Democrats hammer Noem for rejecting superstorm relief

• Rep. Kristi Noem

Rep. Kristi Noem

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Rep. Kristi Noem joined 180 House Republicans who voted Wednesday against a relief package to the victims of last year’s Superstorm Sandy, and South Dakota’s Democratic Party called that un-American.

The bill passed 241-180 and will next go to the Senate.

“Congresswoman Noem relied on the generosity of American taxpayers when floods decimated South Dakota communities in 2011 and droughts hurt South Dakota farmers in 2012,” said state Democratic Party Chairman Ben Nesselhuf in a news release. “Tuesday night, however, she forgot America’s generosity when she voted against disaster relief for victims of Superstorm Sandy. Noem forgot her South Dakota values when she voted to leave disaster victims behind without any support.”

Noem spokeswoman Andrea McCarthy said South Dakota’s lone member in the House did support a $17 billion aid package recommended by the Appropriations Committee but balked when an amendment nearly tripled the package to $50.5 billion.

“Rep. Noem voted for and supported providing the $17 billion in emergency funding that was recommended by the House Appropriations Committee,” McCarthy said. “She joined the majority of her Republican colleagues in not supporting final passage of the measure after an amendment was adopted that nearly tripled its cost.”

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