This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/18/us/zika-senate-vote-emergency-funding.html
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Emergency Funding for Zika Virus in Senate’s Hands, Amid Discord | Emergency Funding for Zika Virus in Senate’s Hands, Amid Discord |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| WASHINGTON — The Senate is expected to begin casting votes on Tuesday on aid to combat the Zika virus, one day after House Republicans rejected a demand by the White House for new emergency funding. | WASHINGTON — The Senate is expected to begin casting votes on Tuesday on aid to combat the Zika virus, one day after House Republicans rejected a demand by the White House for new emergency funding. |
| House Republicans instead put forward legislation on Monday that would require the Obama administration to reallocate $622 million from existing health programs to fight the mosquito-borne disease, which causes severe birth defects. | House Republicans instead put forward legislation on Monday that would require the Obama administration to reallocate $622 million from existing health programs to fight the mosquito-borne disease, which causes severe birth defects. |
| In announcing their proposal, House Republicans said in a statement that they were supporting “critical activities that must begin immediately, such as vaccine development and mosquito control.” | In announcing their proposal, House Republicans said in a statement that they were supporting “critical activities that must begin immediately, such as vaccine development and mosquito control.” |
| But the White House swiftly condemned their refusal to consider the Zika virus a health emergency that warrants new spending without corresponding cuts. The administration is seeking $1.9 billion from Congress to fight the virus. | But the White House swiftly condemned their refusal to consider the Zika virus a health emergency that warrants new spending without corresponding cuts. The administration is seeking $1.9 billion from Congress to fight the virus. |
| Senate Republicans have scheduled votes beginning on Tuesday on three proposals, including a compromise measure that would provide $1.1 billion on an emergency basis without requiring cuts to cover the cost. The other two Senate proposals — one granting the administration’s full $1.9 billion request, and another requiring offsets — are expected to fail. | Senate Republicans have scheduled votes beginning on Tuesday on three proposals, including a compromise measure that would provide $1.1 billion on an emergency basis without requiring cuts to cover the cost. The other two Senate proposals — one granting the administration’s full $1.9 billion request, and another requiring offsets — are expected to fail. |
| In the House, the Republican legislation highlighted a core philosophical dispute that has frequently paralyzed Washington in recent years: a refusal by some hard-line rank-and-file Republicans to support any new federal spending, even as President Obama and his fellow Democrats insist that the government’s involvement must grow to meet expanding needs. | In the House, the Republican legislation highlighted a core philosophical dispute that has frequently paralyzed Washington in recent years: a refusal by some hard-line rank-and-file Republicans to support any new federal spending, even as President Obama and his fellow Democrats insist that the government’s involvement must grow to meet expanding needs. |
| The same dispute resulted in a government shutdown in 2013, and last year it led to the resignation of the House speaker, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, whose willingness to cut deals with the White House spurred a revolt by conservative hard-liners. Mr. Boehner’s successor, Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, has hit the same roadblock, as the deficit hawks have refused to provide the votes needed to pass a budget resolution. | The same dispute resulted in a government shutdown in 2013, and last year it led to the resignation of the House speaker, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, whose willingness to cut deals with the White House spurred a revolt by conservative hard-liners. Mr. Boehner’s successor, Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, has hit the same roadblock, as the deficit hawks have refused to provide the votes needed to pass a budget resolution. |
| For Mr. Ryan, who built his reputation as the architect of ambitious Republican budget plans, the failure to cobble together the votes to adopt a budget resolution is a stinging embarrassment, particularly in a presidential election year in which he has promised to articulate an agenda that would help the Republicans win the White House. | For Mr. Ryan, who built his reputation as the architect of ambitious Republican budget plans, the failure to cobble together the votes to adopt a budget resolution is a stinging embarrassment, particularly in a presidential election year in which he has promised to articulate an agenda that would help the Republicans win the White House. |
| Traditionally, a budget plan is the majority party’s clearest statement of its policy priorities, but the hard-liners in the House have refused to abide by an agreement reached last fall between Mr. Boehner and the White House that called for modest increases in government spending in 2017. | Traditionally, a budget plan is the majority party’s clearest statement of its policy priorities, but the hard-liners in the House have refused to abide by an agreement reached last fall between Mr. Boehner and the White House that called for modest increases in government spending in 2017. |
