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Five Key Facts That Upend Dems’ Zika Blame Game

Friday, July 1, 2016

On Tuesday, Senate Democrats voted against a $1.1 billion agreement to speed Zika response efforts in a cynical attempt to blame the worsening epidemic on Republicans. Senator Blunt was a member of the conference committee charged with reconciling differences between the House and Senate-passed Zika measures. The agreement the committee reached was passed by the House last week and, if Democrats hadn’t blocked the measure, would be on its way to the president’s desk.

There are currently 2026 confirmed Zika cases in U.S. territories, and 935 travel-associated cases in the continental United States. It is shameful that Democrats are prioritizing their own political agenda over the health of pregnant women and their babies. As Senator Blunt said this week, “This is a public health emergency, not a political opportunity.”

As Democrats continue their politically-driven blame game, here are a few facts to keep in mind regarding this week’s Zika vote in the Senate:

FACT: Emergency Funding Needed To Respond To The Zika Epidemic Is Being Held Up Because Democrats Blocked The House-Senate Agreement To Provide $1.1 Billion For Zika Response Efforts:

  • “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)

  • “Senate Dems Block House Zika Funding” “Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a critical funding measure needed to combat the spreading Zika virus, a move that will now make it impossible for Congress to send legislation to President Obama before July 4.” (“Senate Dems Block House Zika Funding,” Washington Examiner, 6/28/16)


FACT: The House-Senate Agreement Provided The Same Level Of Funding Every Democrat Supported When The Senate Passed The Blunt/Murray Zika Amendment In May:

  • Blunt/Murray S. Amdt. 3900, Passed 68-30, 5/19/16 (Roll Call #77)
  • “Measure To Fight Zika…Earned Sweeping Support From Democrats” “On Tuesday, the Senate advanced a $1.1 billion measure to fight Zika that earned sweeping support from Democrats even though it's less than the White House request.” (“Senate Vote Sets Up Tricky Talks Ahead On Anti-Zika Bills,” Associated Press, 5/19/16)

  • “A Bipartisan 68-30 Vote” "The Senate will enter negotiations with the House with a strong hand: a bipartisan 68-30 vote in favor of the emergency funds to battle Zika, a virus that has been spreading rapidly through the Americas, with more than 100 confirmed cases in the U.S. state of Florida.” (“Senate Approves $1.1 Billion To Fight Zika Virus,” Reuters, 5/19/16)


FACT: Centers For Disease Control And Prevention Director Dr. Tom Frieden Has Confirmed That $1.1 Billion Is The Level Required To Meet The Immediate Needs Of Zika Response Efforts:

  • “Would Fund All The Agency’s Immediate Anti-Zika Needs” “Blunt has helped push through a bipartisan bill that would spend $1.1 billion, a bill that Dr. Tom Frieden, head of the CDC, acknowledged this week would fund all the agency’s immediate anti-Zika needs.”(“Blunt To Meet With CDC Head As Funding To Fight Zika Still Undecided,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 5/27/16)

  • “Senate Compromise Bipartisan Proposal Funds Nearly All Of What CDC Requested” Dr. Frieden: “The Senate compromise bipartisan proposal funds nearly all of what CDC requested and would allow us to have a really great start.” (Remarks, National Press Club, 5/26/16) 


FACT: Democrats Justified Their About Face On Zika Funding By Falsely Claiming That The Agreement Prohibits Access To Birth Control Services, When It Contains No Such Restriction And Increases Access To Health Care In Areas Most Affected By The Virus:

  • “Democrats…Made Inflated Claims About Restrictions The Measure Would Place On Planned Parenthood” “Democrats objected. They made inflated claims about restrictions the measure would place on Planned Parenthood and they complained about a watered-down version of a provision backed by the House that would ease rules on pesticide applications to battle the mosquitoes that can spread Zika.” (“Obama Threatens To Veto GOP-Backed Bill On Zika Virus Aid,” Associated Press, 6/23/16)

  • “Democrats Stretch Impact Of Planned Parenthood Exclusion In Zika Bill” “What’s important to note is that everywhere Profamilias lists a clinic -- Arecibo, Caguas, Carolina, Isabela, Moca, Ponce and San Juan -- has another type of facility that would have been eligible for additional funding to combat the spread of Zika. … [T]he bill also provided funds that would potentially help clinics and hospitals in nearly every municipality on the island.” (“Democrats Stretch Impact Of Planned Parenthood Exclusion In Zika Bill,” Politifact, 6/28/16)


FACT: Democrats Would Rather Use The Zika Epidemic To Score Political Points Than Work With Republicans To Keep Americans Safe:

  • “They Voted Down Their Own Priority To Foment The Chaos They Believe Will Work To Their Political Benefit” “After spending months demanding more funding to combat the Zika virus, they voted down their own priority to foment the chaos they believe will work to their political benefit in the fall.” (“The Zika Democrats,” Wall Street Journal Editorial, 6/28/16)

  • “Democrats Are Planning To Pin Any Spread Of The Virus Into The U.S. On Recalcitrant Republicans” “Democrats block Zika funding bill, blame GOP. Democrats are planning to pin any spread of the virus into the U.S. on recalcitrant Republicans, who are equally irate. … Indeed, in the short term, Democrats are more open to criticism: After clamoring for new Zika funding for months, they are set to vote against a bill at funding levels they’ve already agreed to. … Still, it was difficult to find a single Democratic supporter on Monday, even among the most moderate members. That suggests the minority party is comfortable with the politics of blocking the Zika bill...” (“Democrats Block Zika Funding Bill, Blame GOP,” Politico, 6/28/16)