This scandalous outrage may cost Obama reelection in 2016 -- I'm interested in how he will sleaze out of this scandal before his run for a 3rd term.
let me guess - the liberals will try to sweep this under the rug under the "faux scandal" label. Even if our proud veterans are the ones feeling the brunt.
Totally anecdotal, but my cousin who works for me (retired navy, Vietnam, swift boater, got extra special coated in Agent Orange on multiple occasions, multiple heart attack survivor, etc....) has nothing but great things to say about the VA outpatient clinic in Kerrville and the big facility in San Antone. I wonder if it has anything to do with an age/generational thing? Unfortunately there are a whole lot more young vets now than there have been in a long time.
awww the faux outrage is so cute! Iran though right? POLITICS FOR LIFE http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/27/us-usa-veterans-congress-idUSBREA1Q26O20140227 Thu Feb 27, 2014 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republicans blocked legislation on Thursday that would have expanded federal healthcare and education programs for veterans, saying the $24 billion bill would bust the budget. Even though the legislation cleared a procedural vote on Tuesday by a 99-0 vote, the measure quickly got bogged down in partisan fighting. Supporters said the measure would have brought the most significant changes in decades to U.S. veterans' programs. For example, it called for 27 new medical facilities to help a healthcare system that is strained by veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. With Democrats pressing for passage this week, Senate Republicans, backed by their leader, Mitch McConnell, attempted to attach controversial legislation calling for possible new sanctions on Iran that President Barack Obama opposes. "The issue of Iran sanctions ... has nothing to do with the needs of veterans," complained Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bernard Sanders of Vermont, the main sponsor of the bill. Republicans also raised budget concerns, forcing another key procedural vote that ended up killing the bill. By a vote of 56-41, the Senate failed to waive budget rules that would have allowed the bill to proceed. Sixty votes were needed and 41 of the chamber's 45 Republicans voted against the waiver. Referring to recent budget deals that aim to bring down federal deficits, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama said: "This bill would spend more than we agreed to spend. The ink is hardly dry and here we have another bill to raise that spending again." The legislation had the backing of most veterans' organizations, but was doomed by deep disagreements between Democrats and Republicans that have made this Congress one of the least productive in decades. Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, had hoped senators would, "rise above the day-to-day rancor and the party politics that we see on this floor almost every single day," and support a law affecting 22 million veterans, including more than 2 million who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. With Thursday's vote, Congress sent another disjointed message to the nation's veterans. In December, Congress passed a two-year budget deal that included a reduction in veterans' pension benefits. Weeks later, Congress did an about-face and repealed many of the cuts. And early this week, with the initial 99-0 procedural vote on Sanders' bill, the Senate appeared to be delivering a strong show of support for veterans, only to see the legislation die in the Senate with Thursday's vote.
I was contracted by the VA to measure patients for custom compression garments and the worst complaint I ever heard was parking and transportation.
It is proof positive that not funding a healthcare system properly, especially given the expectation of increased services which will be required as a result of two wars, does not work.
You do know that Obama has bent over backwards trying to work with Republicans only to be rebuffed at every turn, right? I guess someone whose sole exposure to "news" is staring, slack-jawed, as the Fox pundits spew filth wouldn't realize that the above statement is absolutely accurate.
It's not a scandal because any veteran will tell you that long wait times have been a systematic problem with the VA for at least 8 years. Basically the VA did not prepare for the surge in disabled veterans that would result from two wars being waged simultaneously. I personally witness this whenever I go to the large Boston VA hospital that is roughly 30 stories tall and has one small hallway dedicated to OIF/OEF vets. Unfortuantly, instead of solving the problem politicians and people like you will only use this problem for political talking points.
