Sean Patrick Maloney: “it is human nature: When tragedy strikes, most people want to help you right away. But you can tell your true friends by…”

“it is human nature: When tragedy strikes, most people want to help you right away. But you can tell your true friends by who still wants to help as time goes by. Will the real friends of New York please stand up. The World Trade Center is still smoldering and the Federal Government is already wavering. On September 18, the administration authorized $40 billion, $20 billion to fight terrorism and $20 billion for disaster relief, primarily for New York. But the budget office has allocated only $9.8 billion for New York. They offer vague assurances that we will get the money eventually. Well, we cannot wait for eventually. They say we cannot spend it anyway. Well, just ask New York's devastated businesses and unemployed workers. As September 11 recedes into the past, so is the administration's resolve to help New York, and that is unacceptable.”