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Rubio Fact Checks President Obama’s Zika Dishonesty

Aug 27, 2016 | Press Releases

Miami, FL – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released the following statement regarding President Obama’s dishonest weekly address blaming Republicans for “saying no” to anti-Zika funding, which Democrats in the House and Senate repeatedly voted against:
 
“I supported President Obama’s request for additional funding to fight Zika and I voted for every measure the Senate considered. But Democrats repeatedly blocked the bill for political reasons, so they could use Zika to attack Republicans before the election. Senator Chuck Schumer all but admitted they are exploiting this public health crisis in order to bring down Republicans’ poll numbers. That’s why the Obama Administration waited so long to use the money it already had, and claimed they couldn’t reallocate other funds right up until they did just that. Now, fresh off his long vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, President Obama is attempting to deceive the American people, and lecturing everyone about how Zika ‘is more important than politics.’ He’s right, and the truth is that more Zika money would have been passed a long time ago if Democrats in Congress would join Republicans in voting for it, instead of voting against it.
 
“As I’ve said, it’s time to check these political games at the door and make sure we’re doing everything possible to stop Zika in its tracks. As soon as Democrats like Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi promise they won’t block the bill, Republicans should come back and vote for it again. In fact, if Democrats want to end their filibuster, the bill can be on President Obama’s desk in a matter of days.”
 
Democrats’ multiple votes against more Zika funding are well-documented by the news media: 

  • Washington Times: Senate Democrats maintain filibuster, block Zika deal for second time (7/14/16
  • Washington Examiner: Reid: Senate Dems will block Zika funding again (7/11/16
  • Politico: Democrats block Zika funding bill, blame GOP (6/28/16
  • CBS News: Senate Dems block Zika funding (6/28/16
  • CNN: Democrats block $1.1 billion Zika bill (6/28/16
  • AP: Senate Democrats Block GOP’s Zika Funding Bill (6/28/16
  • The Hill: Senate Democrats block Zika agreement ahead of recess (6/28/16
  • Roll Call: Senate Democrats Block $1.1 Billion to Fight Zika (6/28/16
  • AP: House passes $1.1B Zika bill over Democratic opposition (6/23/16)