Obama’s Zika Request Can Be Paid for With Ebola Funds

On Feb. 22, President Barack Obama requested an emergency supplemental appropriations bill to respond to public health concerns of the Zika virus. The request includes a total of $1.885 billion in additional funding in excess of the $518.491 billion in total base nondefense discretionary budget authority already available for fiscal year 2016. If the president’s request or another supplemental is enacted, it would be the 15th emergency supplemental appropriation enacted since 2006. Cumulatively, Congresses have provided about $190 billion in nondefense emergency supplemental appropriations since 2006. Interestingly enough, the president’s request for Zika could be paid for with Ebola funds. Read more...