Senate Vote To Fund $1.1B Zika Plan Sets Stage For Showdown With House
The key difference between the competing versions of the bills is that House GOP conservatives insisted that spending cuts accompany the measure so that its cost isn't added to the budget deficit.
The Associated Press:
Senate Vote Sets Up Tricky Talks Ahead On Anti-Zika Bills
The Senate on Thursday approved its $1.1 billion plan to combat the Zika virus, setting the stage for difficult negotiations with House Republicans over how much money to devote to fighting the virus and whether to cut Ebola funding to help pay for it. The 68-30 vote added the Zika measure to an unrelated spending bill and follows party-line passage of a separate $622 million House bill on Wednesday. The White House has signaled that President Barack Obama would accept the Senate compromise measure but has issued a veto threat on the House bill, saying it doesn’t provide enough money. (Taylor, 5/19)