Texas GOP lawmakers lambaste Obama over Zika funds

State’s congressional Republicans claim White House withheld money

WASHINGTON — All the Republicans in the Texas congressional delegation have signed a letter being sent to President Barack Obama on Friday alleging that the administration has held back some $400 million that they say could be available immediately to fight the Zika virus.

The letter, obtained by the Houston Chronicle, expresses the lawmakers’ “serious concern” over money to fight the mosquito-borne illness, which is expected to have a significant impact on Houston and much of Texas’ Gulf Coast amid a rash of hot summer weather and flooding.

The letter comes amid partisan sniping over Congress’ failure to pass a $1.1 billion spending measure before leaving for its annual summer recess, with Democrats accusing Republicans of sabotaging Zika legislation by including “poison pill” provisions targeting Planned Parenthood and allowing Confederate flags in federal cemeteries.

As the issue spills over into the fall presidential election, Republicans, including Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, have characterized the Democratic objections as politically motivated distractions. Friday’s letter was prompted by news reports suggesting that some $400 million remains unspent from a $589 million allocation that the administration repurposed in April from other health programs. “In other words, your administration has not used all available tools to protect our constituents and the American people from the threat of the Zika virus,” the lawmakers wrote.

While demanding that the president put the unspent money to use, the Texas Republicans also called on the White House to help break the Democratic filibuster on the unfinished Zika spending bill that would fund the development of a vaccine and mosquito control efforts.

Deputy White House press secretary Eric Schultz told reporters Monday that “there’s only a finite spreadsheet available of funds” and that additional funds are “stuck in Congress.” Republican lawmakers say that ignores existing funds that already are available.

“We are concerned that you and your Administration are attempting to give a false impression and shift the blame for failed leadership in combatting the Zika virus,” the letter said.

The letter was signed by Cornyn, along with Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and all 24 Texas Republicans in the U.S. House.