Cuomo to seek $42B in disaster aid for NY
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo will travel to Washington Monday to meet with House Speaker John Boehner and other top officials to lobby for $42 billion in disaster aid for New York, officials said Friday.
A meeting between Cuomo, a Democrat, and Boehner (R-Ohio), who controls the Republican-led House, is tentatively set for Monday afternoon, said Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford).
"John Boehner is the most vital man on Capitol Hill right now -- so John has to be on our side," King said. "I think it will be important for them to meet face to face."
Cuomo officials declined to comment about the governor's schedule. Cuomo has said that King would be key to shepherding New York's request through the House.
In the wake of superstorm Sandy, New York is seeking $42 billion -- about $33 billion for recovery and $9 billion for mitigation against future storms. The disaster-recovery request includes $6.6 billion for Nassau County and about $1.8 billion for Suffolk.
Yancey Roy
