VA Scapegoat Sacrificed, So Now Can We Fix The VA? [View all]
http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/dave-johnson/56164/va-scapegoat-sacrificed-so-now-can-we-fix-the-va
VA Scapegoat Sacrificed, So Now Can We Fix The VA?
by Dave Johnson | May 31, 2014 - 8:30am
Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki has been forced out. A scapegoat has been found. Maybe now we can step back and look rationally at the real problems at the VA. These problems include:
* Inadequate funding.
* Not enough primary care doctors.
* Not enough clinics.
* Doctors and staff are underpaid.
* Lots of other problems resulting from chronic underfunding.
Republicans filibustered a VA funding bill in February. Next week Sen. Bernie Sanders is re-introducing his bill to fix these problems. Republicans have a second chance to fix things.
~snip~
In February Republicans blocked, killed, filibustered — whatever you want to call it, they obstructed Senator Bernie Sanders’ Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Pay Restoration Act that would boost VA funding and help fix these problems. The bill was supported by a majority of the Senate and would have passed except for the obstruction. Now they are blaming President Obama, Democrats and government generally for the damage resulting from their own obstruction. And they are even already running campaign ads against Democrats based on the scandal they caused.
Next week Senator Bernie Sanders is reintroducing his bill. The bill increases the VA budget by $21 billion, improves veterans’ health and dental care, authorizes 27 new veterans’ clinics and medical facilities, adds to veteran education programs and repeals a provision of the Murray-Ryan budget deal that slashed military pensions. And it does a number of other things to improve the situation for veterans. Again – Republicans blocked, killed, filibustered, obstructed, whatever this bill just 3 months ago!