Republicans have been intent on either ignoring the threat of the Zika virus or providing an insufficient level of funding by stealing from funds already allocated for other health issues, like stopping Ebola. Now it looks like they’re still intent on leaving Ebola to smolder, but at least are about to change their minds when it comes to providing some additional funds.
The financing, which is being considered by some members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, would supplement the $510 million the Obama administration recently redirected from fighting Ebola toward Zika, as congressional Republicans had urged.
Several Republicans are still playing dumb (not exactly a stretch) and pretending that they’re waiting on more information before acting. Others are still refusing to cough up any additional money, despite being aware of the looming threat. Still, it looks like one of those rare bipartisan compromises might be in the offing.
Senator Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Health and Human Services appropriations subcommittee who has been involved in the discussions, said lawmakers were working to reach an agreement that would address Zika, which has been linked to serious birth defects.
So now, all that has to happen is for Zika to only come in at the lower end of its predicted impact, for Ebola to not flare up while we’re not providing any funds, and Congress to actually get its act together and reach agreement. Don’t read any doom in that. Nope.