Both sides hyuck hyuck hyuck
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/16/zika-virus-funding-congress-politics-cdc
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/16/zika-virus-funding-congress-politics-cdc
Halfway through a hearing on Capitol Hill, as public health officials warned of dire consequences should Congress fail to pass funding to help combat the Zika virus, Tim Kaine uttered the words everyone in the room was probably thinking.
This is why people hate Congress, said the senator from Virginia, who is thought to be a potential vice-presidential pick for Hillary Clinton. This is why people hate Washington.
On Thursday, a Republican-sponsored bill that would have allocated $1.1bn in Zika funding fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance in the Senate, amid objections from Democrats, who decried the inclusion of several contentious riders.
Just two months previously, the Senate had overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan compromise that appropriated $1.1bn without any significant caveats. Barack Obama was prepared to sign it, despite having requested $1.8bn in February.
House Republicans, however, attached provisions to the bill that imposed restrictions on abortion, overturned clean water regulations, defunded parts of the presidents healthcare law, and sought to undo a ban on flying the Confederate flag at federal cemeteries.
The Republicans have said no, no, no and no, she told the Guardian. Its really frustrating. Theyre playing politics with womens health.
Republican leaders, however, said the House-passed bill could not be amended, since it was passed under a procedure known as a conference report.
Id love it if the Senate just passed bills and they became law, but it doesnt work that way, the Texas senator John Cornyn, the Senate Republican whip, told the Guardian. The House gets a vote too.
Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, blasted Democrats for blocking the Senate bill.
Its time for our friends to start worrying less about pleasing outside political groups and start worrying more about actually helping the Americans who are counting on us, he said.