Will Dems Continue To Put Politics Over Fighting Zika?

CDC: Currently 10,000+ Total Zika Cases

“…Republicans in the Senate have scheduled a vote on a $1.1 billion Zika package next Tuesday, when Congress comes back into session. But Democrats have been blocking consideration of the Republican package…” (“U.S. Funding For Fighting Zika Virus Is Nearly Spent, C.D.C. Says,” The New York Times, 8/31/16)

“Senate Might Need to Curtail Filibuster, Harry Reid Says… ‘the Senate will have to evolve as it has in the past,’ Mr. Reid told me, referring to a former Senate tradition of rarely mounting filibusters. ‘But it will evolve with a majority vote determining stuff. It is going to happen.’” (“A Democratic Senate Might Need to Curtail Filibuster, Harry Reid Says,” The New York Times, 9/1/16)

“‘The Senate is going to have to wind up being a democracy,’ he said. And that means, the majority — not 60 votes — would rule.” (“A Democratic Senate Might Need to Curtail Filibuster, Harry Reid Says,” The New York Times, 9/1/16)

‘Chunk Of The U.S. … Has The Right Conditions For The Zika Virus’

“A chunk of the U.S. stretching from Texas through the Gulf Coast and Florida has the right conditions for the Zika virus to proliferate, researchers said in a paper published in the journal eLife earlier this year.” (“Where The Zika Virus Can Thrive And Take Its Toll In The United States,” Wall Street Journal, 8/30/16)

CDC: 11,528 U.S. Zika Cases Total: “Laboratory-confirmed Zika virus disease cases reported … United States, 2015–2016 (as of August 24, 2016)… US States Total: 2,517… US Territories: 9,011” (“Zika Virus: Case Counts In The US,” Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, 8/24/16)

“As of August 25, there have been at least 43 locally spread cases on the U.S. mainland, all in Florida.” (“Where The Zika Virus Can Thrive And Take Its Toll In The United States,” Wall Street Journal, 8/30/16)

The Good News: “… officials are reporting surprising success with mosquito control in Florida. Aerial spraying over the Miami neighborhood with the locally transmitted cases in the continental United States has been highly effective, Dr. Frieden said. The success seems to have come from combining sprays that kill adult mosquitoes with sprays that kill larvae. (Adult sprays on their own were not as effective.) The outcome goes against conventional wisdom that aerial spraying does not work against the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the type that carries Zika. ‘What we’ve seen is very dramatic reduction in mosquito populations there,’ Dr. Frieden said.” (“U.S. Funding For Fighting Zika Virus Is Nearly Spent, C.D.C. Says,” The New York Times, 8/31/16)

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “[I]t’s shocking that Senate Democrats blocked Congress from passing legislation that would have marshaled immediate federal funds to fight the Zika virus. They blocked anti-Zika funds and prevention efforts, not once but twice. It’s unbelievable, but true.” (Sen. McConnell, Op-Ed, “Senate Democrats Chose Politics Over Funding Zika Fight,” Lexington Herald-Leader, 8/1/16)

JUNE: ‘Senate Democrats … Blocked A Critical Funding Measure Needed To Combat The Spreading Zika Virus’

43 Democrats voted against Zika appropriations included in the MilCon / VA Conference report. (H.R.2577, Roll Call Vote #112, Cloture Motion Rejected 52-48: R 51-3; D 1-43; I 0-2, 6/28/16)

WALL STREET JOURNAL: “After spending months demanding more funding to combat the Zika virus, [Democrats] voted down their own priority to foment the chaos they believe will work to their political benefit in the fall.” (Editorial, “The Zika Democrats,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/28/2016)

THE HILL: ‘Senate Democrats Block Zika Agreement Ahead Of Recess’ “Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a deal providing funding for the fight against the Zika virus, virtually guaranteeing that Congress won't get legislation to President Obama's desk this month.” (“Senate Democrats Block Zika Agreement Ahead Of Recess,” The Hill, 6/28/16)

NEW YORK TIMES: ‘Zika Bill Is Blocked By Senate Democrats…’ “Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a federal spending bill that would have provided $1.1 billion to fight the mosquito-borne Zika virus…” (“Zika Bill Is Blocked by Senate Democrats Upset Over Provisions,” The New York Times, 6/28/16)

POLITICO: ‘Democrats Block Zika Funding bill…’ “Democrats are more open to criticism… the minority party is comfortable with the politics of blocking the Zika bill…” (“Democrats Block Zika Funding Bill, Blame GOP,” Politico, 6/28/16)

JULY: ‘Senate Democrats Maintain Filibuster, Block Zika Deal For Second Time’

41 Democrats again voted against additional Zika appropriations included in the MilCon / VA Conference report. (H.R.2577, Roll Call Vote #134, Cloture Motion Rejected 52-44: R 51-1; D 1-41; I 0-2, 7/14/16)

AP: “…a much-needed bill to battle the Zika virus faces a Democratic filibuster on Thursday…” (“Lawmakers To Go On Recess Without Addressing Zika,” AP, 7/14/16)

WASHINGTON TIMES: “Senate Democrats maintain filibuster, block Zika deal for second time. Senate Democrats on Thursday voted to maintain their weeks-long filibuster of Zika-fighting money, sending Congress home for a seven-week recess without any additional funding for vaccine research or mosquito eradication.” (“Senate Democrats Maintain Filibuster, Block Zika Deal For Second Time,” The Washington Times, 7/15/16)

WASHINGTON EXAMINER: “Senate Dems block Zika funding for the summer. Senate Democrats on Thursday blocked a $1.1 billion federal funding measure to battle the Zika virus.” (“Senate Dems Block Zika Funding For The Summer,” Washington Examiner, 7/14/16)

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

Related Issues: Zika Virus, Health Care, Appropriations

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