WASHINGTON (AP) — A series of votes is expected this afternoon in the House on a $50.7 billion Superstorm Sandy aid package.
A base $17 billion bill is aimed at immediate Sandy recovery needs while Northeast lawmakers are also looking to add to that with an amendment by New Jersey Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen for an additional $33.7 billion.
Fiscal conservatives are seeking offsetting spending cuts to pay for the recovery efforts. They're also pushing to strip the package of funding for projects they say are unrelated to the October storm.
House Democrats met privately this morning, with lawmakers emerging from the session saying they were urged to support the package despite its imperfections. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland says he expects the full package to get enough Republican support to clear the House.
