'Give Me A Break'

That was Speaker Ryan's response when asked, point blank, why House Republicans continue to put their radical agenda ahead of enacting the emergency funding needed to protect American families from Zika.  After skipping town for the longest summer recess in the modern era, Speaker Ryan needs a break from the tough questions about House Republicans' stunning inaction in the face of this urgent public health crisis.  From the House GOP press conference today:

Q: Why not just accept a clean bill that does not have restrictions on Planned Parenthood?

Speaker Ryan.  Restrictions on Planned – look, give me a break on this thing… I think they're just being wholly partisan… just so you know, the House did its job and the Senate has been blatantly political with Zika funding.

Here's what's "wholly partisan": House Republicans prioritizing their assault on women's access to comprehensive health care over fighting the Zika virus.  With almost 17,000 Americans – including nearly 1,600 pregnant women – with confirmed cases of Zika, it's American families who need a break from the callous obstruction of this Republican Congress.

As Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said at a press conference today demanding urgent action on Zika from House Republicans, "So when the Speaker says, ‘give me a break,' … No.  Let's give the babies a break, Mr. Speaker.  Let's pass this bill."