Lawmaker: House leader promises Sandy aid votes
By ANDREW MIGA and LARRY MARGASAK, Associated Press
Jan 2, 2013 2:59 PM CST
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., left, joined by other New York area-lawmakers affected by Superstorm Sandy, express their anger and disappointment after learning the House Republican leadership decided to allow the current term of Congress to end without holding a vote on aid for the storm's victims, at the...   (Associated Press)

A New York lawmaker says the leader of the U.S. House has promised votes to aid victims of Superstorm Sandy by Jan. 15.

Republican Rep. Peter King says Speaker John Boehner will schedule a vote Friday for $9 billion in flood insurance and another on Jan. 15 for a remaining $51 billion in the package. The votes will be taken by the new Congress that will be sworn in Thursday.

Boehner's decision to cancel an expected vote Tuesday night had outraged lawmakers and officials from storm-stricken New York, New Jersey and elsewhere, including many in his own Republican party.

King said Boehner made the promise in a private meeting with lawmakers from affected states. King and others said they were now satisfied that the aid will be forthcoming.