The Senate blocked a plan Tuesday to spend $1.1. billion to fight the Zika virus, as Democrats objected to added provisions that would limit funding for birth control, allow pesticide spraying near water sources, and raise the Confederate flag. Democrats asserted there were not included in the conference negotiation process to craft the conference report.
The Senate failed invoke cloture on the conference report for an appropriations package containing $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus and $82.5 billion in FY 2017 Military Construction-VA discretionary spending.
Sixty votes were needed to cut off debate and move toward a final vote on the House-passed conference report, which faced a presidential veto if it passed. It’s unclear if House and Senate negotiators will resume work to write a new measure that is acceptable to both chambers and the White House, following bitter exchanges between Democrats and Republicans during the past few days.