Rep. Mike Coffman may not have had the words to respond to Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald’s sarcastic slam at a congressional hearing right away — but he found them later on Facebook.
At the hearing, Mr. McDonald took offense at Mr. Coffman’s committee questioning about the state of the VA and the outcome of investigations into the agency’s shoddy treatment of ill veterans. He said: “I’ve run a large company, sir. What have you done?”
The VA chief also said, Mediaite reported: “I’ve been here six months. You’ve been here longer than I have. If there’s a problem in Denver, I think you own it more than I do.”
Mr. Coffman, an Army veteran who’s served as a lawmaker for four terms, then took to Facebook a few hours later to express his views of what he saw as a very arrogant statement from Mr. McDonald.
“Let me start by telling you something I haven’t done,” he wrote. “I have never run a federal agency that tolerates corruption the way the VA has. I’ve never built a hospital that’s years behind schedule and hundreds of millions over budget. And I’ve never been a shill for inept bureaucrats who allowed American heroes to die on a medical waiting list while waiting for medical service. This is the most arrogant administration in our lifetime. Most would apologize for a scandal committed against our military service men and women. This administration is seemingly incapable of feeling shame.”
Former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki lost his federal position over a wait-time scandal for providing veteran services. Mr. McDonald, meanwhile, has vowed to improve delivery of services.
Mr. Coffman, however, criticized the agency for spending money to defend its failed Denver hospital project — and listing that project among its accomplishments and improvements, The Associated Press reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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