| The refusal by the House hard-liners to approve new spending has also contributed to a deadlock over money to combat a nationwide opioid epidemic. Both the House and the Senate approved legislation in recent days to help states fight opioid addiction, but Democrats and even some Republicans say the proposals are pointless without money to put them in place. | The refusal by the House hard-liners to approve new spending has also contributed to a deadlock over money to combat a nationwide opioid epidemic. Both the House and the Senate approved legislation in recent days to help states fight opioid addiction, but Democrats and even some Republicans say the proposals are pointless without money to put them in place. |
| The House Republicans’ stance on the Zika virus is exacerbating the internal rancor that has afflicted the Republican Party in Congress. | The House Republicans’ stance on the Zika virus is exacerbating the internal rancor that has afflicted the Republican Party in Congress. |
| Senator Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri, reached the $1.1 billion compromise proposal in negotiations with Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington. By contrast, House Republicans bought forward a partisan initiative that drew immediate condemnation from Democrats. | Senator Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri, reached the $1.1 billion compromise proposal in negotiations with Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington. By contrast, House Republicans bought forward a partisan initiative that drew immediate condemnation from Democrats. |
| The House initiative, announced by Representative Harold Rogers, Republican of Kentucky and chairman of the Appropriations Committee, would require the administration to redirect $622.1 million from other federal health programs, much of it money that had been approved to fight the Ebola virus. | The House initiative, announced by Representative Harold Rogers, Republican of Kentucky and chairman of the Appropriations Committee, would require the administration to redirect $622.1 million from other federal health programs, much of it money that had been approved to fight the Ebola virus. |
| The White House has already redirected more than $500 million that had been set aside to counter Ebola, and Mr. Ryan’s office said that, as a result, the Republican legislation would provide a total of $1.2 billion for Zika. | The White House has already redirected more than $500 million that had been set aside to counter Ebola, and Mr. Ryan’s office said that, as a result, the Republican legislation would provide a total of $1.2 billion for Zika. |
| The White House press secretary, Josh Earnest, disputed that math and essentially scoffed at the proposal, saying it constituted only about one-third of what was needed. | The White House press secretary, Josh Earnest, disputed that math and essentially scoffed at the proposal, saying it constituted only about one-third of what was needed. |
| Mr. Earnest said that public health officials had been reduced to “the bureaucratic equivalent of digging through the sofa cushions to try and come up with the necessary money.” | Mr. Earnest said that public health officials had been reduced to “the bureaucratic equivalent of digging through the sofa cushions to try and come up with the necessary money.” |
| In babies born to infected mothers, the Zika virus can cause unusually small heads and brain damage, a condition called microcephaly, as well as other neurological abnormalities. | In babies born to infected mothers, the Zika virus can cause unusually small heads and brain damage, a condition called microcephaly, as well as other neurological abnormalities. |
| The virus has been spreading in Latin America and Puerto Rico, and already hundreds of American travelers have been infected. Officials fear a wider outbreak because of the large number of spectators expected to attend the Olympic Games in Brazil this summer and have issued warnings, especially to pregnant women. Medical experts also expect infected mosquitoes to soon spread throughout the Southern United States. | The virus has been spreading in Latin America and Puerto Rico, and already hundreds of American travelers have been infected. Officials fear a wider outbreak because of the large number of spectators expected to attend the Olympic Games in Brazil this summer and have issued warnings, especially to pregnant women. Medical experts also expect infected mosquitoes to soon spread throughout the Southern United States. |
| The administration first began demanding emergency money for Zika in February. Republicans complained on Monday that the White House had never provided a sufficient explanation of how it would use the $1.9 billion it was seeking, a claim that Mr. Earnest disputed. | The administration first began demanding emergency money for Zika in February. Republicans complained on Monday that the White House had never provided a sufficient explanation of how it would use the $1.9 billion it was seeking, a claim that Mr. Earnest disputed. |
| Republicans said that they had their own estimates of how much money was urgently needed, and that additional funds could be provided through the regular annual appropriations process. | Republicans said that they had their own estimates of how much money was urgently needed, and that additional funds could be provided through the regular annual appropriations process. |
| “Given the severity of the Zika crisis and the global health threat, we cannot afford to wait on the administration any longer,” Mr. Rogers said in a statement. | “Given the severity of the Zika crisis and the global health threat, we cannot afford to wait on the administration any longer,” Mr. Rogers said in a statement. |
| In the Senate, the Zika funding would potentially not be available until agreement is reached by the House, Senate and White House on broader fiscal policy (the start of the new fiscal year, on Oct. 1), which the White House says could well be too late. |