Senate rejects defense spending, Zika funding in procedural votes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The Senate on Thursday failed to clear a set of procedural hurdles that would have ended the debate on a plan to boost defense funding to counter the effects of sequestration as well as a measure that would add money for the Zika virus.
The defense funding face-off started with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., introducing a proposal that would raise defense spending by tapping into a war funding account.
Democrat Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island countered and requested spending $18 billion on domestic programs by using funds earmarked for military operations against the Islamic State.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
On Thursday, both amendments failed to clear key procedural votes. Sixty votes are needed to pass the proposal. McCain’s measure failed 42-to-56 while Reed’s failed 43-to-55.
The Senate also shot down a proposal by the Obama administration for additional funding to fight the Zika virus.
The administration requested $1.9 billion in February that would allow officials to continue Zika prevention efforts and begin studying long-term effects of people infected by the disease.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The House and Senate each passed their own Zika bills that would provide funding at levels lower than the administration’s request.