WASHINGTON — Debate over how a divided Congress should respond to the Zika virus moved from Washington to the campaign trail in the first half of the summer recess, ranging from the presidential campaign to House contests.
While it's not clear yet that fear of the mosquito-borne virus will prove to be a major issue that moves votes, Zika certainly has emerged as a flash point in Florida, the ground zero for infections in the continental U.S.
Democratic Senate candidates in Iowa and Pennsylvania also are using Zika to attack Republicans over the slow pace of congressional action on money for vaccine development, mosquito spraying and more.
A $1.1 billion package providing funds for domestic and international Zika aid stalled in the Senate just before Congress left town in mid-July and as warnings continued from public health officials about the spread of the virus. During the first half of the seven-week recess, the first locally contracted cases of Zika within the continental U.S. were diagnosed in Miami, leading to a travel warning for pregnant women. In addition, Texas reported its first death of a newborn with Zika-related microcephaly.
Zika headlined, too, at the Republican National Convention, as Republicans made the case that Democrats were holding up funding. "As we sit here tonight a terrifying mosquito-borne illness threatens expectant mothers and their babies along our Southern coast," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said onstage in Cleveland, while urging delegates to keep the Senate within the GOP's control.
Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign is blaming Republicans. The Democratic nominee recently traveled to Miami to urge congressional leadership to bring the House and Senate back into session before their scheduled Sept. 6 return to pass an emergency spending bill.
"I am very disappointed that the Congress went on recess before actually agreeing on what they would do to put the resources into this fight," Clinton said. "And I really am hoping that they will pay attention."
"I disagree with those who say that Zika is an insignificant issue," Clinton continued, taking a jab at Republican nominee Donald Trump, who has not said much about the virus.
In the Florida Senate race, Sen. Marco Rubio's re-election campaign has focused heavily on the issue. He is one of the few Republicans in the country to call for funding the president's original $1.9 billion emergency funding request, which did not include any offsetting budget cuts.
Rubio voted for all three Zika proposals offered in May. They included an amendment he co-sponsored with Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., to provide $1.9 billion in non-offset emergency funding; a bipartisan agreement from Sens. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. and Patty Murray, D-Wash., to provide $1.1 billion in non-offset emergency funding; and a proposal from Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, that would have approved $1.1 billion in offset funds.
Rubio also voted during the summer in favor of the $1.1 billion, partially offset Zika conference report written by Republicans, which drew ire from Florida Democratic Senate hopeful Rep. Patrick Murphy.
Then, in early August, Rubio said pregnant women diagnosed with Zika should not be allowed abortions, bringing one of the most contentious social policy debates into the Zika campaign.
"I understand a lot of people disagree with my view — but I believe that all human life is worthy of protection of our laws. And when you present it in the context of Zika or any prenatal condition, it's a difficult question and a hard one," Rubio said to Politico. "But if I'm going to err, I'm going to err on the side of life."
Murphy rebuked Rubio for those comments.
"Zika is most dangerous for women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, yet Marco Rubio still opposes a woman's right to make her own health decisions," Murphy said in a statement. "Florida women need a fighter who will stand up for their right to choose and who is committed to getting our state the critical funding needed to fight this virus. It's clear that Marco Rubio will always put his ideology above women's health care _ and our families deserve better."
Florida's 27th Congressional District, which covers most of Miami and sections of Coral Gables, is the swing state's first House campaign to see a Zika-specific ad campaign, from Democratic hopeful Scott Fuhrman.
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