"Senate War Escalates Over Zika"

"Senate Democrats are making a last-ditch effort to resuscitate a measure providing funding to combat the Zika virus, but Republicans have already panned their offer — escalating the partisan blame game as Congress prepares to leave for a summer recess without finishing a Zika bill.

In a pitch to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) called for striking several provisions in the Zika measure loathed by Democrats.

Among the changes pushed by Democrats: splitting the $1.1 billion Zika funding portion from the rest of the military and veterans funding measure; getting rid of a provision using Obamacare to offset some of the Zika cost; and striking references to the 'social services block grant' — which Democrats say include offending provisions that go after Planned Parenthood."

Seung Min Kim and Jennifer Haberkorn report for Politico July 12, 2016.