Getting the $40 billion from the federal government will be harder to pass muster in the Republican-led House of Representatives, Gov. Andrew Cuomo this afternoon predicted to reporters.

So he’s sticking with Rep. Peter King, the Long Island Republican who is the longest tenured GOP representative in New York.

“…Peter King who has been speaking with Mr. Boehner on the House side adn the House if you ask my political judgment … my guess is it’s going to be trickier on the House side so working with Peter King is going to be very important,” Cuomo said.

King’s greatest influence on the national scene has been his work as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, a post that he’s stepping down from when the new Congress takes office.

Cuomo added that he’s also looking to Democratic U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to carry the ball as well.

The governor himself is yet to travel to Washington and lobby personally for the money, unlike Mayor Michael Bloomberg who traveled there yesterday.

Cuomo said he’s working to line up support here in New York and has previously invited House Speaker John Boehner to tour the damage.

“I will do whatever is helpful and constructive to do,” Cuomo said today when asked if he’d make the trip to D.C. ”I’ve been working very hard in lniing up support, first. As you know, we met with the Congressional delegation … we committed with the Congressional delegation to work in a bipartisan manner.”

Cuomo reiterated that Hurricane Sandy was worse than Katrina’s impact on New Orleans when it comes to the number of homes and businesses damaged, though he qualified that the “human toll” of the 2005 storm was far worse.

“I think this will be worse because of the nature of New York,” he said. ”It’s a function of the density here.”

The total impact of th storm on the state budget hasn’t been completely determined, and the Division of Budget annonuced yesterday in its mid-year update that a number won’t be available until January.

“We don’t have the effect of Sandy, it hasn’t shown up in the numbers yet,” Cuomo said.

Updated: Capital New York got in touch with King, who tells Reid Pillifant that Boehner “wants to make this work.”

“A lot of people are saying he should come to Washington,” King said referring to Cuomo. “I speak to Boehner, and Boehner says, ‘You know there’s no need.’ Because Boehner’s not much for ceremony either. And Boehner just said, you know, ‘Wait till the numbers come in from the White House. Things should be fine.’”

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