that on the front page of asbury park press, also would like to see the name of the politican that added the pork.

What he fails to mention is the onerous demands being made by FEMA of our poorest victims. If there is to be no federal funds then FEMA becomes nothing more than an agent of unfunded mandates. Let us start by defunding FEMA and make direct aid available based on income. Not a dime for the million dollar homes but what ever it takes to get our working poor and needy seniors back in their homes.

One question that should be answered is: How much of that money will come to NJ. Take a look, it's not as much as you think. We will probably get screwed AGAIN!

Lonegan talks about new fire equipment to replace existing operating units etc as indications of waste in this type of spending. He is nothing more than a tea bagger. The cities in Sandy's path along New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut are devasted. I live in an area where I would estimate that 25 % of the homes are destroyed, and we aren't as bad off as further north. I have not seen Mr Lonegan roaming the shore towns. I truly would appreciate it if he would just keep quiet.

Sounds to me like Lonegan is still mad at Christie for STOMPING him in the race for governor. Lonegan owns a construction company, I would recommend that EVERYONE who needs repairs or rebuilds avoid this Koch kissing teabagger like poison.

The shore has to be restored to prevent further losses from the damaged tourist industry.....Changes need to be made to reduce damage from future storms.....The Jersey Shore cannot ignore the reality of Climate Change. If we do not prepare for the future , this could happen again.

I have a better idea --- Cut foreign aid by the amounts needed here. I always find it interesting that when someone else has a disaster the come looking for help from the USA, but to the best of my knowledge I have not seen anyone returning the favor, except maybe Canada. We should be looking after our own first and what is left after that they can discuss about giving to foreign countries

Personally, I think the Feds should stay out of this. These are not free handouts. Eventually somebody's got to pay for it, aka the American citizen. Not to mention half the money will undoubtedly be mis-appropriated and never reach the intended recipients. Then comes the oversight committees to investigate. That will waste even more money. People have insurance for a reason. I suffered along with the rest. My insurance agents handled it all. Hate to have big brother involved. This country is already broke. Besides, I'd hate to see all those BMW 5 series sedan drivers give up their EBT cards to help out. No more Wawa stuffed pretzels for them would just upset me too much.

Obama wants to push for lots more then the $60B. To rebuild Amtrak lines that weren't affected, the financial shortfall for Amrak, to help the Salmon Fisheries in Alaska, The lists goes on and is more and more insane. This was in todays Washington Post. FEMA has been so full of mismanagement and fraud for many years. The DemocRATS also also FRAUDS. Along with that mutt they call president.

Steve Lonegan is nice and comfy in his Bergen County home, with gas, electric, running water . Has he been down to the Jersey Shore to see people homeless and helpless, right before the holidays. How can he possibly hold up monies to us to help us rebuild our homes and lives ? What the hell is he thinking ? Steve Lonegan, please contact me via the Toms River Patch, and I will tour our devestated with him and let him see the horror we are encountering. Now to cut off our funding ? Where should we spend it ?
You better believe that when Bergen County was flooded out a few years ago, Steve Lonegan was out there begging the government for money of his constituants. Set your priorities Steve and come and visit us in Ocean County and go up against a Jersey Girl and you will never be the same again....

Beg to differ with you Edie Pepe,
After 37 years, I lost my job because it was outsourced to India. I had to pay mortgages for two homes and got three jobs to do it. Without help from any goverment resources. What does history have to do with getting monies to rebuild our homes ? Did you lose your home or the contents? If you can say yes to any one of these questions, please continue to rebuff me. If not, stay out of the barrier island
rebuilding process.

New Jersey pays more in Federal Taxes than it get's back in Federal spending like FEMA......About half of all Federal Spending goes for Defense and much of that is for operations in the Middle East, protecting the interests of International Oil Companies, which maintains our dependence of fossil fuels that drive global Climate Change and contribute to the increasing power of storms like "Sandy"

bg,thanks pointing out the obvious for us all...duh. Clue you into something...that's how the world goes round and round. Now if you would like to save the planet, you can stop by my place. I'll set up a treadmill so you can run 12 hours a day to power my home. If you are that arrogant to believe us measly little humans contribute to climate change, you should consider possibly moving to another planet and start a Uptopian society. The Feds need not fund disaster relief programs nor should they fund projects for alternative energy. Leave that to the entrepreneurs.

I am so disgusted with all politicians. Foxes in charge of the hen house. All smiles and promises while they've lifted your wallet as they shake your hand and ask for your vote. A decent candidate can never be elected, the corrupt will destroy him/her well before election day approaches. This country is in sad shape.

We just gave 20 f -16's to Egypt --------- at about 1 billion ---- we give 300 billion in foriegn aid a yr ----------Well here's the solution ---NO AID CHECKS TO THE 183 NATIONS THAT GET A WELFARE CHECK FROM THE USA--- We cant afford it this yr -Maybe next yr

What he said. Screw the foreigners and support USA...

You people are misinterpreting the message of the article. A lot of times when money like this is being spent, it goes to the wrong places: favorite special interests of the politicians in power, for instance. They're going to spend an amount of money that dwarfs the massive New Jersey state debt here, but most people aren't going to see one red cent of it. Steve Lonegan has always been a leader in the fight for fiscal responsibility and accountability - a voice of sanity in an insane world. He has done more good for New Jersey taxpayers as an activist than any Governor this state has had in the over 20 years I've been following politics - the same goes for the vast majority of Trenton legislators as well. I don't see anyone else making an effort to improve the standard of living here, and to rein in outrageous taxes, excessive government spending, and oppressive anti-business laws. We would have been far better off if we had been smart enough to elect him as our Governor.

