So who wants to take dibs on whether there's a chance in hell that Republicans in the House are going to be willing to increase the Veterans Administration's budget by even one nickel any time in the near future?
Rep. Adam Kinzinger wanted the audience of Meet the Press to believe they're going to do what they have to in order to make sure our veterans are taken care of, but given the number of weasel words and qualifiers he gave in response to host David Gregory, I'm guessing that means as long as it doesn't involve spending any more money.
DAVID GREGORY: Well, focus, and this is a key question for Congress, Congressman, which is are you prepared not just to see people fired and prosecuted. Are you prepared to vote to spend more money to give the V.A. more doctors, more resources to deal with this growing need?
REP. ADAM KINZINGER: Well, look, the V.A. budget is much higher than it was ten years ago. It's going to continue to increase. And I think you'll see Congress-- we've always put our military and our veterans above almost anything we do, it's so very important. So, yes, you'll see a willing Congress.
You've seen the chairman of the V.A., Chairman Jeff Miller has been very big on this, talking about access to care for veterans. But the key is, the answer is not just throwing more money at a problem. The key is holding people responsible that aren't having outcomes, getting to the bottom of what the problems are, and ensuring that they have the best quality of care.
So we'll spend what we need to, but the answer isn't just to spend more money on a problem. The answer is to get real outcomes, and I think we can do that. And hopefully the new secretary and the president himself will take a keen interest in this, and we can see some results finally.
DAVID GREGORY: All right, Congressman Kinzinger, thanks so much, as well. Paul Rieckhoff as well.
Given their record of underfunding the organization for years on end now, I don't know why anyone would believe that members of Congress care about this for any other reason than using it as a political cudgel to beat the administration over the head with.
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