Zika is a public health emergency. Yet Congress sees it as Zika, politics as usual. It is a chance to get what you want in return for the other side being able to provide funds to address a public heath emergency.

I get a weekly newsletter from Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA). In this week’s newsletter he was talking about how the Republicans are trying to pass a bill to fund the research and the fight against the Zika virus. The bill also includes provisions relating to military construction and veterans affairs. The Democrats are filibustering this commonsense bill. In Senator Toomey’s words:

“It is absolutely outrageous that the Senate Democrats today filibustered and killed a critically important bill that increases federal funding for our veterans, allocates more than a billion dollars to fight Zika, and provides $85 million to help modernize infrastructure for Pittsburgh’s 911th Airlift Wing so it can host a C-17 squadron. With summer mosquito season in full swing and Pennsylvania’s veterans rightfully calling for improved health care and other services, I can hardly believe that my Democratic colleagues are playing partisan politics and obstructing this bill. This commonsense legislation received bipartisan support in the House, and, if signed into law, would be a huge win for Pennsylvania, especially for our veterans community and Pittsburgh. Also, the level of Zika funding in this measure is the same as what my Democratic colleagues all supported a month ago. I hope they will reconsider their extreme partisan tactics, do the right thing, and help us pass this bill as soon as possible.”

He forgot to mention that this bill includes several other provisions that Democrats greatly dislike. See Republicans and Democrats Play Chicken With Zika Funding at time.com. This has been going on for months.

Zika, politics as usual. What part of emergency do they not understand?