If Steve Lonegan became Gov. of NJ, i would not rebuild my home in the barrier island. I would get the hell out of NJ. Put all of the Senate and House of Representatives on buses and bring them down to the Jersey Shore to see the damages and lack of funds needed to rebuild our homes. One picture is worth a thousand words, Come on down and face our realities, our pain, our sleepless nights wondering when we can start to rebuild. Bogota, where Steve Lonegan is from has a 2011 population of 8,187. Ocean County 2011 population is 579,369.
The homes that were devastated here are more than the entire population of Bogota.
We need these funds to help us rebuild and restore not to splurge on needless items. Why is it always that politicians are caught with their hands in the pot and when it comes to the general population, we become the thieves ? We have given money to countries all over the world and now politicians are balking on giving us rebuild funds. What a joke and it is on Ocean County !!

I would be fully supportive of a $60 billion bill if the money went to those actually impacted by the storm and NO ONE ELSE. But I don't want millions frittered away on aid for Alaskan fishermen and goodies for the DHS (yes, these are actual parts of the current bill).

Better the aid to ANY American -- Alaskan or from NJ ---Than to give it to some foriegn country --300 billion a yr foriegn aid package -YEARLY

Righty--Every state that has oil and has active wells should be getting a check --------- You have a problem with using American oil for America? or you would rather buy oil from the towel-heads ????

Why do so many think that this bill has anything to do with rebuilding their homes? FEMA has already explained everything you are going to receive if anything.

John------Foreign aid and diplomacy together comprise around 1 percent of the federal budget, or $56 billion in President Obama’s 2013 budget request.

That money goes toward global poverty alleviation, including a contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, as well as peacekeeping operations conducted by the United Nations and general U.S. diplomatic activities around the world.

That $56 billion does not include foreign military assistance, which is estimated at an additional $14 billion in fiscal 2013. Foreign military assistance is the money we spend to train foreign armies and help them acquire weapons.
Okay a bit off -----But Isnt that money better spent on the USA in time of need than givien to countrys that hate us --------183 nations get it --- Think they all deserve it ???????????

If you voted for purple lips you must be lazy poor or a union crook.

Sad but it will pass and billions more will be waisted, and 5 years from now people who lost everything will still not have nothing, and the bleeding hearts will wonder where the money went, and our children will be dumped a pile of debt. But the f-ing roller coaster will be working and their will no doubt be a light rail system to take you there if you want . There won't even be any American people working the darn thing just like it was before the storm. Just as American as Chinese merchandise from Walmart.

The Politicians have ruined this country and world....Everything in the end has become a scam.

I left out the lawyers too.

John ---------Not that i am a expert -----but i am retired military (2008) with over 30 yrs and multiple depoyments to Iraq Afgan Kosovo--just noting recent ones ---------I would say we dont owe these countrys a damn thing ------ the help goes unappreciated and in a lot of cases unwanted -------Kosovo for example --The Serbs hated us and so did the Muslim population -who we were saving ------------so why bother --waste time material manpower and American lives -----I say a 2 yr moritorium on all foriegn aid ------------Suck it up needy nations -------Uncle Samy cant bale ya out for a while

Dominick,
Thanks for your service, for me 3 years, 4 months, 3 days. Guess we're both part of the 47% that think we are entitled to our benefits, I sure do. I didn't think my tour of Vietnam was because they liked us and now I know that it didn't have much to do with national defense. Great big wall with 58,300 names that is a testament to not building other nations.
As an alternative, I'll suggest 1 less unneeded 100 million fighter not requested by the pentagon. That will take care of Sandy relief, fisheries, all the other crap they tried to throw in the bill, and still have money for a Lawrence Welk museum or two.
Semper Fi!

John, Thank you for your service also ------------Why are we in Afgan ------Our mission to go to Afgan was to Osama Bin Ladin ---- Well sir that was taken care of by Seal Team 6 --Mission Complete ---- time to pack up our shit and go home ---Who decided the mission was turning into nation building and a money grab for Karsi------- Karsi is playing both sides

John----------Why are we still in Iraq -----------we still have troops in the green zone -- why????? Get them all back here ---

Dominick,
My best guess is the troops still in Iraq are there more for the affect that a base between Iran and both Syria and Israel has on the Iranians. As long as they stay out of the sects trying to kill each other in Iraq, probably in our best interests.
I will be more than glad to see them out of Afghanistan. Our post paid our respects to the family of the marine from Island Heights last week. He'll be the fifth marine of the nine we have listed on our memorial at the post. I dread the carnage that will happen when we are out of Afghanistan, but way past time to get out.

John-- Not a lot of sympathy for the people of Astan-----so when we leave --what happens happens -------- but i do know this it wont be good ------and agree entirelly "way past time to get out "

$60.4Billion, not all because of Sandy according to the NYPost,“The pork-barrel feast includes more than $8 million to buy cars and equipment for the Homeland Security and Justice departments. It also includes a whopping $150 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to dole out to fisheries in Alaska and $2 million for the Smithsonian Institution to repair museum roofs in DC. An eye-popping $13 billion would go to “mitigation” projects to prepare for future storms. Other big-ticket items in the bill include $207 million for the VA Manhattan Medical Center; $41 million to fix up eight military bases along the storm’s path, including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; $4 million for repairs at Kennedy Space Center in Florida; $3.3 million for the Plum Island Animal Disease Center and $1.1 million to repair national cemeteries.”
http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2012/12/18/Shame-on-Congress-for-Robbing-Hurricane-Sandy-Victims.aspx#page1

This is why we are in debt...All the pork-barrel feast. I am sure there is even more hidden agendas. Most like those who really need the money is not going to get any.

"likely"

Which Americans does this man wish to prosper?

Lonegan is an infamous tea bagger, a legend in his own mind, and should take his ideas back where they belong, in the 18th century.