NEW YORK — Democrats have a long history of utilizing the threat of a potential Ebola outbreak to request massive federal funds while attacking Republicans for expressing skepticism over their funding schemes.
This week, legislation passed the House as part of a larger $500 million plan Obama requested in May to train and equip Syrian rebels. Tacked on to the bill was $88 million to combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
The White House is further requesting $500 million to be added to this year's Overseas Contingency Operations for "humanitarian assistance" in West Africa.
Some of the funds are to be utilized to deploy an estimated 3,000 U.S. forces to a Joint Force Command headquartered in Monrovia, Liberia as part of Ebola relief efforts, according to a White House release.
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The Washington Post this week quoted administration officials as saying the Ebola relief effort could cost up to $750 million over the next six months.
Some Republicans have expressed skepticism over the relief efforts, prompting attacks from Democrat lawmakers.
Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., this week unveiled a new television ad reportedly using the Ebola outbreak to attack his Republican rival, Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who voted last year against pandemic response programs.
"Tom Cotton voted against preparing America for pandemics like Ebola," stated a narrator, according to the Associated Press.
The ad continues with another voice adding, "Congressman Cotton voted to cut billions from our nation's medical disaster and emergency programs."
As far back as 1995, Democrats utilized a potential Ebola outbreak to demand federal funding and then attacked Republican rivals who opposed their plans.
In April 1995, Democrats demanded an additional $170 billion dividend be added to that year's annual budget, including funding for health programs aimed at combating epidemics.
The Columbian newspaper in Washington state reported April 15, 1995, that Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., evoked a potential Ebola outbreak as a scare tactic to get the budget passed, claiming money needed to be added to the National Institutes of Health budget.
"This country is one plane ride away from a virus that could wipe out a lot of our people," she said. "What a time to walk away from health research."
With additional research by Brenda J. Elliott.