Daines Votes Against $9.7B Superstorm Sandy Aid

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Montana's newest congressman has voted against a $9.7 billion loan package to pay flood insurance claims for property damaged by Superstorm Sandy in October.

The bill gives more borrowing authority to the National Flood Insurance Program to pay about 115,000 pending Sandy-related claims as well as about 5,000 unrelated claims. FEMA warned the program would have run out of money next week without the loan package.

Rep. Steve Daines was among the 67 Republican members of the House that voted against the measure, which passed with 354 votes on Friday. He told Montana Public Radio that the U.S. government cannot continue to add to the nation's debt crisis.

The Senate also passed the bill Friday.

The House is scheduled to vote on Jan. 15 on another $51 billion in recovery money.