While we’ve apparently decided that COVID is over, the virus did not agree to play along. Now, even with hints of a new Omicron subvariant on the rise, Congress is refusing to provide the funding necessary to continue testing and vaccinating people.
The situation is a perfect encapsulation of the completely ineffectual Congress, so let’s break it down real quick: Last week, the House of Representatives pulled a proposal for more coronavirus-related funding from a $1.5 trillion federal spending bill. While pandemic aid was just a small part of the bill, it became contentious, so Democrats in the House decided to just pull it out and push the bill forward, with a goal of passing standalone funding for coronavirus relief later. Surely that wouldn’t backfire.
