Christie to House: No Sandy relief 'inexcusable'

By Grayson Thagard

updated 4:14 PM EST, Wed January 02, 2013

NEED TO KNOW

NEW: House to vote on $9 billion in aid for Sandy victims this Friday; $51 billion in aid by January 15
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie blasts House lawmakers: 'Shame on you' for delaying vote
House leaders justified leaving bill on floor by saying there was no crisis

A property destroyed by fire following Superstorm Sandy remains blocked by police tape in the Midland Beach neighborhood which was heavily damaged by Sandy on December 23, 2012 in the Staten Island borough of New York City. Staten Island was hit hard by Sandy and some homes and businesses remain without power. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

One thing the House of Representatives didn't do Tuesday night when it passed the "fiscal cliff" deal was vote on billions of dollars in aid for Superstorm Sandy victims. And that has a lot of people angry.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie didn't mince words when he blasted House lawmakers for not taking any action.

"Americans are tired of the palace intrigue and political partisanship of this Congress, which places one-upsmanship ahead of the lives of the citizens who sent these people to Washington, D.C. in the first place," Christie said Wednesday.

Christie said his state and New York have been left waiting for aid nearly six times longer than those affected by Hurricane Katrina with no end in sight.

"Every day that we don't get this aid are days we can't get people in their homes, get businesses reopened, get our economy moving in this state again." he said.

Christie also said he tried to contact Boehner four times late last night, but he couldn't reach him. In a joint statement, Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said "continued inaction and indifference by the House of Representatives is inexcusable."

After meeting with Boehner, Long Island Republican Representative Peter King said he was promised that $9 billion in Sandy aid will be voted on in the House on Friday. Another vote on $51 billion in aid will take place on January 15.

King said, "...the federal government, the U.S. Congress turned its back on these innocent people and it is one of the worst decisions that has ever been made in the Congress. Indefensible." King's district was one of the hardest-hit by the storm.

It's estimated that New York and New Jersey need almost $80 million to cover storm costs. That includes help for home and business owners and repairs to hospitals, transit systems and utilities.

WATCH: Bob Van Dillen video diary -- Ruins of Jersey Shore 'crushing'

House leaders justified leaving the bill on the floor by saying that there is no crisis. House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers says "FEMA has enough money to last until at least late February-March anyway."

Since the House didn't act and a new Congress will be sworn in, the entire process has to start over.

A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner tells CNN, the speaker was "committed to getting this bill passed this month."

MORE: How to help victims of Superstorm Sandy

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