Congressmen set up offices in veterans’ hospitals

#Middlebury #Veterans

I can’t imagine this being OK anywhere else: Members of Congress have commandeered space in Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals to use as their personal offices. It started with one, and quickly grew to six U.S. representatives in one state who’ve set up shop in hospitals. They want to talk to veterans, they say.

The VA wants them out by the end of the year. It wants the space back for medical purposes.

One congressman claims it’s personal because of something he said in a meeting with the VA. Snarling has gone back and forth, as VA Secretary Robert Wilkie has said that the representatives already have offices in Washington, D.C., and their districts. Legally, he says, he’s found nothing that says it’s OK for members of Congress and their staffs to set up shop in VA hospitals. They were given occupancy permits with a time limit, and now they’re refusing to move out.

One has made public statements that the VA says are untrue, which got a heated letter in response. Back and forth they go.

In retaliation, the congress members drafted a bill that would force the VA to provide space for them to talk to veterans. The bill is currently sitting in committee. An identical bill died in committee last year.

This, of course, raises questions. If the bill becomes law, does it mean every VA facility would have to provide space? What about those that aren’t hospitals per se, but do serve veterans, such as community clinics, assisted living and nursing homes, outpatient clinics and vet centers? How much time are congressmen likely to spend in those spaces, when they have others? Who’s going to pay for any renovations?

Of the 535 members of Congress, only six are pushing for dedicated space. The others manage to conduct business without it.

© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.