Pelosi, Democrats Block Veterans Affairs Funding From Friday’s Omnibus Bill
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca) and other Democrats “put the breaks on legislation” claiming it “won’t reduce wait times and won’t make the VA easier to use.”
The reversal came following a compromise reached by both Democrats and Republicans that even satisfied testy veteran organizations overseeing the process.
The compromise was something “we can live with,” said Garry J. Augustine, executive director of the 1.3 million-member Disabled American Veterans. “And we are disappointed by the holdup. This is something we’ve worked really hard on, and we’ve tried to come up with compromises on getting [this] right.”
Exactly what will happen with the legislation in question, Caring for our Veterans Act, S.2193, is presently unknown. It was intended for inclusion in the omnibus bill to cover federal spending for the rest of the fiscal year and must be passed before midnight Friday to avoid a government shutdown.
In the past two months, the government has shut down twice. The omnibus bill would avoid a shutdown this Friday. Now, by outstripping Veterans Choice expansion, Leader Pelosi and Democrats are definitely playing games with veterans’ access to health care despite previous bipartisan support.
I for one would like to hear precisely what Leader Pelosi thinks would reduce wait times and make VA easier to use. Wouldn’t you?
Chairman Roe Letter To Leader Pelosi
Chairman Roe wrote the following in response to Pelosi’s obstinacy:
Dear Minority Leader Pelosi,
I am writing in regard to the letter you received yesterday from a number of our nation’s largest and most active veterans service organizations (VSOs) – The American Legion, AMVETS, the Disabled American Veterans, the Military Officers Association of America , the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
As you know, Chairman Isakson and Ranking Member Tester of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and I were able to achieve agreement over the weekend on a proposal that would strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system for our nation’s veterans now and in the future. Specifically, it would consolidate and improve VA’s disparate care in the community programs (including Choice); expand comprehensive support to caregivers of veterans of all eras; and address VA’s aging infrastructure portfolio through a transparent and objective Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) process.
AIR resulted from a Commission on Care recommendation that called on Congress to enact legislation to establish a VA facility and capital alignment process to be implemented as soon as practicable. That recommendation was supported by the Commissioners that you appointed – including Michael A. Blecker, Charlene M. Taylor, and Col. Lucretia M. McClenney. It was also supported by the Commission Chairwoman Nancy M. Schlichting, who was appointed by President Obama.
AIR proceeded through rigorous regular order. It was the topic of a Full Committee oversight hearing on July 12, 2017, a Full Committee roundtable discussion with VA and VSOs on September 7, 2017, a Full Committee legislative hearing on October 12, 2017, and a Full Committee markup on November 8, 2017. In addition, I had small group meetings throughout October with Majority and Minority Committee Members – including Ranking Member Walz, Congressman Takano, Congresswoman Brownley, Congressman O’Rourke, Congressman Peters, and Congressman Correa – and my staff had one-on-one meetings throughout September and October with any VSO or other stakeholder that wanted to discuss AIR. As a result of those efforts, numerous changes were made, to include the following:
- Expanded the timeline an additional four years to allow VA time to gather data, complete market assessments, and stabilize community care efforts;
- Require the Commission to be reflective of the current demographics of veterans enrolled in the VA healthcare system;
- Require VA to consult with VSOs prior to the publication of VA’s criteria for modernization/realignment and extend the public comn1ent period for those criteria from 130 days to 90 days;
- Require VA to consult with VSOs and local veterans when conducting the market assessments and when making recommendations regarding the modernization/ realignment of VA medical facilities;
- Require the market assessments to consider the unique ability of federal health care to retain a presence in rural areas where commercial providers may not exist or are at risk of leaving and how deficiencies may be filled by expanding VA ‘s internal capacity to provide care (including but not limited to extending hours of operation, increasing VA personnel, or expanding space through the construction, leasing or sharing of facilities);
- Require the Commission to conduct public hearings in each region where VA has recommended a facility be closed and, to the extent practicable, in regions impacted by any other VA recommended actions;
- Require that all proceedings, information, and deliberations of the Commission be available for review by the public;
- Require Commissioners to serve without compensation;
- Require that information transmitted or received by VA, the Commission, or the President regarding the Commission or Commission-related activities be made publically available online within 24 hours;
- Remove the requirement for witnesses at Commission hearings to testify under oath;
- Amend the definition of “modernization” to include “the construction, lease, or sharing of facilities”;
- Prohibit VA from pausing major or minor construction while the Commission is ongoing;
- Authorize VA- after consulting with VSOs -to include in future budget-submissions following the termination of the Commission a recommendation for future Commissions or other capital asset realignment/management processes; and
- Require VA to consider the extent to which VA medical facilities are appropriately staffed and whether there has been insufficient resource allocation or deliberate understaffing.
