Health May 25 Watch 4:07 Long wait times for health care still dogging troubled Veterans Affairs department When Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald compared the exceptionally-long wait times veterans still endure to get health care to lines at Disneyland, a national firestorm erupted. House Speaker Paul Ryan said his words reflected a “culture of indifference” and McDonald… By PBS NewsHour
Nation May 24 VA chief: ‘I deeply regret’ wait-time comparison to Disney WASHINGTON — Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald said Tuesday he regrets remarks he made comparing long wait times at VA health care sites to waiting in line at a Disney amusement park. By Matthew Daly, Associated Press
Nation May 24 Missouri Sen. Blunt calls on Veterans Affairs secretary to resign WASHINGTON — A Republican senator is calling for Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald to resign after McDonald compared long wait times at VA health care sites to waiting in line at a Disney amusement park. By Matthew Daly, Associated Press
Nation May 23 VA chief compares wait times for veteran care to Disney park lines Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald said Monday that the VA should not use wait times as a measure of success, comparing waits for VA health care to the hours people wait for rides at Disney theme parks. By Matthew Daly, Associated Press
Jan 21 VA chief to Congress: You can’t fire your way to excellence By Matthew Daly, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald is pushing back against claims by members of Congress that the VA has not fired enough people to turn around the scandal-plagued agency. Continue reading
Nov 12 Obama awards Medal of Honor to retired Army captain By Kevin Freking, Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Thursday that a young Army captain who is the newest Medal of Honor recipient had the instincts and the courage to tackle a suicide bomber in Afghanistan during a moment of selfless bravery, saving… Continue reading
Aug 10 VA should fire bad workers faster, House veterans chairman says By Associated Press DENVER — The chairman of the House Veterans Committee says the troubled Veterans Affairs Department should fire problem employees faster and that Congress should make it easier for the entire government to dismiss bad workers. Continue reading
Apr 30 House panel expands probe into how Veterans Affairs handled disability and pension claims By Hope Yen, Associated Press A House committee voted Thursday to issue a subpoena of the Department of Veterans Affairs for personnel and complaint files at its Philadelphia office, part of an expanding probe into mishandling of veterans' disability and pensions claims. Continue reading
Mar 24 VA says it will relax 40-mile rule for private medical care By Matthew Daly, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Responding to pressure from Congress and veterans groups, the Department of Veterans Affairs is relaxing a rule that makes it hard for some veterans in rural areas to prove they live at least 40 miles from a VA… Continue reading