Hurricane Sandy Budget Battles

An immediate congressional priority is about to turn into a battleground. The $50 billion bill to help victims of Hurricane Sandy could be a proxy for future budget battles. Conservatives and watchdog groups are pointing out, lots of the money in the bill has nothing to do with Sandy. There's $150 million for fisheries in Alaska and $50 million for replacing trees burned in Western wildfires. HUD would get $12 billion for block grants available to nearly every state. Members of Congress from New York and New Jersey say the money is needed now. House Republicans plans to introduce a $17 billion alternative.