I am proud that, as a result of these changes, the VSO letter to you yesterday affirmed that AIR will result in “a stronger, more focused, better aligned VA infrastructure designed to support the delivery of care to veterans when and where they need it.” Our veterans deserve no less.
Moving forward, I urge your support for the inclusion in this week’s omnibus spending bill of the bipartisan, bicameral deal that Chairman Isakson, Ranking Member Tester, and I have achieved. Our VSO partners agree that this deal represents a “historic opportunity” that could “measurably improve the lives of millions of veterans today and in the future.” I wholeheartedly agree with them and I hope you do too.
Sincerely,
David P. Roe M.D., Chairman
lets just go in to civilwar. this is civil unrest at its finest. fuck waiting we got to stand run walk with something in our hands . we have police men and women recieving awards for killing veterans this is how congressmen and women pledge the war with veterans.
let the American people understand no veteran can find happiness in the VA and if u do you are being lied to until the VA figures out a way to rob what is the only right that keeps veterans alive which is a promise granted for the battle borne.
VA is the enemy they should not be granted to hold veterans never use there malignant mal triage of so called care again . they should be made examples what not to do in your government . they will lead more veterans to commit mass shootings if not mass explosive in areas of occupation or routes. you will see more youtube videos or signs of media in which this veterans will carry out such monstrosity if the VA doesn’t start telling the truth and setting great reconciliation of integrity .
i say die with honor die with the intentions of killing these corrupted members of congress that are killing veterans by making them homeless, giving them addictive properties such as pharmaceutical and robing there promise to prosperity;Which has been given by a president that freed african slaves.
the children of the African American slaves that now carry civil rights and reparations from social security jobs and veterans jobs are given the incentive to deceive and in now demand unionized socialism and impunity has showed dis-court to fatten corrupted politicians that plan to use more taxes to the American heart land we call home for the people .
you are bait if you are truly happy within a corrupted Establishment that has warrant there impunity against the men and women protecting there land other than the constitution that has garnish there wages.don’t ask me how if u haven’t seen the body language and the writing on the wall .
this nation can only deceive and lie now it has been proven by an American president called trump.
if u cant give a veteran money you should be able to give him land and his choice of his protection it was one of our rights before governmental law changed it .
Nancy is a socialistic bureaucrat hidden in a democratic political virtue of bad karma. she hates American veterans with a passion to kill them slowly and without the intent to let them issue there own prosperity .
Nancy is not human and should be taken out like the dog . she is a pet to the Clinton’s we are very lucky that she was not POTUS, you would of seen American veterans become American terrorist.
she needs to be a target .she needs to be taken out fast. there’s got to be another way a great veteran leader to give us our own right of happiness.
shut the VA down or burn it down disband all VA organizations.dismantle DAV. AMVETS,LEGION ,etc. send a message to american people and political leaders . civil war or peaceful reform for veterans that have the right to happiness and prosperity. no veteran wouldn’t mind shooting targets that discredit former soldiers. and if u do mind as a veteran should take alook at what your government is doing to you.
stop waiting to die and rush your death by giving it to the evil assholes in DC a good fight. no sense on waiting on a good thing that cant be promised by u by greedy bureaucrats that call themselves the good of the people.
pure awful makes me sick that an American imprisoned by this .
I know it’s cold in DC, but I wonder what a Million Vets march would do to wake up the political whores
The VA, VSO’s, DNC, et alia: are all globalist trying to get rid of potential Trump voters by denying good health care to white males,(delay, deny, hope we die).
From; “The Fiscal Times”
Dated: today
By: Yuval Rosenberg and Michael Rainey
Titled;
“Congress’ Race for a $1.3 Trillion Spending Bill Nears the Finish Line”
The winners and losers. What’s in it, and what’s not!
Off topic on the Delays.
“https://www.leagle.com/decision/infdco20130117f04” Over 3 million in an award to vet for non treatment of PTSD at “WBVAMC” in Pennsylvania.
