VA clinic in Davis’ district is rated among last in the country
Hypocrite Warning: Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Amnesia) yesterday told officials at a Springfield VA clinic that they “need to work together” in order to improve wait times at the clinic, which is rated among the worst in the country for the number of veterans who must wait more than 30 days to see a doctor. As Davis told a reporter, “I know and they know they can do a better job.”
Evidently, Davis completely forgot to tell anyone about his vote to underfund the VA, or his vote last Congress against helping the VA reduce the huge backlog in processing veterans disability claims, which would have helped the Springfield clinic and VA clinics around the country indeed “do a better job.”
“Congressman Davis’ selective amnesia demonstrates his willingness to pull the wool over veterans’ eyes,” said Matt Thornton of the DCCC. “If Congressman Davis were serious about ‘working together’ to make sure Illinois veterans receive the care they need and deserve, he wouldn’t have joined Speaker Boehner and Republican leadership in voting against critical funding for the VA.”
Background:
Davis Voted to Underfund the Department of Veterans Affairs by $19 billion over Ten Years. The House Republican Budget “cuts veterans’ funding below the President’s request by $1.9 billion for 2016 and by $19 billion over ten years.” [H. Con. Res. 27, Vote #142, 3/25/15; Budget Committee Democrats, accessed 4/21/15]
AMVETS, DAV, Paralyzed Veterans of America And VFW Praised Administration Budget Recommendations For VA Funding. “Today, four of the nation’s leading veterans service organizations—AMVETS (American Veterans), DAV (Disabled American Veterans), Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) and the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars)—released The Independent Budget Report for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for FY 2016 and FY 2017. The report outlines projected funding requirements for the programs administered by the VA. The Independent Budget veterans service organizations (IBVSOs) are pleased to see that the Administration has committed to investing significant new resources to the VA, particularly for health care. . . . The revised budget request for FY 2016 is especially welcome because the IBVSOs had been concerned that the funding levels previously provided through advance appropriations for FY 2016 were not sufficient to meet clearly increasing demand.” [DAV press release, 2/2/15]
Davis Voted Against Quicker Disability Claims Processing. In 2013, Davis voted against helping reduce the backlog of disability claims for veterans. The Motion to Recommit would add $9.2 million in order to hire 94 additional claims processors in order to help reduce the veterans disability claims. The amendment failed 198-227. [H.R. 2216, Vote #192, 6/4/13]