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| Zika Bill Is Blocked by Senate Democrats Upset Over Provisions | Zika Bill Is Blocked by Senate Democrats Upset Over Provisions |
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| Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a federal spending bill that would have provided $1.1 billion to fight the mosquito-borne Zika virus, saying Republicans had sabotaged the legislation with politically charged provisions. The move raised the possibility that no new money would be available soon to fight the disease as Southern states brace for a summer outbreak. | Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a federal spending bill that would have provided $1.1 billion to fight the mosquito-borne Zika virus, saying Republicans had sabotaged the legislation with politically charged provisions. The move raised the possibility that no new money would be available soon to fight the disease as Southern states brace for a summer outbreak. |
| The stalemate, accompanied by a sharp war of words on the Senate floor, raised the prospect that the fierce partisan divide in Congress was hindering the government’s ability to respond effectively to a pressing public health emergency. | |
| Democrats blocked the bill because they said Republicans were using the must-pass legislation to score political points, jam through unpalatable policy changes, or cut money from other programs. Among the provisions, they said, were efforts to hinder access to contraception for women, and to weaken environmental restrictions on pesticide use. | |
| Democrats and the White House have been pushing since February for the Republican majorities in Congress to approve $1.9 billion in emergency financing to fight Zika, which can cause microcephaly and other serious defects in infants born to infected mothers. | Democrats and the White House have been pushing since February for the Republican majorities in Congress to approve $1.9 billion in emergency financing to fight Zika, which can cause microcephaly and other serious defects in infants born to infected mothers. |
| The Democrats reacted with disbelief on Tuesday as Republicans tried to turn the tables and blame Democrats for delaying the money because they had blocked the legislation. | The Democrats reacted with disbelief on Tuesday as Republicans tried to turn the tables and blame Democrats for delaying the money because they had blocked the legislation. |
| “We have a public health crisis descending on our country,” Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, said moments after the vote. “Pregnant women all across America are looking at this with dismay, utter dismay, as we sit here in a partisan gridlock manufactured by the other side.” | “We have a public health crisis descending on our country,” Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, said moments after the vote. “Pregnant women all across America are looking at this with dismay, utter dismay, as we sit here in a partisan gridlock manufactured by the other side.” |
| The Senate Democratic leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, was incensed. “I don’t know what universe my friend is living in,” Mr. Reid said, referring to Mr. McConnell. “What does he think? Does he think we’re all stupid? The American people are dumb?” | The Senate Democratic leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, was incensed. “I don’t know what universe my friend is living in,” Mr. Reid said, referring to Mr. McConnell. “What does he think? Does he think we’re all stupid? The American people are dumb?” |
| The sniping continued as Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican, declared, “Our Democratic friends block it because they are sore losers.” | The sniping continued as Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican, declared, “Our Democratic friends block it because they are sore losers.” |
| In May, the Senate approved $1.1 billion in funding after months of partisan brinkmanship, during which the Obama administration ultimately redirected nearly $600 million previously approved to fight the Ebola virus so that federal health agencies could get a start on working against the Zika virus. | In May, the Senate approved $1.1 billion in funding after months of partisan brinkmanship, during which the Obama administration ultimately redirected nearly $600 million previously approved to fight the Ebola virus so that federal health agencies could get a start on working against the Zika virus. |
| House Republicans, in turn, adopted legislation providing $622 million, with most of the money cut and redirected from other federal programs supported by Democrats. Democrats were willing to go along with the Senate version, but in talks controlled strictly by Republicans, House and Senate negotiators agreed last week to provide $1.1 billion, with $750 million in cuts and policy changes. | House Republicans, in turn, adopted legislation providing $622 million, with most of the money cut and redirected from other federal programs supported by Democrats. Democrats were willing to go along with the Senate version, but in talks controlled strictly by Republicans, House and Senate negotiators agreed last week to provide $1.1 billion, with $750 million in cuts and policy changes. |
| Democrats charged that Republicans had booby-trapped the legislation by adding provisions that included a ban on any direct government financing for Planned Parenthood, the women’s health organization, to provide contraceptive services related to fighting the Zika virus, which is also transmitted sexually. | Democrats charged that Republicans had booby-trapped the legislation by adding provisions that included a ban on any direct government financing for Planned Parenthood, the women’s health organization, to provide contraceptive services related to fighting the Zika virus, which is also transmitted sexually. |
