GOP pushes for accountability bill in VA reform in weekly address
(CNN) - Republicans in their weekly address Saturday slammed the Department of Veterans Affairs for keeping soldiers waiting for their disability checks.
In calling for support of the VA Management Accountability Act, Rep. Jackie Walorski associated crippling bureaucracy in the agency to preventable deaths of patients waiting for their paper work to go through.
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The legislation would give the Veterans Affairs secretary the authority to remove senior officials when problems, such as backlogs and reports of delays in care occur on their watch.
"Without this real-world accountability, the VA has become the epitome of bureaucracy run amok," said the Republican from Indiana who is a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee and co-sponsor of the accountability legislation.
"These men and women fought for our country – they shouldn’t have to fight for their own benefits. We’ve traced much of this problem back to a sheer lack of accountability."
CNN's Dana Davidsen contributed to this report.
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Crickets from Walorski when the GOP took food stamps and retirement from the vets. They blocked a jobs bill for vets.
HILARIOUS watching them walk the plank toward another November.
Is anyone paying attention to the teaklans cutting back on veterans benefits for healthcare and benefits? Obviously not.
How these same hypocrites insulted veterans after shutting down the government, veterans memorial in DC, by pretending they care and turning their own anti government actions into a self promoting show at the Mall?
Listen up veterans, who vote teaklan, the present repugs only care about you when you are fighting and dying for the US in wars set forth by lies. After you come home they don't give a rat's behind!!! Wake up!
It's also time for Boehner's do nothing House of Representatives to step up for 900,000 vetrans on food stamps. They served our country and they deserve better, so pass the bill.
-–before this some court needs to annul this NC voting Law, because that idiot Pat McRory discriminating the voters.
Accountability? Republicans don't know the meaning of the word. During Bush Administration when they had majorities in both house and senate they closed seven of eight VA psych facilities. Not a politician today that understands anything but pork
And the GOTP should find in shameful that they constantly vote down anything that would improve the veterans benefits. And the leader of this pack? John McCain himself. How long will people continue to vote against their own best interest?
Will this "accountability" apply to the "bureaucracy" that is named..."Congress"?
I have sent in a claim over a year ago nothing yet. There is no sense why something like this should take so long except government red tape.
I served my Country in a war zone and this is the respect we get from our own Government.
This is the result of two wars that have lasted the longest. We have soldiers coming back by the thousands and the VA was not ready to handle their problems. The government did not plan for this when we went to war. This is disgraceful! My understanding is the time waiting for benefits has improved a lot, but it is still way too long... Shame!! Do you know who is the only person on television that brings this issue up time again? It is Rachel Meadow!! That liberal anti-war person. Nobody else seems to care to cover this topic.
ED1
You are correct...inexcusable. Wishing you the best in this continuing battle. You would think after our vets return home that their fighting would be over. Too many find it has just begun. Sad, sad state of affairs. Again I wish you only the best outcome.
ED1 – Thank you for your service to our country. It is time that congress be held accountable for failing to spend money on those who served to protect our freedom, not the wealthiest 1%.
How does the party of GOP/Tea folks continue to dupe their soft headed supporters. I mean really...this is a no brainer. Its called projecting.....vote to reduce VA benefits and then put out an address saying that "this administration isn't doing enough to help veterans" What is it with the GOP/Tea supporters? They all have the memories that lasts about 2 nanoseconds
Did I hear Christie say during his interview with Megan Kelly governor of a LARGE state like I am, is he still in little NJ,
March 11th marked the one year anniversary of my Application for disability. Under the Obozo regime, I would have already had food stamps and a couple of Obozo phones if I had not taken the time to serve my country, work and pay taxes. If you are a doping welfare fraud or a corrupt union the most inept incompetent, corrupt president in history makes sure you get money, if you work and do the right thing, you are blasted by the Obama thugs.
@ED1: "I have sent in a claim over a year ago nothing yet. There is no sense why something like this should take so long except government red tape. I served my Country in a war zone and this is the respect we get from our own Government."
Thank you for your service and you're right – you and all vets deserve better. Just keep in mind which party voted to cut food stamps, veterans benefits, shut down the government (and then used vets at a closed memorial as props in their photo ops), and is all-too-eager to start wars.
Dems aren't perfect, but President Obama, the FLOTUS and Jill Biden, and countless others in this administration are DOING things to help, not the least of which is getting us out of Iraq and Afghanistan. And Liberal presences in the media, such as Jon Stewart, have brought attention to the VA paperwork backlog, in an effort to promote change.
Keep that in mind when you vote on November 4, 2014 and vote for the candidates whose party's ACTIONS speak louder than their empty words.
obama and the left hate the military and have shown they want it cut to the bone, starved. should anybody be surprised this administration is so pathetic when it comes to taking care of our veterans? This is a national disgrace and obama and the democrats are a massive disgrace. i don't know how any military person or their families could support these haters of the military. i hope they make their voice heard this november.
One word.... incompetence. This clown car Obama administration could get a web site up after 4 years and nearly a billion dollars. Why would anybody think they can do this job in an efficient, competent manner? Hey people, is THIS the same government you want running your HEALTHCARE?!! NO WAY!!!
If this was a private business, these people would be fired and new people brought in that could get the job done right. But since this is government and union workers, nothing ever happens, people get paid and probably bonuses, while things get worse and worse. It is your massive, wasteful, inefficient, incompetent, uncaring government bureaucracy in action. Pathetic and disgraceful.
GOP is out of touch to reality.
It's no surprise...If you look at who are the ones voting against anything for veterans..The list is all gop..look it up. Hypocrites to say the least when they mention veterans
More abuse of those who fight our country's wars. It sure would be nice, to see politicians appreciate those who keep them in power........and ripping off the people.
Catch-22, you enter the military as a piece of meat, you leave as a baked potato. Then your caught explaining this to the VA and they don't understand as they believe those that have served are pets.
Time for vets to start their own political party. It's funny to think any politician of any party gives a damn about ANYONE but themselves. Republicans and democrats are nothing but a bunch of crooks. Too much power in the hands of political figures. All three branches need to be wiped clean. I'd rather vote for an average joe with some commen sense over a lawyer politician padding his own pockets. I'm a combat vet, 3 tours of service and the only thing I want from my government is to be left alone. The VA is a disgrace. Worse than the dmv. Instead of having civilians work at the VA (I'm talking in the administration departments not in medical field), have veterans work there. For one they know how to treat vets and will have a sense of compassion for them.
Donald Henry Rumsfeld lied !
If these Repubs have decided that no agenda passes through the Congress, is time every Congressman/woman left the Capitol Hill. Contrary to these GOPers line of thought, their simple majority control of both Chambers of Congress would not change the gridlock situation they installed in the Congress.