So the fix is in financing the VA so it can obtain and retain good physicians. Not a half measure or a Choice contractor that is absconding with the cash and not paying the providers.
A few awards like this one by the Courts will bring action in Congress that has been focused on reducing entitlements back to its true Constitutional obligations. Can’t pass nice laws and then refuse to fund them.
This came to me because of my on case asking for 3.75 Million in back pay and future pay covered by correction of Naval Record to show that I was discharged in Apr of 1991 with 30 years of honorable service as an E-8 electing spouse pension.
The Judge has had it for almost 3 weeks without a decision on whether to dismiss as ask by the U S Attorney. I think a quick dismissal would have been bad for me. Taking this much time means my brief struck home and to dismiss needs to be well grounded.
Sounds like the judge is doing a thorough job. Hope he finds in your favor.
Same here, hope this is good news for you Lem. About damn time.
I just got a refusal of service from my Choice mental health provider. If the contractor won’t pay the providers it won’t help veterans because the services become unavailable. The providers won’t work pro bono forever.
Pelosi is right. No sense throwing good money after bad. Fix the program by getting new contractors and put some teeth into oversight by the VA and the VA Committees in the Choice Contracts. Obviously Health Net has scammed the government.
Look at Ben’s previous post on the subject.
Talk about a Shitty maneuver by Democrats! While checking the Google News listings for Articles that Relate to Veterans. I noticed how Ben’s article for today is listed in Google News surrounded by Payday Loan advertisements.
Check it Out “https://www.google.com/search?q=veterans+administration&tbs=sbd:1&tbm=nws&ei=Tp6yWoXaDoywjwOUmJjYAg&start=20&sa=N&biw=1555&bih=963&dpr=1”
While I am sure that it will change pages eventually it is what it is right now.
Also noticing that all of the listings for these payday loans all lead to one website “https://www.thecommunityvoice.com”. Which leads to a newspaper in Nancy Pelosi’s district.
When I clicked on several of the supposed Google news listing in the list. It lead me to a page with a 3″ x 3″ banner ad on a otherwise blank page, with no article and a link directly below the banner ad to start applying for a payday loan.
Lawyer: Ex-Kansas VA Worker Subject of Nearly 100 Sex Abuse Lawsuits
Insurance Journal
March 21, 2018
“The number of lawsuits accusing a former physician assistant at a Veteran’s Administration hospital in Kansas of sexual abuse is approaching 100.
The Wichita Eagle reports that Kansas City attorneys Dan Curry and Sarah Brown filed three more lawsuits last week on behalf of former patients of Mark Wisner. He was sentenced last year to more than 15 years in prison for sex crimes involving patients at the Eisenhower Veterans Administration Medical Center in Leavenworth.
Curry said he expects to file a few more lawsuits in the near future, bringing the total number to around 100. Some seek $2 million or more in damages.
Prosecutors said Wisner performed improper and medically unnecessary genital examinations on patients from 2012 to 2014. He resigned and had his license to practice revoked in 2015.”
Full article at: “https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/midwest/2018/03/21/484052.htm”
___________
Wisner would be a great cell mate for Shulkin if Trump gets his shit together.
Seymore,
I received this article from the “DAILYWIRE” dated yesterday, (20 Mar 2018), about the suicide rate in America.
The title is kinda misleading, in as much, because it touches on everyone except veterans. Yet, there’s reason to believe, veterans could be affected by what Ben Shapiro, (the author), explains about suicide!
The title of the article is;
“CDC: Youth Suicide Skyrockets 70% Over Last Decade: Here’s Why”
What’s your thoughts on this?
VA sent me a Choice card 3 years ago then the patient advocate told me I couldn’t use the Choice card because of blah, blah, blah, etc. even though I live more than 40 miles from the VA. I don’t trust any of VA’s PCP’s or anyone else at the VA. It’s possible that AFGE union bosses got to pelosi over this. No waiting times at the VA? What a load of VA crapola! That had to come from the VA and AFGE! Being a veteran makes me a 3rd rate citizen only I don’t even call myself a citizen anymore now I just say I’m a resident that’s all. Wish I were an illegal. Then I’d get treated better. Especially in pelosi’s home state of Kallifornia!
Dennis P,
Sorry but just have to point out that Illegals get better medical care then Veterans so you we are not even considered third class citizens. We are considered somewhere below the level of serial killers and rapist.
