- The Washington Times - Thursday, May 15, 2014

Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said Thursday it is time for the Department of Veterans Affairs to stop studying its backlog issues and start acting.

“This is like the medical version of the DMV,” the Republican told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” which kicked off the discussion by lambasting the VA’s stacks of uncomputerized records.

Mr. Kinzinger, who served in the Air Force, took Sen. Jon Tester, Montana Democrat, to task for defending the VA on the MSNBC program one day prior. He also said he cannot see how VA Secretary Eric Shinseki can keep his job through a burgeoning scandal at the VA, after dozens of veterans allegedly died waiting for care in Phoenix.

The congressman said veterans should be eligible for a voucher to see a local clinic while they wait for their veterans’ care.

“It is high time that the VA take this dead seriously,” he said.

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.

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