Q: News reports said that House Speaker John Boehner killed the original Superstorm Sandy aid package because of all the pork it contained. What were some of these projects and what they would have cost?
A: Boehner called off a vote on a $60 billion Sandy aid package because it was packed with other projects. Those included $150 million for fisheries across the country, $100 million to repair Head Start facilities, $8 million for cars for the Homeland Security and Justice departments and $2 million to repair the roof at the Smithsonian, among other projects.
Congress approved a $9.7 billion aid package on Jan. 4 and the House passed an additional $50.7 billion in aid on Jan. 15.