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A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION: FILNER PRAISES
SHINSEKI BUT
BUYER DOESN'T WANT CHANGE AT VA -- House Vets'
Chair
Bob Filner welcomes new VA Secretary nominee
while Ranking
Member Steve Buyer wants to maintain current
leadership.
Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of
the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs (left) and Rep. Steve Buyer
(R-IN) Ranking Minority Member of the Committee. |
I just love these two guys... sometimes.
When Filner opens his mouth you always get a
headline... usually one that slams the VA for their many problems.
When Buyer opens his mouth, he changes feet,
checks the White House talking points, and usually says something to
offend veterans. And, he's done it again.
While Filner (and most every other politician on
Capitol Hill) has officially welcomed the new VA Secretary nominee, Gen.
Eric Shinseki, Buyer has to be his usual non-thinking, partisan self.
Buyer believes President-elect Obama should have
kept current VA Secretary James Peake on the job.
Buyer's press release (below) speaks for itself.
But, a little "Buyer history" will help put it in
perspective.
Buyer is no friend of veterans.
He has stated many times that only
service-connected vets and indigent vets should get VA healthcare.
He has pushed for increased fees and co-pays.
He has suggested that VA be run by political
appointees and not healthcare and/or management professionals.
He wants a new disability compensation system
where the VA would decide what payments were appropriate.
He has consistently opposed increased funding for
the VA, siding with VA brass who claimed funding was "adequate."
He has testified that PTSD is just a "catch-all"
for any mental disorder.
And, the list goes on and on. For more on
the above and other depressing information about Steve Buyer... use the VA
Watchdog search engine... click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.
php?q=buyer&op=and
-------------------------
Shinseki nomination story here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf
08/nfdec08/nf120708-4.htm
Filner press release here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/hcv
a08/hcva120808-1.htm
Press release below:
Your comments accepted at bottom of
page.
-------------------------
Filner Pleased With Obama Pick of General
Shinseki to Run Troubled VA
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob
Filner (D-CA) released the statement following the announcement of General
Eric Shinseki as nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs:
"I applaud the nomination of General Shinseki as Secretary of Veterans
Affairs. His past leadership as Chief of Staff in the Army
 coupled
with his brave service as a four-star general will bring a new energy to
the Department and bring hope to our veterans.
"The stakes are high at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Our veterans
need to know that their service to our country is respected and honored. A
new basis of stable funding must be developed. The claims backlog must be
attacked in a new and dynamic way. And the mental health of our veterans –
from every conflict and each generation – must remain a high priority.
"I look forward to working with General Shinseki and the Obama
Administration to restore the sacred trust with our nation's veterans and
provide the care and benefits our veterans deserve."
-------------------------
Buyer press release here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/hc
va08/hcva120708-1.htm
Press release below:
-------------------------
Buyer Disappointed that Peake Will not Remain VA
Secretary
Beleaguered VA needs continuity and leadership,
not change
Washington D.C. — House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member
Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) today expressed disappointment in President-elect
Obama’s decision to replace Dr. James Peake as Secretary of the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“For years, the VA has struggled unsuccessfully to overcome the mounting
problems in its benefits administration,” Buyer said. “Secretary Peake is
clearly the person who was turning the tide and overhauling the benefits
delivery system. He has energized efforts
 to
modernize and consolidate VA’s information technology system, knocked down
barriers that impeded veterans’ seamless transition from military service
to civilian life, and enhanced VA’s insurance collections and continuity
of operations in times of national emergency.”
“Secretary Peake is exceedingly well qualified to continue as Secretary.
He is a battle-tested warrior, a physician with forty years of medical
expertise, and an experienced manager of large health care systems.
Replacing him could cause a major setback, by simple virtue of the fact it
takes a great deal of time to absorb the enormous amount of information
necessary to run our nation’s second largest department and the world’s
largest integrated health care system. VA is in a critical situation, and
now is not the time to dismiss someone who has demonstrated the ability to
manage this complex system.”
Despite his disappointment with the upcoming change, Ranking Member Buyer
acknowledged that retired U.S. Army General Eric K. Shinseki is a
qualified nominee and that every effort will be made to assist him
throughout the transition.
“I know that General Shinseki is an honorable man who possesses the
highest level of integrity. I congratulate him on his nomination, and I
offer my full commitment to helping ensure that our nation’s veterans can
rely on a VA system that is worthy of their patriotism and service.”
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posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
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