Rep. Davis: ‘Offensive’ to blame GOP for Zika funding shortage

Posted on August 11, 2016
Rodney Davis
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis says President Obama is standing in the way of Zika funding. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis said funding from an old crisis can be used to help pay to stop the latest health scare.

Davis told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin he’s calling on President Barack Obama to use nearly $600 million that was used to fight Ebola to stop the spread of the Zika virus. That’s in addition to another $600 million the Republican-led House has budgeted for next year.

“So $1.2 billion House Republicans have said we can use to fight the Zika virus, but instead the President and his allies go down to Florida and say we haven’t done enough,” Davis said. “It’s offensive and should be offensive to voters.”

The Obama administration is calling for $.9 billion to combat Zika. Davis said more money can be made available if it’s needed later.

“We’ve got to make sure we continue to fight until the truth (is revealed),” Davis said. “There’s $600 million fighting a crisis that doesn’t exist anymore when we have the Zika crisis right now.”

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported that there were 46 cases in Illinois last week.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…