Gosar Statement on Secretary Shinseki Resignation
Washington, DC,
May 30, 2014
Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Congressmen Paul Gosar issued the following statement regarding VA Secretary Eric Shinseki’s resignation:
Gosar Statement on Secretary Shinseki Resignation "The problems at the VA are systemic, sustained and serious." Today, U.S. Congressmen Paul Gosar issued the following statement regarding VA Secretary Eric Shinseki’s resignation: "President Obama has ostensibly forced Secretary Shinseki to resign over the scandals and systemic failures at the Veterans Administration. I appreciate the President and Secretary Shinseki heeding my call and those of my colleagues to resign. But I say accountability ends at the President’s feet. As the sign on President Harry Truman’s desk in the Oval Office stated, "The buck stops here." The resignation of Secretary Shinseki sends the right message that there has to be accountability, but more is needed. The problems must be addressed and the President needs to step up and set a better example of leadership. "Regarding General Shinseki, I would hope that he be denied any benefits or pensions stemming from his tenure as Secretary, and only be afforded those from his military service. The same goes for those employees found to be complicit in these scandals. Further, after the VA Inspector General and the House Veterans Affairs Committee reports are complete, I believe we will likely need to initiate civil and criminal proceedings against those in the VA who are deemed responsible for this negligence and malfeasance. "News of the scandal involving deplorable treatment of our veterans first broke in Arizona. As ground zero, Arizona will also be on the front lines working for reforms. I hope a renewed effort to treat our veterans properly will precipitate and this stain on the Veterans Administration will begin to fade. I will stand with my Arizona colleagues in Congress to find real solutions to these complicated problems." ### |