Posted on 05/23/2014 1:58:16 PM PDT by windcliff
WASHINGTON — More than two decades ago, House Speaker John Boehner said he offered an idea that was controversial at the time: Why not privatize the Department of Veterans Affairs?The idea was soundly rejected by veterans organizations.Now, in the midst of a sweeping scandal over reports that veterans had died waiting for treatment, Boehner, R-West Chester Twp., said Friday that the idea still has merit.
“I still like the idea and especially now,” he said, but cautioned that “until we understand what’s happening and until we understand whether it can be fixed or how it can be fixed, all veterans seeking care shouldn’t have to wait.”Boehner, in an exclusive interview with the Dayton Daily News Friday, said he believes the problems at the VA are “systemic,” and said he is not convinced that having VA Secretary Eric Shinseki resign will fix the problem.
(Excerpt) Read more at whio.com ...
He shouldn’t stop at VA; all the states could be privatized...
Let’s encourage the crying speaker to pursue this. Nothing screams big government inefficiency like this VA scandal.
Which is where all economic and enterprising endeavors including healthcare belong: in the free market.
hey crybaby...we need to start with abolishing the whole dang federal govt and get the heck rid of all you useless criminals and restore a true constitutional republic.
The problem we are rapidly running into is that neither Government nor Corporations are competent to run anything ESPECIALLY something that cares for our heroes.
Until we recognize the enemies on all fronts we are in grave danger.
My 85 year old father in law uses the VA as his primary care and was informed two days ago he may now get his cataracts repaired at a private doctor and the VA will cover the procedure.
He needs to start privatizing the American people.
Good idea, but won’t happen. Anytime a politician proposes privatizing any function of government, unions, their Democrat allies and other special interests raise such a stink, the Republicans cower in fear and back off.
Good idea, but won’t happen. Anytime a politician proposes privatizing any function of government, unions, their Democrat allies and other special interests raise such a stink, the Republicans cower in fear and back off.
Good idea...privatize your retirement too.
Don’t waste a good crisis; spin the table on them...oh, it’s Boehner, the pantywaist, wuss, wimp and two-faced liar coward.
So Vets pay for their own healthcare?
Whatever he wants to do, just don’t put our Veteran care under Obama care.
What this would end up being is Obamacare for Veterans, with the feds paying for the insurance. How would that help anyone? It would further entrench Obamacare.
No Let me give you an example. I admit a patient that needs medical care. He is covered by the VA if they do not have a bed they pay for his care locally. That is how it is now. I had a Pt hoping the VA did NOT have a bed so he could get his cardiac CATH locally. Too bad for him they had a bed and he was shipped after a lot of hassle for him. the problem is like Tricare the VA reimbursement is terrible A lot of Private hospitals will not accept TriCare . Just like Medicare and Medicaid all pay poorly.
Privatize yourself, bonehead.
Reagan proposed privatizing the VA. Even now, with the disaster exposed, plenty of otherwise sane folks are going to oppose the idea.
Let’s give all of them a choice between VA socialist provided medicine or a government paid gold plated private insurance plan of their choice.
If you look at it, I think the only way ‘they’ thought this ‘Health Care’ was going to work was to put as many as possible in the VA system.
Prior Wee Willie Clinton and Hillary Care, VA was for service related ONLY or retirees (as a last resort).
When ‘they’ introduced Hillary Care, the VA opened up for ANY Vet with an Honorable Discharge and started co payments.
When Clinton left office, one of the first acts of Bush was to go back to the ‘old way’ for VA care with the exception that those that had signed up etc were eligible to stay in the system.
With Bush gone, one of the first things BO did was OPEN VA to the Clinton standards, and then they started pushing oBomaScare.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.