Rep. Gregory Meeks calls out Paul Ryan’s ‘no’ vote on Sandy relief bill

“Viewpoint” host Eliot Spitzer and Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., discuss the House’s vote on the first $9.7 billion in Hurricane Sandy relief. Meeks talks about how the funds will be used, the timeline for additional funds and Paul Ryan’s decision to vote against the allocation. Meeks “undoubtedly” agrees with Spitzer that Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan’s decision may be an attempt to garner the GOP’s presidential nomination in 2016.

“That’s what really concerns me — people are playing politics with people’s lives. So some people are looking at it politically, what they may be able to do in a campaign going forward, or in 2016, and this should not be an issue that is a political issue. This should be an issue solely focused on helping American citizens. Because when you look at the individuals who were victimized by this storm, they are Democrats and Republicans. They are rich and they’re poor. So to see a vote like that is really concerning,” Meeks says, adding, “You never can tell where these storm’s will hit and what happens. When something hits a Wisconsin or an Ohio, where some of these other members voted ‘no,’ and it’s in their town and their people are affected — how are they going to vote then?”