Despite the party divide, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Florida Gov. Rick Scott may have at least one thing in common: a pesky little bug which thrives in the humid Florida weather, transmitting Florida’s four-letter word: Zika.
On Tuesday, Clinton made a stop in Miami, ground zero for mosquito-borne Zika transmission in the Sunshine State.
Clinton appeared at a Miami health clinic and called for Congress to take emergency action to combat the Zika virus, which has become a top Florida headline in recent months.
"I am very disappointed that the Congress went on recess before actually agreeing on what they would do to put the resources into this fight," Clinton said, adding she wanted Congress to reconvene for a special session to pass a $1.1 billion Zika funding package.
Her calls for increased funding echo Gov. Rick Scott’s same requests to increase funding to fight against Zika.
“We still need the federal government to show up,” Scott said on MSNBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday. “The President and Congress have to work together. This is a national, international issue. It’s not just a Florida issue.”
Last month, Gov. Rick Scott announced the virus had become mosquito-borne in the Wynwood section of downtown Miami, adding to the intensity for the call to fund Florida’s Zika preparedness efforts.
Florida currently has the highest number of Zika cases in the country, but other states have incidents of Zika as well.
In June, Scott wrote a letter to President Barack Obama, criticizing both the president and Congress for failing to take action to contain the spread of the virus.
While not incredibly widespread, the Zika virus has taken its toll in places like Florida, where humidity, rain and hot weather all contribute to a growing mosquito population.
“The fact that Congress has not taken immediate action to protect our nation from Zika before hurricane season began and we have entered the heart of summer heat, heavy rainfall and a growing mosquito population, is profoundly disappointing,” Scott wrote. “However, in order to best protect the 20 million people in Florida and our many visitors from the spread of Zika, I cannot waste any time on disappointment. Florida needs action from the federal government now.”
National Republicans criticized Clinton for her remarks, saying her comments should instill a sense of distrust since her running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine, voted to block a House-passed Zika measure. Kaine recently called for Congress to come back to Washington to pass the package.
“Before Hillary Clinton blames Republicans, she should look to her own running mate who voted to block Zika funding,” Ninio Fetalvo, RNC spokesman said. “It’s clearer by the day that Floridians can’t trust a Clinton-Kaine ticket that continues to place party loyalty over the people.”
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
