Report says lobby money a factor in massive backlogs at VA facilities

The Huffington Post said that the scandal over the backlogs of providing care for veterans at state facilities is one example on how lobby money influences the US Congress.

The plight of healthcare of the US veterans had reportedly taken a backseat despite warnings by the inspector general for the Department of Veterans Affairs about the department's long turnaround time and unreliable recordkeeping in its health system six years earlier and every year after as the lawmakers had been more focused on other issues that involved dollars. In 2011, the concern over the veterans' healthcare was not given notice when concern over the swipe fees between banks and merchants had taken over much of the congressional calendar, thanks to the massive flow of dollars spent on lobbyists, consultants, campaigns, public relations firms and any other bucket that Washington put out to resolve on the issue. The Huffington post said that veterans' issues naturally were not one focus of legislative attention as they do not have the cash to be heard.

Veteran Representative Jim Cooper, who does not sit on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, said, "There are really only three money-raising committees in the House: Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce. That's why you see people exiting those [other] committees as soon as they can."

Cooper also said that the panel members also do not have the experience to make them effective in bringing much-needed changes in the veteran healthcare system. He added, "You have green and inattentive members on the committee, very few who are willing to conduct systematic oversight. Most couldn't name senior officials below the secretary level. Most don't know how [the VA system] works. The warnings were not heeded."

The Huffington Post said that according to sources, Representative Tim Walz, who is the most junior addition in the House, has been asked by Congress to take on an extra panel assignment to fill the Veterans' Committee's 11 slots.

Freshman Representative Beto O'Rourke, who is also member of the committee, said, "It's not a place from which a member can successfully raise money from the special interests who have a stake in the legislative outcomes," he noted. "It's also not a high-profile committee, and the work is really tough -- these are longstanding systemic problems that predate [recently resigned VA Secretary Eric] Shinseki."

At this point, several lawmakers are skeptic that much could be done to address the issues at Veterans Affairs. O'Rourke sounded optimistic since the scandal over the backlogs broke, as it allowed the issues at the department to be scrutinized in subcommittee hearings.

"Subcommittees are where the real work is done -- questioning officials, listening to testimony from VSOs [veterans' service officers] and veterans, hearing from the inspector general, marking up bills," he said.

Tags

Department of Veterans Affairs, Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system, Veterans Affairs waiting list scandal, House Veterans Affairs Committee

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