Another failed Zika vote could be start of new deal

Provisions added to measure still a major hurdle

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats on Tuesday for the third time in two months blocked a $1.1 billion legislative package to help fight the Zika virus, but lawmakers in both parties said they now hope negotiations will begin in earnest to quickly come up with a bipartisan deal to address the potential public health crisis.

Congress is under intense pressure to pass a funding agreement before the end of September when Centers for Disease Control director Tom Frieden estimates his agency will run out of money to continue its efforts to combat the spread of Zika, which can cause birth defects.

Before negotiations begin in earnest, however, Senate Republicans on Tuesday were eager to make a political point by forcing Democrats to once more block Zika legislation that passed the House earlier this year.

The vote was 52 to 46, and 60 votes were needed for the legislation to advance. The Zika funding is part of a broader bill funding the Pentagon and veterans programs.

Democrats are blocking the legislation over objections to what they charge are politically motivated provisions Republicans added to the bill, including language preventing the Zika funds from being used by Planned Parenthood and provisions relaxing use of certain pesticides.

The CDC reports that there were 35 cases of locally-transmitted cases of Zika in the United States as of Aug. 31. An additional 2,686 were reported as travel-related transmissions. At least 16 babies have been born in the United States with birth defects linked to the virus.

The time pressure has many, including Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., preparing to link Zika talks with negotiations to pass a short-term spending bill before the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Tuesday that he thinks it would make sense to combine the budget and Zika talks.

“We can’t neglect that any longer,” Cornyn said. “I think trying to find some path forward in a year-end appropriations bill would make sense.”

Mark Wilson / Getty Images Congress returned from its summer break Tuesday with funding to fight the Zika virus at the top of the agenda. Meanwhile, restoration work on the rotunda inside the U.S. Capitol was completed, drawing attention from visitors.