Congress has no good reason to delay Zika funding
From Bloomberg View
More than two months after the White House asked Congress for more than $1.8 billion to fight the Zika virus, Congress has yet to provide it. President Barack Obama, Republicans claim, has failed to explain in sufficient detail how his administration would spend the money.
Perhaps his 25- page proposal, sent to House Speaker Paul Ryan in February, got lost in interoffice mail. If so, no worries: There’s also a summary on the Web. Most of the money — about $1.5 billion — will go to the Department of Health and Human Services to help states control the mosquito that carries the virus, expand programs to test for it, and work on developing a vaccine.
The case for action now is overwhelming. The virus is active in central and South America, and come summer, the Zika-bearing Aedes aegypti mosquito will begin to spread the disease across much of the continental U.S. Pregnant women who contract the disease are at greater risk of giving birth to children who are stillborn, have microcephaly, or experience eye and brain lesions. Zika can also cause Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults, which can lead to paralysis.
Among the questions Republicans say remain unanswered is what portion of the money is needed for the current fiscal year. That level of detail wasn’t necessary in 2005 when President George W. Bush requested and received emergency funding from Congress to combat avian flu. Nor was it necessary in 2014 when Obama sought and received emergency funding to fight Ebola.
Republicans also argue that the federal government has enough money left over from the fight against the Ebola virus to deal with Zika, since Ebola is no longer a public health emergency. But the administration has already transferred $600 million in Ebola funds to fight Zika, and it claims that taking more from that effort could leave Americans exposed to another outbreak; there have been Ebola cases recently in Guinea and Liberia.
Finally, House Republicans say that any request for new money to combat Zika should come through the regular appropriations process, rather than through an emergency request. That approach would delay any new money until the end of the year — at the earliest. But emergency requests are called that for a reason. If a disease that could endanger newborns across the southern half of the U.S. by July doesn’t qualify as an emergency, it’s hard to say what does.
Whatever the explanation for Republicans’ truculence — and opposition among some factions of the party to any new spending undoubtedly factors into it — it’s a delay that could endanger lives. There have already been 891 cases of Zika in the U.S., including 81 pregnant women. Republicans need to move, and quick. From the Los Angeles Times
SThai on Broad — For a few years now there has been a Thai restaurant in the 500 block of Broad Street. At one time it was Crystal Thai, then it became Yummy Thai. It’s refreshing to have a more exotic alternative to burgers and hot wings and pizza. Now don’t get me wrong. I love eating at most of the downtown restaurants, but it’s good to know that if locals and out-of-towners are in the downtown area and want something a little different, they can sample a little Thai fare.
Dozier — There’s a gentleman I’ve known for years as simply Dozier (I’m assuming that’s the spelling of his name). He’s always around the downtown area but rides his bicycle (his only mode of transportation) all round Rome. I’ve always known Dozier to do odd jobs in different places to make a living. He wears gloves most of the time as well as socks and sandals and a jacket — even at the hottest times of the year. For quite a while he’d come up to the tennis center most evenings to chat with my friends and me. I don’t think he’s homeless but it’s clear he doesn’t have much. Dozier is always entertaining, willing to share funny stories of his exploits around Rome, very candid about his life and happy to talk to just about anybody. He’s quite the character.
That tower near the Federal Building — I’ve lived in Rome for about 12 years now, and I still have no clue what that big concrete tower is that’s next to the Federal Building on East First Street (which houses the U.S. District Court and used to house the downtown post office). My guesses are that it’s an aviation control tower long forgotten and neglected or a secret UFO base … but I have no way to substantiate either. I’m sure it’s something much less romantic, and I’ll get a flood of emails and calls telling me exactly what it is — but for now I’ll imagine that there is some dark, sinister secret hidden within its walls.
The Dari King Ann Culpepper — I first met Ann when I moved to Rome several years ago and didn’t know any-
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That antique store on Shorter Avenue across from Krystal — I have no clue what the name of that store is, but ever since I moved to Rome that building has been hidden behind layers of antiques sitting outside waiting to be purchased. I’ve never stopped to look in, but each time I pass I know I’ll see some brass bed frames, wagons, or a sink, some wicker chairs and various other pieces of old furniture for sale. And it doesn’t seem like they’re ever brought inside.
Kaleido Sno — I know this Broad Street fixture sells good food, but everyone I know goes there for one reason — their tasty snow cones. When the weather warms up there are few things as refreshing as a cold Kaleido Sno. It seems like they have 100 different flavors and everyone has their favorite. You can get common flavors like strawberry or blueberry but the place is known for all its fun, creative flavors. My friends order Tiger’s Blood or Red Velvet Cake or Tres Leches or even a White Russian. I prefer the Caramel.
“Cotton Bud” Rogers — I’ve heard tell of a musician named Cotton Bud Rogers, so-called because he was albino. People say he was a very fine musician who was part of a live radio show on WRGA in the ’ 60s. It was broadcast from Beech Creek Baptist Church on Saturday mornings. He also had ties in the music business throughout the South. Cotton Bud shared his music over the airwaves but he also shared it by giving music lessons in his home. One local says he remembers being 11 or 12 years old in 1966 and taking guitar lessons from ol’ Cotton Bud around then. And he remembers the respected musician doing local shows around town for various nonprofit groups.
Like I said, these people and places aren’t on any official brochures, post cards or posters promoting the city, and you won’t find them on coffee mugs or refrigerator magnets, but I’ll make the argument that they’re just as important to the diverse texture of our community as anything else. Rome is unique and attractive to visitors not just because of the big, iconic structures and attractions, but also because of the quirky and colorful people and places around us.