Obama had not met with Shinseki in over two years. Unbelievable. http://www.nationalreview.com/article/378648/resign-kevin-d-williamson
Because the problem is over 8 years old it's not a scandal? Because the Obama transition team knew of the problem at the beginning of the administration, almost two terms ago, and has let it fester under their watch, it's not a scandal? You're rationale as to why it's not a scandal is ludicrous. The Obama administration has been oblivious to the wars conducted before and during their watch, so they get a pass on VA preparedness knowing full well what they were inheriting? Hardly.
ba$$0 and the party of no shame strike again. Repubs vote to block veterans health bill. Playing politics as usual trying to get sanctions on iran to block veterans health care? Nice work republicans. Original story: U.S. Senate Republicans block veterans' health bill on budget worry U.S. Senate Republicans blocked legislation on Thursday that would have expanded federal healthcare and education programs for veterans, saying the $24 billion bill would bust the budget. Even though the legislation cleared a procedural vote on Tuesday by a 99-0 vote, the measure quickly got bogged down in partisan fighting. Supporters said the measure would have brought the most significant changes in decades to U.S. veterans' programs. For example, it called for 27 new medical facilities to help a healthcare system that is strained by veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. With Democrats pressing for passage this week, Senate Republicans, backed by their leader, Mitch McConnell, attempted to attach controversial legislation calling for possible new sanctions on Iran that President Barack Obama opposes. "The issue of Iran sanctions ... has nothing to do with the needs of veterans," complained Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bernard Sanders of Vermont, the main sponsor of the bill. Republicans also raised budget concerns, forcing another key procedural vote that ended up killing the bill. By a vote of 56-41, the Senate failed to waive budget rules that would have allowed the bill to proceed. Sixty votes were needed and 41 of the chamber's 45 Republicans voted against the waiver. Referring to recent budget deals that aim to bring down federal deficits, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama said: "This bill would spend more than we agreed to spend. The ink is hardly dry and here we have another bill to raise that spending again." The legislation had the backing of most veterans' organizations, but was doomed by deep disagreements between Democrats and Republicans that have made this Congress one of the least productive in decades. Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, had hoped senators would, "rise above the day-to-day rancor and the party politics that we see on this floor almost every single day," and support a law affecting 22 million veterans, including more than 2 million who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. With Thursday's vote, Congress sent another disjointed message to the nation's veterans. In December, Congress passed a two-year budget deal that included a reduction in veterans' pension benefits. Weeks later, Congress did an about-face and repealed many of the cuts. And early this week, with the initial 99-0 procedural vote on Sanders' bill, the Senate appeared to be delivering a strong show of support for veterans, only to see the legislation die in the Senate with Thursday's vote. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/27/us-usa-veterans-congress-idUSBREA1Q26O20140227
I was Army. What I've found is that it usually takes around 4-6 months to see your primary care physician, but you can always go to the emergency room or if you have a day with nothing going on you can just show up and hope someone cancels their appointment so they can fit you in. I've done the "just showing up" route a few times and all but one instance I got to see someone though never my actual PCP. I don't have any really pressing medical needs and I'm fairly young so it's just an inconvenience but I could absolutely see how people with serious heath issues could die while waiting to see someone about it, especially in an area serviced by one of the crappy VA hospitals.....again, my experience is with the Houston VA hospital and Houston area VA facilities and by all accounts, they are some of the best in the country.
Please spare me your false outrage. You and I know that posters like basso and bigtexxx would rather these negative stories become more rampant regardless who who they impact as long as these stories can be tied to Obama. Watch texxx and basso care more about tying the VA's incompetence to Obama rather than actually solving the issue.
Out of curiosity, why is that unbelievable? Do Presidents have a long history of regular meetings with the VA Secretary?
I have never understood why Republicans are so quick to send people to war but don't care about veterans... The Republican track record supporting funding of veterans is terrible.
Not this time, I commend you for standing up to your own party. Its shameful what is happening to the veterans. Conservatives need to answer for blocking the funding needed to fix this.
Obama can't say that veterans are "sacred" yet not meet with the VA secretary for 2 years. Does not compute
