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Editorial: Congress fiddles as Zika spreads

 
Published June 29, 2016

More than 200 people in Florida have been diagnosed with the Zika virus, and state health officials confirm the first baby has been born in the state with Zika-related microcephaly. Yet as the virus spreads, Congress is still playing partisan games and will leave for the Fourth of July break without agreeing on emergency funding to fight the mosquito-borne disease. No wonder voters are so disgusted with Washington.

It's no surprise Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked approval of a $1.1 billion Zika package. The package negotiated by House and Senate Republicans was loaded with partisan darts aimed at Planned Parenthood, the Affordable Care Act and environmental regulations. Even Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson voted against it as he complained of political games and demanded Congress "treat this as a real emergency.''

Exactly. Yet Senate Republican leaders say they might not get back to Zika funding when they return to Washington after the Fourth of July to work just two weeks before a seven-week recess. That reflects neither the urgency required to fight a budding health care crisis nor the minimum expectations voters have for their elected officials. Rep. David Jolly, R-Indian Shores, wrote House Speaker Paul Ryan after the Senate vote begging for a bipartisan solution.

Good luck with that. This has been one of the least productive sessions of Congress in recent history, and there is no sign of a thaw with the election looming. While Washington fiddles, the Zika virus is spreading and now has infected 40 pregnant women in Florida and 500 pregnant women nationwide. Women inflected during pregnancy can give birth to babies with severe brain defects, and scientists believe that in infected adults the Zika virus can trigger Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause paralysis. But members of Congress failed to put those health concerns above political posturing.

For those keeping score, President Barack Obama requested $1.9 billion in emergency Zika funding four months ago. The Senate approved a $1.1 billion package, and the House approved just $622 million. Then House and Senate Republicans negotiated a new deal last week that reached $1.1 billion, but the details weren't pretty.

The deal rejected by the Senate Tuesday included a ban on direct government money to Planned Parenthood to provide contraceptives to help fight Zika. Never mind that Zika can be sexually transmitted, pregnant women are particularly at risk and contraception would be one of the best ways to reduce the spread of the virus. Republicans bet they could load up a badly needed emergency funding bill with their pet side issues, but Senate Democrats refused to budge.

There is plenty of blame for both Republicans and Democrats for failing to fulfill a fundamental responsibility to protect Americans from a serious public health threat. If the prospect of brain-damaged newborns and paralyzed adults can't spur Congress to build consensus, it's difficult to imagine what it will take to change the culture. Here's one suggestion: There is a general election in a little more than four months, and voters could send a strong message that they want more bipartisan consensus and less partisan gridlock.