My list/petition is quite simple.
1. Get rid of union.
2. Get rid of VSOs.
3. Make VSOs employees (everyone from CEO to janitor) pay taxes on earnings. No more tax free lunch.
4. Take away Federal Financial Assistance from VSOs.
5. Saving the best for last…..abolish the VA and allow veterans to choose their healthcare providers.
Pelosi is a nucking funt, I can still hear her running around “we won, we won” kinda like “de plane, de plane” Now that “they” didn’t win, a shit storm of endless BS.
I can’t think of another single entity, I hate more than a POLITICIAN!! The real enemy of Veterans, and the United States.
What’s the use? We, as vets, were fucked, are fucked and will continue to be fucked.
In the past two weeks, I requested a change to my PCP because she prescribed two medications which were contraindicated and could cause a “potentially life-threatening adverse drug reaction.” When I confronted her about it after telling her nurse why i wanted to speak to her, her comment was, “yes, I was informed.” No apology, no reason. It is a good thing I check on the internet before I take any medications these quacks prescribe.
I then drove 65 miles for a dental appointment, waited 15 minutes to be able to check in and was told the dentist called in sick. They insisted I was called until I showed them the the call record on my phone. I had waited since January 23 for the appointment when I had a temporary filling put in. The rescheduled appointment is for June 1.
The pre 9/11 vet caregiver provision has been stripped from the new bill. The VA should just tell me and most pre 9/11 vets they just want us to go away (die) – at least then I could respect their honesty.
Off Topic:
Forbidden Book Shelf: Banned Book,” The Wages of War”, When Americas Soldiers Came Home: From Valley Forge To Vietnam”. Good read, absolutely despicable what this country does to its veterans. Its a good read, every veteran should read this book. Authors Richard Severo and Lewis Milford.
“The VA exists to limit the government’s liability” quoted from the book.
I am fairly sure it was Ben that informed us last year, that the VA evolved from the Bureau of War Risk Insurance.
Yes, Ben did mention that, excellent mental retention.
Isn’t it interesting to see how Pelosi was so concerned over illegal aliens, she and Schumer shut down government, but when it comes to veteran healthcare, she just blocks funding.
Given the letter to her, and the support for funding by many in her own party, I get the sense Nancy is taking the hit in this for trying to squeeze protection for her AFGE donors. There may be several others in her party that want this blocked, but its her job to take the hit.
If you look at the letter from Roe, it has little to do with wait times, and everything to do with possibly closing old or under used facilities, which means loss of jobs in her district.
How many small facilities are scattered throughout her district that cost millions to keep open, yet only provide minimal care to a few veterans?
Pelosi should realize veterans in many parts of the country have to travel long distances to get to a VA. Perhaps veterans in her district can get better care traveling to a better facility…or actually get care through Choice in their own community if it were properly funded and those AFGE hacks didn’t sabotage the program.
Off topic.
This might be useful to someone.
On today’s CBS This Morning Rundown @8:40 “Songwriting brings veterans together”. Gayle said something about finding additional info on the podcast link (under the ‘more’ dropdown) but, I don’t yet see it there; maybe after all live airings are finished?
Now how many “Songwriting vets do you have in your neighborhood”…..I think a truckload of beer would do the same thing, Only BETTER
Or…a truckload of a cannabis kind bud would work even better for those of us that prefer to not make John McCain any richer and skip the Budd and suds altogether. 😀
Not only is Pelosi a selfish, stupid bitch – – – she is ugly from the inside out. “We must pass a bill into law in order to find out what is contained in it . . . ”
Logic like that is the primary reason the Congress is so useless. Should know what is in a bill before voting it into law.
It is high time for some real leadership at the VA. Leadership that speaks truth publicly about how bad things have really gotten. Leadership that develops solutions to take better care of ALL our nations warriors.
Leadership that recognizes that when they are doing a good job – – – it will be veterans singing their praises, rather than the VA needing a PR Agency to put out “Fluff Pieces” to mislead America and her citizens about what a stellar job they are doing.
They are not. In fact, they are doing a very piss-poor job. The VA has a first-world budget which they use to provide veterans less than third-world medical care.
