"There is only one group to blame," Christie said. "The House Majority and John Boehner."
"Last night, the House Majority failed most the basic test of leadership and they did so with callous disregard to the people of my state," he said. "It was disappointing and disgusting to watch."
"Shame on you, shame on Congress."
"Our people were played last night as a pawn...and that's why people hate Washington, D.C.," Christie said later. "Last night, my party was responsible."
Asked who he thought was responsible on the holdup over Sandy aid, Christie did not mince words in laying the blame entirely on House Speaker Boehner.
"It was the Speaker's decision — his alone," Christie said, adding that he was given no explanation for the decision to pull the Sandy bill. He said that he tried to reach Boehner four times, but that the Speaker did not take his calls until this morning.
"I won't get into my conversation with [Boehner], but I will tell you there is no reason to believe anything they tell me."
Christie's remarks were the most powerful verbalization yet of the growing outrage over the House's decision to end the 112th Congress without passing a deal. New York Republican lawmakers have spent the past 24 hours railing against their own party's leadership.
