Obama briefed on VA problems as far back as 2005

Published: 23 hours ago

Aaron Klein

Documentation and testimony reviewed by WND reveals that as far back as 2005, Barack Obama, as a U.S. senator, was briefed on dangerously long wait times for returning veterans to receive health treatment.

Obama was a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. On numerous occasions he publicly chastised President George W. Bush about the wait times, treatment shortages and lack of funding to the Veterans Administration’s medical programs.

On June 28, 2005, for example, Obama complained at a hearing on the VA medical care budget that “somehow it seems that we’re willing to trot in front of flags and take photographs with soldiers, but when it comes to the appropriations process, we’re not there.”

Obama said he heard from veterans of a problem with receiving treatment.

One final question that I’ve got, specific to some of the issues that I’m hearing back in Illinois,” he told the Senate. “I’ve heard some constituents complaining that veterans’ clinics have been reducing hours. Is there any association – if that’s the case, is that one strategy to handle the shortfall? Are we reducing hours as a way of handling the shortfall?”

He stated: “The bottom line is: Are veterans being impacted in terms of their health care? I would be deeply disturbed if it turns out that as a consequence of this, what you say is managing this budget shortfall, turns out to be simply scrimping on the care that we’re providing our veterans. So I’d like a specific answer to that.”

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2014/05/obama-briefed...4wbOHAJDHuvp.99

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