US Senate candidates agree on veterans
After Tuesday’s heated debate, it’s clear Tennessee’s U.S. Senate candidates stand on opposite sides on significant key issues. But there is at least one area where it seems they can agree: helping the state’s veterans.
The upcoming election will determine who will represent the nearly 503,000 veterans living in the Volunteer State. And this election, veterans are watching with close attention how the candidates will address their concerns, according to Stephen Weismann, the department commander of the American Legion in Tennessee.
“The biggest issues veterans look at when deciding who to vote for is if the candidate truly supports veterans and if they will help military readiness,” Weissman said.
“Locally, we absolutely care about the Veterans Choice program and the quality of care available to us from our VA medical centers,” he said.
Three of Tennessee’s four VA hospitals — in Memphis, Nashville and Murfreesboro — are rated among the worst in the entire VA network of nearly 150 hospitals, given just one out of five total stars. The VA hospital in Mountain Home received four out of five stars.
The agency also has had turmoil among its top leadership.
VA Secretary David Shulkin was fired in March after an agency watchdog report found he misused government resources. Trump suggested Shulkin was dismissed because he was not aggressive enough in promoting the privatecare option.
But Trump’s nominee to be the next secretary, Navy Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, withdrew from consideration amid a barrage of allegations of prior misconduct.
Finally in July, after months of shakeup, the VA got a new leader at its helm: Robert Wilkie. He’s pledged that he will “shake up complacency” at the VA, which has struggled with long waits in providing medical treatment to millions of veterans.
Weisman said other concerns facing Tennessee veterans are:
❚ The overpopulation of veterans experiencing homelessness
❚ Soldiers returning home with traumatic brain injuries and PTSD
❚ The visibility of sex assault victims in the military during the #MeToo movement
❚ Support for research on medical cannabis for veterans
❚ Suicide prevention resources for veterans
Here’s what Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn and former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen had to say on several of the main issues during interviews with the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.
What do you believe needs to be done to increase quality of care? Do you believe VA leaders are doing a good job?
Blackburn: “I am fully committed to improving the welfare and quality of care and life for our veterans and our families. The fact that three of four Tennessee hospitals are rated so poorly is something that deserves additional attention. The VA should be immediate. (Veterans) ought not to have to wait. They should have access to care. What we need to do is have regular oversight. If leadership is not doing their job, they should not be in that role.”
Bredesen: “The VA is this large and complex organization. The fact is what happens in Tennessee probably happens in other areas of the country. There’s been a breakdown in Congress for oversight. We need to fix the VA top to bottom. There’s too many political appointees to actively solve issues. It needs to change. Take positions away if they aren’t doing what they need to be doing.”
Do you support the Veterans Choice program in which a veteran can receive care from a community provider, paid for the VA?
Blackburn: “Veterans Choice is an excellent alternative for our veterans when our hospitals can’t. If the VA can’t provide care that is necessary for the veterans, then of course they need to have the ability to go to other facilities when there is access right there in their community.”
Bredesen: “Yes. When you have a problem like we have with veteran health care, there needs to be a better choice while the VA is being fixed. But that’s only the first stage. Give alternatives while we stabilize the VA. Most of the concerns I’ve heard has been about access to health care and the distance one has to travel for it. Let’s give them options.”
Do you see VA Choice as a move toward the privatization of veteran health care?
Blackburn: “No. I don’t see it as a step toward privatizing the health care. I see it as an important step for giving veterans a way to attain the care they need. The Mission Act … is something that is going to give them additional choices and option.”
The $52 billion VA Mission Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, RTenn., is a major overhaul of how the VA provides access for veterans to receive care in the private sector, and to have the VA pick up the bill.
Bredesen: “Like so much of what happens in government is that it’s become a turf issue. We need to give veterans the best care available right now. We certainly can’t not do the best for veterans because it seems like privatizing.”
Would you support new legislation that would increase veteran access to medical marijuana? Would you support VA research on the issue?
Blackburn: “I have not yet seen or read the (Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act) to speak or have a stance on it. I do not know about supporting medical cannabis for veterans without research. I support having a waiver given so NIH can conduct research.”
In Tuesday’s debate, Blackburn said said she is “open” to legalizing medical marijuana.
Bredesen: “I’m not ready to take that step. It’s not my call. It’s a state issue. I think what we do is wait to see the pluses and minuses. I think we can take advantage of the fact that we have 50 states so we can see what works in the states that allow it. We already have enough problems with addiction, like opioids. I have no objection on research. We should move it out of Class 1 controlled substance to perform real medical research on it.”
Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, the most serious classification of drugs.
Yihyun Jeong covers veterans and military affairs for the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee. Reach her at yjeong@ tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter @yihyun_ jeong.