Senate leaders are open to coming back to Washington to approve funding to fight the spreading Zika virus, but only if Democrats are willing to drop their objections.
Now that the first mosquito-borne cases of Zika have emerged in Florida, Democrats are calling for lawmakers to return to approve funding to fight the virus. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was open to that, but only if Democrats drop their filibuster, an aide said.
“The House passed the funding bill already but it continues to be blocked in the Senate by a Democrat-led filibuster,” said Don Stewart, spokesman for McConnell. “We would love for them to end that filibuster and pass the bill, but it doesn’t sound like they’re prepared to do that.”
Since Friday, 15 cases of mosquito-borne infections have emerged in a Miami neighborhood. The spreading virus has sparked a political blame game since Congress adjourned last month without approving $1.1 billion in funding to fight the virus.
Democrats blocked the funding because of objections to the final agreement not including funding for Planned Parenthood in Puerto Rico.
Democrats also objected to taking funding from Obamacare to help pay for Zika. The $1.1 billion package includes about $750 million in funding taken from other programs and the rest in new funding.
The outbreak has caused leading Democrats to push for lawmakers to end their summer recess and approve funding.
“House and Senate must return to Washington immediately to provide the Zika funding public health officials need to protect Americans,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid tweeted on Friday, when the first cases of mosquito-borne transmission were reported.
Some Democrats haven’t been too optimistic about the Senate passing the funding bill, which contains less money than the $1.9 billion that President Obama asked for in February.
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson said he wrote to McConnell on Tuesday asking the Kentucky Republican to approve the funding bill. Nelson said it would take an outbreak in the Bluegrass State for McConnell to act.
“Wait until a mosquito bites one of the people who is traveling to Kentucky, and then gets a transmitted case in Kentucky, then we’ll get action,” Nelson said.
