Acting VA Sec’y: Billions Needed To Stem Vetcare Crisis
Fixing the problems that led to the waiting-list scandal at the Department of Veterans Affairs will cost $17.6 billion over the next three years, the agency’s acting secretary told lawmakers Wednesday, requiring the hiring of about 1,500 doctors and 8,500 nurses and other clinicians.
The acting secretary, Sloan D. Gibson, told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee that the money was necessary to “meet current demand” for medical care for veterans by addressing problems that included “shortfalls in clinical staff” as well as not having enough space in clinics and hospitals to see patients on time.
“We understand the seriousness of the problems we face,” Mr. Gibson said.
The testimony by Mr. Gibson, who is running the department while President Obama’s pick to be the new veterans secretary, the former Procter & Gamble chief executive Robert A. McDonald, awaits a July 22 confirmation hearing, was the first time the department has said how many health care workers it will need to reduce waiting times — and the cost.
Naturally, cheap labor Republicans sprung into action with their doctrinaire-driven reaction that, for some reason, failed to take into account the reality-based world:
His dollar estimate drew immediate skepticism from leading Republicans, including Representative Jeff Miller of Florida, who is chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.
“Given that this figure seems to have magically fallen out of the sky today — after years of assertions from V.A. leaders at all levels that they had nearly every dollar and every person necessary to accomplish V.A.’s mission — it would be an act of budgetary malpractice to blindly sign off on this request,” Mr. Miller said in a statement. But Mr. Gibson cautioned lawmakers that there had been a “historic shortfall in internal V.A. capacity” and that the department required far more than money to simply send some patients to outside doctors.
Because nothing can explain away GOP incompetence like saying a number has “magically fallen from the sky.”
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By: dave-dr-gonzo
David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.
* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.
26 responses to Acting VA Sec’y: Billions Needed To Stem Vetcare Crisis
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edmeyer_able July 17th, 2014 at 09:25
Most days I wish something would “magically fall from the sky” and land on the heads of these asses who fail to help those they sent off to die for them.
BanditBasheert July 17th, 2014 at 12:30
They think of our soldiers as “toys” that they can move around on a giant chessboard. Not human beings who can be potentially injured or maimed for life that might require care when they return.
And let’s face it, very few of our Congressional dingbats have the balls to have served in the military active duty.
edmeyer_able July 17th, 2014 at 09:25
Most days I wish something would “magically fall from the sky” and land on the heads of these asses who fail to help those they sent off to die for them.
BanditBasheert July 17th, 2014 at 12:30
They think of our soldiers as “toys” that they can move around on a giant chessboard. Not human beings who can be potentially injured or maimed for life that might require care when they return.
And let’s face it, very few of our Congressional dingbats have the balls to have served in the military active duty.
MarcoZandrini July 17th, 2014 at 10:01
There ought to a law that sez that when the govt starts a war it MUST appropriate enough $ for the VA to take care of returning service members!
Pilotshark July 17th, 2014 at 11:06
maybe like the one they have for the post office, you know they have to fund up front for 75 years all the possible medical retirerment for all the vets that go off to war.
tiredoftea July 17th, 2014 at 11:22
First, there ought to be a law that says that everyone who votes for a war has to serve in it, along with all their able bodied family members!
BanditBasheert July 17th, 2014 at 12:28
agree….
Suzanne McFly July 17th, 2014 at 13:32
Magically we would NEVER have another war
tiredoftea July 17th, 2014 at 13:34
Now, if only men could get pregnant!
Suzanne McFly July 17th, 2014 at 22:00
In a perfect world….
BanditBasheert July 17th, 2014 at 12:27
If you look back in our history of wars, not that many soldiers returned. Medical progress has allowed us to saved thousands of soldiers that may not have survived their injuries in previous wars.
Let’s face it, the GOP wanted their nasty little wars, they just don’t want to take care of the people that got maimed by their service.
MarcoZandrini July 17th, 2014 at 10:01
There ought to a law that sez that when the govt starts a war it MUST appropriate enough $ for the VA to take care of returning service members!
Pilotshark July 17th, 2014 at 11:06
maybe like the one they have for the post office, you know they have to fund up front for 75 years all the possible medical retirerment for all the vets that go off to war.
tiredoftea July 17th, 2014 at 11:22
First, there ought to be a law that says that everyone who votes for a war has to serve in it, along with all their able bodied family members!
BanditBasheert July 17th, 2014 at 12:28
agree….
Suzanne McFly July 17th, 2014 at 13:32
Magically we would NEVER have another war
tiredoftea July 17th, 2014 at 13:34
Now, if only men could get pregnant!
Suzanne McFly July 17th, 2014 at 22:00
In a perfect world….
BanditBasheert July 17th, 2014 at 12:27
If you look back in our history of wars, not that many soldiers returned. Medical progress has allowed us to saved thousands of soldiers that may not have survived their injuries in previous wars.
Let’s face it, the GOP wanted their nasty little wars, they just don’t want to take care of the people that got maimed by their service.
Obewon July 17th, 2014 at 11:13
Repubs sure went silent quick as soon as their Iraq Veterans bill was presented for fixing the VA waiting-list Scandal costing $17.6B over the next 3 years. $2 trillion is the total Iraq Veterans Affairs cost, plus Cheney’s $4 T Iraq longest war in U.S. History totaling $6 T for his nearly bankrupt Halliburton bailout.
Obewon July 17th, 2014 at 11:13
Repubs sure went silent quick as soon as their Iraq Veterans bill was presented for fixing the VA waiting-list Scandal costing $17.6B over the next 3 years. $2 trillion is the total Iraq Veterans Affairs cost, plus the bill for Cheney’s $4 T Iraq longest war in U.S. History totaling $6 T for his nearly bankrupt Halliburton bailout. After deriding CBO’s $3.7 T 2003-4 estimate.
Budda July 17th, 2014 at 11:40
They don’t have any problem borrowing trillions for a war but don’t want to cough up a couple billion to ‘clean up’ afterwards? Cheap ba$tards
Budda July 17th, 2014 at 11:40
They don’t have any problem borrowing trillions for a war but don’t want to cough up a couple billion to ‘clean up’ afterwards? Cheap ba$tards
BanditBasheert July 17th, 2014 at 12:25
Disgusting. This has been a known problem for years. You cannot run a hospital or clinics without dollars. Congress refuses to fund. Veterans don’t get care.
And still Congress refuses to fund.
Where do they want all our injured soldiers to go?
BanditBasheert July 17th, 2014 at 12:25
Disgusting. This has been a known problem for years. You cannot run a hospital or clinics without dollars. Congress refuses to fund. Veterans don’t get care.
And still Congress refuses to fund.
Where do they want all our injured soldiers to go?