No, they aren’t that closely related. Yes, some women may abort if they discover their child would be born with the conditions that that Zika-infection causes. Actually, abortion is getting in the way of funding research to fight Zika.
Both Houses of Congress, after compromise (yes, Dems and Reps can compromise when they really try), a funding bill was agreed on–until one side of the aisle added some changes. The main change, the main sticking point keeping that bill from passing and research flowing is one that blocks money from going to a Planned Parenthood affiliated clinic in Puerto Rico, supposedly to stop the spread of Zika. (I can only guess that the logic is that women are so happy to have abortions available to them that they have more unprotected sex, knowing that they can always get rid of their little “mistakes” growing inside them. !!!!!!)
I don’t understand a legislative system that can tack on semi-related–or totally unrelated–amendments and details. Roberts, of Robert’s Rules of Order, would be horrified.
And I can’t understand how our legislators can be off on vacation when they can be taking g measures to stop a disease that not only affects people in other countries but also is creeping into our own.
Come on, people! Do the job we elected you to do!