Inhofe: Obama is ‘failing to address’ VA problem

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) demanded that the inspector general of the Department of Veterans Affairs provide Congress with a report on the medical claims backlog plaguing the agency because President Obama is “failing to address” the issue.

Lawmakers have increasingly called for investigations into the VA since recent reports surfaced of a secret waiting list at a Phoenix VA facility that was used to hide long medical wait times and resulted in 40 deaths. Some have even suggested that VA Secretary Eric Shinseki should resign over the scandal.

{mosads}“President Obama likes to champion access to quality health care when it comes to his signature legislation, ObamaCare, but he has failed to adequately address the rampant problems in the department charged with providing health care for our nation’s heroes,” Inhofe said Monday.

Inhofe serves as ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He is co-sponsoring a bill, S. 2316, that would require the VA’s inspector general to complete a report on wait times for medical appointments and stop closures of any VA medical facilities until the delays are resolved.

“The Inspector General’s report must outline how the current system failed, when and how the fraud began and who has been complicit,” Inhofe said. “If this report is done correctly, it will help Congress solve the critical problems the president is failing to address.”

On Monday, the administration also announced that Obama would soon make a public statement about the allegations that the VA has falsified information to hide delayed care for veterans.