Senate announces new VA bill
The Washington Times reports that a bill with bipartisan support is being presented in Senate by Bernie Sanders and John McCain.
The bill would allow veterans more than 40 miles from a VA facility, or who experienced a long wait for an appointment, to see a doctor of their choosing, which was a key component of the Republican plan.
The bipartisan plan also would give the next VA secretary more power to fire incompetent senior officials. The secretary would have the ability take an employee off the payroll immediately, but the employee would have a week to appeal the decision if he or she feels it was made unfairly. Mr. Sanders said this gives employees due process and prevents firings for political or other inappropriate reasons like race, age or gender.
The organization would then have three weeks to make an expedited decision on the appeal.
The bill also adds 500 million bucks for more doctors and nurses at 26 locations. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop, because it sounds too good.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, New York Democrat, took the floor following the announcement and warned senators not to selfishly blow up the deal with extraneous, unrelated amendments.
See, what I mean? It sounds too good.
Category: Veterans' Affairs Department
Schumer doesn’t want pork added to the bill? Or he just doesn’t want other people’s pork? I’m sure he already has 10 pages of it for himself in there
And what does the bill consider “a long wait”? For me, I would say seven calendar days with the exception of an emergency.
It’s being brought in by a Republican to solve a current scandal plaguing the White House. Hairy Read won’t allow it on the floor for a vote. However, the Democrats will come out with a similar bill that is twice as thick and costs ten times as much to do half of what this bill will do within the next year, claiming it is better than the Republican Bill.
This from a guy (Schumer) whose entire career is built on adding asinine amendments to unrelated legislation.
That giant turd can’t lose his seat fast enough to suit me. I guess the numb nuts in NY just love them an idiot.
There is no pride in fixing something that shouldn’t have been broken in the first place. Another bill was needed to see that our veterans get decent care? Seriously??
The politicians and the federal employees that are responsible for this need to go unfuck themselves, and START DOING THEIR JOB.
“Sound good solutions to feel good issues.” How about we take half of the $5 billion Obama and Kerry want to hand out to you know, “push back radical extremists” and use it to help the VA problem. Now I realize the VA is in truth not short of money. They have a huge budget. The problem with the VA is from the front desk, give a shit receptionist, to the senior administrators. They need a new head, such as a Mattis who will clean house all the way down. Put veterans in those jobs dealing with other veterans and not, give a shit civil servants. I wish I had better, more concise and succinct words when I am angry.
Do I have this correct? A uniformed services retiree has to pay TRICARE fees, and if they are lucky can find a doctor who will accept TRICARE, in some cases not TRICARE Prime. Now a “veteran” will be able to see civilian doctors without having to pay the same fees? Is that about right?
This makes me happy. If this goes through I won’t have to drive 2 hours to the Atlanta VA to be seen. Now if only I can convince the bastards to do a spinal fusion I’ll stop being in pain 24/7.
Anything in ANY of that legislation about letting the VA charge Medicare for non-service connected care?
No? Well, then, what good is it?
Throwing more money at it will never fix a problem. That said, putting some semblance of accountability on the heads of at-will employees is a small step in the right direction. Appointing a great administrator means nothing if his hands are tied by silly rules which force incompetent and corrupt employees to remain on the payroll.