The Associated Press
There’s little agreement on possible travel restrictions on persons coming from African nations afflicted by Ebola:
President Barack Obama:
“A travel ban is less effective than the measures that we are currently instituting that involve screening passengers who are coming from West Africa.”
Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal:
“The no-fly list should be temporarily expanded to include non-U.S. citizens in the United States or in West African countries who are not first responders, health care professionals or relief workers, and American citizens who want to travel to Ebola-stricken countries for pleasure.”
New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie:
“That’s something that the president’s going to have to decide. … I probably don’t have all of the information I’d need to make it.”
Surgeon and former Senate Republican leader Bill Frist of Tennessee:
“A travel ban, I believe, would be ineffective from a public and personal health perspective and would be grossly counterproductive to ensuring a cooperative, inclusive and closely aligned effort to eradicate the virus.”
Democratic Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado:
Doctors and other health experts should decide whether to “close borders. … Senators and congressmen shouldn’t be making those decisions.”
Rep. Cory Gardner of Colorado, the Republican nominee opposing Udall:
“We must have an immediate travel ban into effect from the affected areas.”
Thom Tillis, North Carolina House Speaker and GOP Senate nominee:
“The White House should immediately ban travel from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to contain the spread of Ebola.” (Oct. 2).
Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan of North Carolina:
“We could look at a travel ban” as one of several steps, but it is “not going to contain the epidemic that we see happening in Africa.” (Oct. 15).
“I am calling on the administration to temporarily ban the travel of non-U.S. citizens from the affected countries in West Africa.” (Oct. 17).
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