Current VA leadership has their Brain Housing Group the size of mice and their Heart no bigger. It is about FIFTEEN YEARS PAST TIME TO FIX THE GODDAMN BROKEN VA:
1. IMMEDIATELY recognize the problems inherent in the VA are SYSTEM-WIDE, not just limited to a few locations.
2. Fire all the Lazy No Good Workers. Fire EVERY single AFGE/SES Employee.
3. Sell off all the VA facilities. Alternatively, they may be converted into military barracks-style housing for homeless veterans.
4. Issue all veterans a card that allows them to choose their own doctors within their community that they can TRUST.
5. The United States Government will PAY those doctors promptly (Within 45 days) for the care they provide veterans.
6. ELIMINATE the “Federal Protection” Umbrella for incompetent QUACKS that the VA sends to other states to practice other than their own. Going to practice in XX state? You need to be LICENSED in XX state.
7. Any claim a veteran submits to the VBA that requires more than 90 days to adjudicate, is automatically found to be in favor of the veteran.
Should a veteran file a false claim to scam the system, the VA will have to prove in civil court that the claim was falsely submitted. For filing a false claim, the veteran will be mandatorily subject to ALL of the following:
(A). The claim shall be denied. If the veteran has received any form of benefits because of the false claim they will be required to fully repay the benefits at cost.
(B). The veteran will be banned from all VA facilities for the remainder of their life.
(C). The veteran will lose any benefits they originally have or had, and will not be allowed to file for further benefits.
8. All veterans will be allowed to seek/retain the services of a Veterans Rights Attorney from their first initial contact with the VA. This will help to protect the legal rights of veterans against corrupt and incompetent VA employees.
9. No AFGE, nor any other Labor Union business will be allowed to take place in any Federal Workplace. Conducting Union Business during working hours will be STRICTLY PROHIBITED, and will be STRICTLY ENFORCED. Should any government employee be found violating this provision, it will result in IMMEDIATE LIFETIME DISMISSAL FROM ANY/ALL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYMENT.
10. Attorneys for appeal will be retained at the former employee’s PERSONAL expense. U. S. Taxpayer’s will not be subject to payment of legal bills for incompetent or dishonest personnel with regards to Governmental Employment.
You have my contact information Mr. President. Call me anytime. I have a lot of ideas to help this nation improve the services provided to my fellow veterans. The ones that were promised but have yet to be delivered upon. Veterans have been waiting for over fifty years for the fulfillment of those promises. I will not hesitate to speak up at all.
For my fellow veterans who have been ill-served by this DERAILED CLUSTERFUCK of a GOD AWFUL TRAIN WRECK CALLED THE VA over the years:
Our battles overseas were far less stressful than our war here at home. Never Cruel or Cowardly. Never Give Up. Never Give In. We are on the Righteous path.
POTUS Reagan broke up PATCO in the ’80’s. Time for POTUS Bone Spurs to break up the AFGE. The vast majority of our current Congress Critters do NOT have Veterans Interests at heart. Perhaps their replacements will. VOTE OUT all these WORTHLESS BASTARDS.
Give their replacement’s one term to take care of Veterans who put aside their own personal lives to answer this nation’s call when she needed them. Many of those Veterans suffer the remainder of their lives for doing what most of their countrymen had not the courage to do.
If they cannot MUSTER THE STONES to do it properly – – – vote their worthless asses out as well. Party should NOT MATTER. What SHOULD MATTER is their VOTING RECORDS ON VETERANS ISSUES.
Rhetoric is cheap. Congressional Voting Records speak louder than words.
NO Combat Veteran should be surprised when the next McVeigh, Congressional Baseball Team, or Las Vegas Sniper Incident occurs. Bound to happen. Just a matter of time . . .
We have now reached the next accelerative phase of our country falling apart. Country before Party. Principles before Personalities. Always.
Want to REALLY fix the VA? The next SecVA needs to be a former Enlisted Man brought in from the general veteran population with a few serious axes to grind against the VA and the AFGE, with zero previous governmental civilian service.
Apparently, Former Flag Officers and SES appointed Civilians can’t cut the mustard . . .
Maybe a SINCERELY MOTIVATED Gunnery Sergeant or Chief Petty Officer CAN.
