Why haven’t Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell called back their constituents from vacation to address funding to fight the Zika Virus? Congress left for vacation in August without a solution for multiple issues, and this virus was one of them. It’s time for them to get to work and do something for the money they are overpaid.
The average congressman works only 100 days each year, and much of those are spent raising reelection campaign funds. Their base salary is $174,000 per year, but lobbyists line their pockets with far more ‘gold’ through campaign funding and fees for speaking engagements, et cetera. They accomplish very little for those who elected them.
They have a duty to return to Washington and fund efforts to halt the Zika Virus. This disease is growing quickly in Florida, and without additional funding, the health officials in the Sunshine State will lose their battle.
Thousands of mosquitoes can breed in standing water as small as a filled bottle cap. Florida’s Governor, Rick Scott, has been pleading with the federal government to ‘do the right thing’ and take action.
“We are still asking the federal government to be a partner in this,” said Scott.
Dozens of pregnant women in Florida are now affected by the disease. Tests have proven that everyone is in danger from infection, and the results of individual illness varies.
Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine is also angry with Scott. He said the following at a recent meeting.
“It’s important that myself, the city manager, our counterparts at the county are getting timely, accurate information as fast as possible,” Levine said. “As you know, we have our constituents. We have our businesses… We’ve just got to have that information.”
He continued: “I hope that after this meeting we can be assured by you and your team that we will get information as soon as possible.”
Sadly, this is another example of why all government is bad, but our federal government is the worst. It has failed the American people for nearly eight years.
I sincerely hope that voters will read stories similar to this one and make an important decision; it’s time to ‘vote the bums out.’ Without term limits for Congressmen, our only power is in our vote. We must elect qualified candidates who will work for us, and place their personal ambitions in a secondary position.
Don’t believe what you see and hear from the media; they fail us daily. Inspect the voting records of your Congressmen and Senators. Check their attendance records. If they’re not working in Washington, they’re not working for you. Take some responsibility and cease voting for a party; vote for yourself and your family.
There is no excuse for Congress taking a vacation before addressing the Zika Virus. They have placed their personal comfort and lives of privilege ahead of the American people.
E-mail or text your legislators today, and demand that they go back to work; after all, you pay their bloated salaries; they’re supposed to work for you.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of CDC Global
Follow me on Twitter: @jamesturnagenov
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