WASHINGTON -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg appealed to congressional leaders Wednesday for quick action on providing tens of billions of dollars in new federal aid to help his city and state and others recover from Superstorm Sandy but was told it might be some time before it's forthcoming -- and it likely won't be all at once.
Bloomberg met with more than a half-dozen lawmakers, including several who chair or sit on committees controlling the government's purse strings, as well as both parties' leaders in the House and Senate.
"Hurricane recovery is not a partisan issue," he told reporters at a news conference in between the meetings. "We have to bring together both sides in Washington." New York state alone is seeking $42 billion in additional federal aid and New Jersey wants $36.8 billion.
So far about $2 billion in federal funds -- about half for direct assistance to individuals -- have been provided to the two most heavily damaged states and nine others in the storm's path.