Disgruntled Veteran
1973 – 1976 USMC
1978 – 1993 USN
Wounded Warrior
Honolulu, Hawaii
Well said. To add on your comments, the VA isn’t reading the law and statues then ensure the regulations the VA writes follow them and then the directives/policies written off of them also follows. The VA should have all their regulations and directives/policies go through the legal department to ensure these documents follow the intent of the law and statue. Then VA should make it mandatory for all leadership to have training on these governing documents dependent upon the position they are in. How can you run a facility, department or manage a program or benefit if you don’t know what these documents state and follow them. I have first hand knowledge and experience with several issues where the medical center director is totally clueless of what is going on and has no knowledge of these programs or benefits and when trying to show him what these documents say he doesn’t want to hear it. He wants to trust his department head based on their feelings or beliefs instead of reading it in the governing document. Read some of their directives and you will easily find ones that are clearly breaking the law and statue. But regardless, these VA employees go off their feelings and beliefs.
So, in my opinion, the VA first needs to review all their regulations to ensure they are written to follow the law and statue. If not, rewrite them. Second, the VA needs to review all their directives/policies/handbooks to ensure they are following the law, statue and regulation. These documents should be written by the VA legal office which considers input from the appropriate individuals and/or departments for input for processes and procedures. This process will ensure all the VA regulations, directives, policies and handouts are legal. Next, the VA needs to design a training program by an Oversight or Training Committee who ensures these training programs are following the legal governing documents. This committee will design training programs for the appropriate positions ie Medical Center Directors, Chief of Staff, Supervisors, to the individual employee similar to the structure in the military or other organizations. Next, the patient advocates and privacy officer should fall under the Oversight Committee or VA OIG or some other enforcement department to ensure no one at the medical center can influence them or fear they will lose their job if they expose a wrongdoing. Next, VA needs to develop a patient complaint process with clear guidance of submitting complaints at the local level up to the highest level. Next, the VA should develop an oversight committee at each medical center who falls under the Oversight Committee or VA OIG to investigate complaints at the local levels and to do periodic checks annually on various departments and programs to ensure compliance and push issues forward to central office. I recommend each Oversight Committee at the medical center has an attorney on hand to address any legal implications or compliance issues. So the idea is a system at the local level for Veterans having issues within the VA with C&P, benefits, quality of care, violations, wrongdoings, etc; and to ensure the VA leadership and departments are compliant with the laws and other governing documents which will prevent rogue leadership, supervisors or employees from breaking the law, wrongdoings, etc. No, it will not eliminate it but it will lessen the wrongdoings and noncompliance and will have a dedicated team at each facility to handle the issues. The patient advocate and privacy officers also fall into this committee as the first line of defense and based on the severity they can submit it to the oversight committee and attorney for action. It will be their job to remedy the issue (s). If not, they will submit it to the next oversight committee. This committee cannot work for the medical center director as it will not work as our current complaint process through the patient advocate and privacy officer is BROKEN.
The key to all of this is to ensure compliance with the laws, mandatory hiring training and annual training, oversight and enforcement.
I give you two examples of VA departments who have written directives/policies/handbooks noncompliant with the laws 1) Electronic medical record, HIPAA and Privacy and 2) Caregiver Support. These documents also contradict one paragraph or one section or one sentence from another. We all know writing laws, regulations, policies, etc isn’t for everyone, and some are intentionally written to break the law because this department doesn’t agree with the law in the case with the Caregiver Support. Easy fix, make it the responsibility of VA legal team by establishing a legal writing team to write these documents.
These fixes you mention and the ones I’ve mentioned doesn’t take a rocket science to fix. First and foremost if an agency isn’t going to hold people accountable and perform proper investigations to find the root causes and fix them and enforce them then you will NEVER fix an agency – NEVER!!!
Look at the past decades and yet in 2018 you are still trying to ride on the same wagon and do the same things. Also, no amount of programs or money thrown at the VA is going to fix the problems. You have many VA supervisors and leadership who are clueless and lead by what they feel or believe because they are too lazy to read the governing documents or if they do read them, don’t agree with them and run it based on what they feel or believe. Oh and don’t bring it with you to the meeting to show them because they refuse to listen to you or if they do listen they will tell you they believe or feel it should be this way and this is how they are going to do it.
Ok, my rants over.
@thebrownmoose – – – Agree with everything you said. Sorry so long to reply. Homeless, moving into temporary quarters. I have ALWAYS been a practical solutions guy. Frankly, modern day internal politics are a bigger threat to this nation than any NBC weapon will ever be.
From where I sit, the two most visible players in the United States government are Vladimir Putin and Robert Mueller. Not saying there are not others. Just that these two are the most visible. Fortunately for America writ large – – – they are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum.
