Todays news from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.): VA Chief Resigns: Eric Shinseki resigned as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs on Friday. A shortage of doctors and lack of resources was a major cause of problems at VA hospitals and clinics. “There are parts of the country where we simply do not have the number of doctors and nurses we need,” Sen. Bernard Sanders, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman, told The New York Times. The Justice Department should pursue criminal prosecution of those found to have manipulated waitlists to see VA doctors, Sanders told CNN. Sanders Saddened: Sen. Sanders was saddened by Shinseki’s resignation, WCAX-TV reported. He called Shinseki a “true American hero” during interviews on MSNBC, CNN and The Thom Hartmann Program. What Now?: Senate Democrats plan to move their version of a House-passed bill giving the VA secretary greater authority to fire high-level employees. Sen. Sanders also plans to revive a broader veterans benefits package that would allow the VA to open 27 new medical facilities around the country and provide incentives to lure more doctors and nurses into VA careers, The Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press reported. Shinseki urged Congress to support Sanders’ legislation, CBS News, Fox News, The Guardian, Politico, National Journal and Washington Examiner reported. Republicans Roadblocks: President Obama and many Democratic lawmakers say an increase in veterans using VA hospitals calls for more doctors and nurses to prevent veterans from having to endure long wait times for care. But hiring them would require a big funding increase, something that is unlikely to happen given the strong resistance by Republicans. In February, Senate Republicans blocked a bill by Sen. Sanders to expand veterans benefits. Just two Republican senators voted for the measure that would have cost about $21 billion over a decade, Reuters reported. Continue reading todays news: sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/060114
Posted on: Sat, 31 May 2014 12:41:03 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015