Lawmakers: VA hid details as budget crisis loomed

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By MATTHEW DALY

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers from both parties accused the Department of Veterans Affairs Wednesday of hiding details of a budget crisis that could force the shutdown of some VA hospitals next month.

The VA said last week it may shutter hospitals unless Congress closes a $2.5 billion shortfall caused by a sharp increase in demand by veterans for health care, including costly treatments for the deadly hepatitis C virus.

Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., the chairman of the House Veterans Affairs committee, said he was shocked at the magnitude of the VA's problems and outraged that Congress was not notified until nearly 10 months into the budget year. The possible closure of hospitals was not mentioned as recently as last month, when the VA first told Congress about the potential budget shortfall, Miller said.

The only indication of the pending crisis was a "cryptic warning" from a VA staffer June 4 about likely overspending, Miller said.

FULL story at link.



Verterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald holds a chart as he testifies about pending Veteran Affairs health care budget shortfall and system shutdown at a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8f1652af949342068cc4f15642675c75/lawmaker-va-took-their-eye-ball-budget-crisis

[alarimer]

1. Haven't these same lawmakers cut the budget for the VA?

Why are they shocked that there would be a shortfall?

[RR2]

2. Kiss my ass, fucking lying hacks......

Breaking down the voting record, year after year, the pattern along party lines is clear: Republicans regularly propose cuts in VA funding and oppose increases sponsored by Democrats -- a pattern that extends back to the first years of the Iraq and Afghan conflicts and continues to this day. As recently as last February, Senate Republicans filibustered a Democratic bill that would have added $20 billion in VA funding over the next decade and would have built at least 26 new VA health care facilities. The Republicans killed that bill because Democratic leaders refused to add an amendment on Iran sanctions -- designed to scuttle the ongoing nuclear negotiations -- and because they just don't want to spend more money on vets.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/05/24/in_va_scandal_accountability_for_all_--_including_congress_122738.html

[Turbineguy]

3. I once worked for a company

that would not buy spare parts. After a while you just stop sending in orders. The company went bankrupt. With Congress firmly in control of the GOP, perhaps there was no point in informing them of a budget shortfall until it was so late.

[RR2]

4. Bingo!