Mueller will follow where the evidence leads him, as would any good investigator. Putin has never denied the things he has done, and does not talk out his ass, then have to “walk things back” as so many of our politicos do.
At the end of the trail – – – America will be better off with respect to not being so quick to jump into the unknown politically. Trump is not fit to be President. The Repubs in congress that stick with him will pay a heavy price come the mid-terms. That is as it should be.
On the other side, the Dems need to get their shit together – – – and begin to clean up the corruption in their party as well.
Will it happen?
Have y’all noticed, NOT one word on any news stations over holding veteran’s healthcare hostage.
What they’re talking about is Planned Parenthood’s and the illegals monies. And, of course, other “pork” within the “bill”! Not a mention about vets healthcare!
Of course they are not talking about veterans healthcare! Remember the “Wait Time” scandal of 2014? The VA has been “magically transformed” since then. Shithead Shulkin assures us that our healthcare is of the highest priority to this nation.
Uh-Huh. Believe it when I see it.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON…………”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h10FaTfkMEY”
Must be either “The Twilight Zone” or “The Outer Limits”! Of course, it could be a little bit of BOTH!!!!
Just sign it, You can read it latter, It’ll be posted on the shit house walls……
With maybe a touch of “green acres”, the way the VA farms shit
Personally, I’m against giving the VA any more funding. They have a near 100% track record of misdirecting it, using it for their own purposes and being unaccountable. Why would you throw good money after bad???
Again: Close the VA. Move their budget over to the Social Security Administration, issue us all ID cards which vary the coverage per disability rating, and allow us to go get quality medical care, just like everyone else in the country! The infrastructure is all there, the SSA’s computer systems work excellently, there’s accountability. The switch over could be done in six months easy.
Strangle the VA economically and force the freeloading employees to find real jobs, which is on them, not us.
Not to mention, it would cut-off the ‘in-th-pocket’ VSOs from their ridiculous activities.
Agree and well said.
I only ask: WHY are the “testy” VSO’s even involved in backroom congress critter deals while *supposedly* having WE VETERAN’s BEST INTERESTS?
Put simply, the VSO’s have as their sole goal, “SAVE OUR VA”…(code for keeping it the dysfunctional systemic mess it currently is in).
Nancy Pelosi and all the rest of congress critters could give a ratty rat’s ass about Veterans until reelection time…or as now, holding Veteran Healthcare Hostage…like pawns on a chessboard.
I wonder how Nacy Pelosi would react if she had to depend on likes of CHOICE PROGRAM to keep her face from relinquishing to gravity and dragging on the tarmac?
OH….THAT’s RIGHT…she and other privileged congress critters can go to MAYO CLINIC to keep that Joker’s Smile wide while Dr.’s tell that wretch if she has *one more* plastic surgery her vagina will be on her chinny, chin, chin. OINK.
Oink. (Veterans? Where?) Seems to me the VSO’s need to get back at the local level and truly ASSIST Vets and NOT wallowing in the D.C. Swamp Backwater Backroom Deals.
Oink and fuck-off, VSO’s! (doubt ANY VSO has to worry about Choice or anything the common Vet does)
Choice Program???
What Choice?
There is no VA Choice Program!
I’ve gone to Mayo for the last twelve years. I went there when the VA mis-diagnosed the blood clots in my leg for a year and a half. Mayo diagnosed it correctly and had me on a treatment plan that was correct, all in four hours. I get my care at Mayo because it is best I can find, and they accept nearly every insurance plan and soc sec. That is EXCEPT Veteran’s Choice!!! (I just called them to confirm it. I was told their stopping to participate was due to too many hoops to jump through and issues with reimbursement. And that disconnect was last year.
Again: IT’S ALL ON THE VA! They are dysfunctional, not only in their treatment of Veterans, but with healthcare facilities. They were told by congress to do something, BUT DIDN’T. They also get away with it.
GET RID OF THE VA, PERIOD. Shift their budget to the Social Security Administration and issue us accounts based on disability ratings, and allow private medical practitioners to determine our ratings. The SSA’s systems work, they are proven. Their infrastructure is already in place and WORKS!
