NOTE:  The 2014 elections gave the Republicans control of the Senate (and control of both houses of Congress) for the first time since the 109th Congress [2005-2007]. With 247 [of the 435] seats in the House of Representatives and 54 seats in the Senate, this Congress began with the largest Republican majority since the 71st Congress of 1929–1931.

1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)

2. Why did Democrats block the emergency funding bill?

3. Who is Mitch McConnell? How did he respond to the Democrats decision to block the emergency spending bill for Zika?

4. How did the head of the CDC and the secretary of the HHS react to the Democrats blocking of the bill?

5. What specifically would the funding bill blocked by Democrats do?

6. Who is Harry Reid? What accusation did he make about Republicans?

7. This bill would not take away any funding Planned Parenthood already receives from the government. Read the “Background” below the questions and then answer the following:
a) How does this explanation of what the Republicans included in the spending measure regarding Planned Parenthood differ from the Times article?
b) With whom do you agree: Senate Democrats or Republicans? Explain your answer.

CHALLENGE:
What revelation about Planned Parenthood last year is the reason Republicans don’t want additional funding to go to Planned Parenthood?