Political Quotes

“reluctantly I state that I cannot support the Harkin amendment. The amendment, as has been recognized, is directly in conflict with the McCain amendment we adopted yesterday, which the Senate approved in a 79 to 18 vote. I am very sympathetic to the concerns of the Senator from Iowa that certain VA facilities may be losing resources relative to other facilities as the Veterans Administration changes its operations to become more like an efficient, modern, managed care organization. I am fully supportive of the steps VA is taking to change the way it operates. Frankly, I believe the changes initiated by the VA under Secretary for Health Dr. Ken Kaizer represent very positive steps for the betterment of veterans' health care, and the McCain amendment is completely consistent with the bold and necessary steps being taken by Dr. Kaizer to ensure approved quality of care for veterans. I do not minimize that the steps being taken are painful. The VA has never experienced so much change in so little time. However, with declining discretionary resources, a shift in the veteran population to Sunbelt States, a decline in the veteran population, and rapid changes in health care delivery, the VA must, indeed, make changes.”