| The Democrats also said that Republicans had inserted a provision cutting $500 million in financing for the Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s signature health care law, and that they had stripped a House provision that would ban the flying of the Confederate battle flag in federal cemeteries. | The Democrats also said that Republicans had inserted a provision cutting $500 million in financing for the Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s signature health care law, and that they had stripped a House provision that would ban the flying of the Confederate battle flag in federal cemeteries. |
| Another provision of the bill that Democrats disliked was a further reallocation of money from Ebola programs, totaling $107 million. While Democrats have long maintained that money previously appropriated to fight Ebola is vitally needed, it does indicate that the Obama administration still has some flexibility in reapportioning funds among different health programs — in addition to the nearly $600 million already taken from Ebola programs — while waiting for Congress to act. | Another provision of the bill that Democrats disliked was a further reallocation of money from Ebola programs, totaling $107 million. While Democrats have long maintained that money previously appropriated to fight Ebola is vitally needed, it does indicate that the Obama administration still has some flexibility in reapportioning funds among different health programs — in addition to the nearly $600 million already taken from Ebola programs — while waiting for Congress to act. |
| The White House has been reluctant to specify how much money it might be able to temporarily redirect to fight Zika — or how long it would be able to make do — because that could ease pressure on Congress to approve the new money. | The White House has been reluctant to specify how much money it might be able to temporarily redirect to fight Zika — or how long it would be able to make do — because that could ease pressure on Congress to approve the new money. |
| Whichever side is more to blame, it was clear that no new government funds would be approved to fight the Zika virus until after Congress returned from a recess for the Fourth of July holiday. And even then, the prospects of an agreement are uncertain. | Whichever side is more to blame, it was clear that no new government funds would be approved to fight the Zika virus until after Congress returned from a recess for the Fourth of July holiday. And even then, the prospects of an agreement are uncertain. |
| With Southern states expected to be hit hardest by Zika, lawmakers representing Florida have been among those pushing hardest for bipartisan action. But even Senator Bill Nelson, Democrat of Florida, said Republicans had poisoned the chances for moving ahead by blocking money for Planned Parenthood, knowing Democrats would never agree. | With Southern states expected to be hit hardest by Zika, lawmakers representing Florida have been among those pushing hardest for bipartisan action. But even Senator Bill Nelson, Democrat of Florida, said Republicans had poisoned the chances for moving ahead by blocking money for Planned Parenthood, knowing Democrats would never agree. |
| “They’re just not living in the real world, and they’re just not facing the fact that this is an emergency,” Mr. Nelson said. He noted that at least five babies had been born with microcephaly in the United States — the most recent one in Florida — but said he expected the disagreements to continue. | “They’re just not living in the real world, and they’re just not facing the fact that this is an emergency,” Mr. Nelson said. He noted that at least five babies had been born with microcephaly in the United States — the most recent one in Florida — but said he expected the disagreements to continue. |
| “We go until enough of these horrible cases are born that it is finally beginning to penetrate their hard heads,” he said. | “We go until enough of these horrible cases are born that it is finally beginning to penetrate their hard heads,” he said. |
| Democrats on Tuesday morning urged renewed negotiations, but Mr. Cornyn, speaking to reporters off the floor, said matter-of-factly, “There’s not going to be another opportunity to deal with this for the near future.” | Democrats on Tuesday morning urged renewed negotiations, but Mr. Cornyn, speaking to reporters off the floor, said matter-of-factly, “There’s not going to be another opportunity to deal with this for the near future.” |
| The vote on Tuesday morning was 52 to 48, with Republicans falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster and advance the bill to a final vote. | The vote on Tuesday morning was 52 to 48, with Republicans falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster and advance the bill to a final vote. |
| Democrats said they had no choice but to block the legislation as it was written. | Democrats said they had no choice but to block the legislation as it was written. |
| “If there was ever a bill obviously designed to fail, it was this one,” Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, said in a statement on Monday evening. “Loading up the bill with poison pills was the only way Republican leadership could pass a bill without Democratic support, and it is a cynical strategy.” | “If there was ever a bill obviously designed to fail, it was this one,” Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, said in a statement on Monday evening. “Loading up the bill with poison pills was the only way Republican leadership could pass a bill without Democratic support, and it is a cynical strategy.” |
| But Senate Republicans were unapologetic and said Democrats were now to blame. “Here we are in an utterly absurd position, playing political games,” Mr. McConnell, the majority leader said, “as this public health crisis mounts here in our country.” | But Senate Republicans were unapologetic and said Democrats were now to blame. “Here we are in an utterly absurd position, playing political games,” Mr. McConnell, the majority leader said, “as this public health crisis mounts here in our country.” |