Also understand, Mayo Clinic is not just for the rich and famous. It serves everyone. In Rochester MN alone they see over 30,000 patients a day. It’s huge. Thousands of doctors and practitioners, many, many specialized clinics, two LARGE hospitals. I could try to explain the extremely high quality of care, but until you actually experience it, words just don’t do it justice. Some people assume they charge more than other facilities. That’s not been my experience; in fact, just the opposite. It’s a true non-proift foundation. What it has been built upon is the large number of donations it receives, the royalties from the inventions and systems it has created, to name just a couple. Honestly, if you have been turned off by medical facilities, don’t avoid Mayo based on an assumption that it is only for the rich and famous. It has been a breath of fresh air for me and my family. Just remember, the vast majority of their patients are ‘Everyday Joes and Joettes’. Google them and do some research. Then you’ll really see why so many of us consider VA medical care to be such a disgrace. (And no, I don’t work for Mayo.)
Tell your congresspersons and senators to pass legislation to dissolve the VA and roll it into the Social Security Administration.
My sister in law went to Mayo with a tumor behind her eye. My brother went there with cancer. Both are still living because of Mayo.
Well said.
It could be that she doesn’t want to support dismantling the health care system. I’d try to keep an open mind. Whatever your issue with her is, I think youll find her vastly more supportive of us than the snake liar who promises magic and consistently delivers a bowl of human feces for our meal.
Nam, I agree. From Roe’s letter, it looks like he doesn’t want to do anything without the conductors of the Gravy Train giving their OK.
As for Pelosi, one more facelift and she’ll have a goatee.
Pelosi’s losing ground in California. As are many other Dems and Rino’s across the country.
They claim a “blue Wave” will allow them to regain the Senate and House. It actually looks more like a “ripple”!
The Dems lost out on getting what they wanted for the “dreamers” and illegals. So, why not fuck over disabled vets! They don’t give a shit about anything other than their own private bank accounts!
How else can they become multimillionaires?!
Now, we are again being used as pawns! Imagine that!!!!!!!!!
Personally I don’t care to hear anything more from Pelosi or her ilk. Just looking at her and some others make me wanna barf. She, and her kind know little about real life or about those of us at the bottom of the pyramid scheme of life. Cough, then we are, were, told at the VA to vote Demoncrat if we wanted better care then the insanity followed? “Pass the bills first then we can read them?” People actually vote this ugly, ignorant, dim-witted, anti-American skank in office? Among others.
Same goes for all those bragging VSOs that claim to have so many members, that care, but refuse to get involved in some state’s or town’s politics or issues to help vets or bring things out into the open for all to see. Hence “Active?” Oh just in DC for photo ops and bragging while all the harm and crap continues. To fill their shit magazines with spouting all the good they do. Why aren’t those groups going state by state or town by town calling for people to go out into the streets or protest for some real change? Or challenge all this attacking, identity poltics, PC shit, or censoring going on, or their members helping with.
“https://www.stripes.com/support-is-growing-for-a-new-va-division-dedicated-to-employment-and-education-1.517897?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Stars+and+Stripes+Emails&utm_campaign=Daily+Headlines”
Beat those dead horses. Stir the pot with all that “new” stuff, mergers, organizations, think tanks, programs, committees, conventions, bureaucracy, “pushing for reform,” “successfully pushed,” blah blah blah. For how many generations now? To see some helped, massive amount of others allowed to die, suffer, be silenced, attacked and at times from those caring VSO types or their politics. More positions for hire, appointments, or others for paid research, college kiddy class projects, to public relations, etc.
If drastic immediate changes can’t be had at the top, then start at the bottom then up. Oh, can’t do that either. Too many asses to kiss and appease, politics to play. How about serious moratoriums for change? State by state, town by town. Nope, can’t do that either it seems. Even with all those oh so caring VSOs located in every town America. Censor that. May cause the house of cards to implode and expose too much filth and corruption. Akin to living in a free country and having freedom of speech to having representatives for the people… is all a freaking lie.
“Compromises?” More government games or fear tactics of more shut downs. What ‘a wicked web they weave.” Circus.
“T”,
Couldn’t have said it better! “Here, Here!”
Perhaps she will offer to have the VAMC’s grass cut shorter so we can get in for our crumbs.
Bingo T, always on point, excellent!!
Kuddos and well said. ; ]
Guess Shulkin’s Billions will have to wait. No Cerner deal without appropriating the funds from the 2018 Budget.
Watch the Cerner stock take a real dive.
Fricken Spell check. That should read “No Cerner deal without re-appropriating the funds from the 2018 budget.