Senate Democrats called for renewed negotiations. PhotoSenate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a federal spending bill that would provide $1.1 billion to fight the mosquito-borne Zika virus, because they said Republicans had loaded the measure with politically charged provisions. Democrats were enraged, saying the bill was sabotaged by other provisions, including cuts in federal financing for Planned Parenthood, the women’s health organization. In a deal last week, Republican negotiators, working without reaction from Democrats, settled on $1.1 billion, with $750 million in offsets from other spending. Democrats have charged that Republicans have inserted unpalatable policy riders into legislation — provisions on abortion, gay rights or guns— that ensure that Democrats would not vote for the measures.

Source: New York Times June 28, 2016 15:21 UTC