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 Instead of working out their differences, Senator Bernie Sanders,
an independent, and Republican Representative Jeff Miller criticized
each other in public statements for failing to negotiate.
Miller hastily called a meeting of negotiators to introduce his bill
but it was boycotted by Democrats, who called it a "stunt" aimed at
pushing his plan through quickly.
"What he's saying is take it or leave it," Sanders said of Miller.
With just five legislative days before Congress starts a five-week
recess on August 1, the bluster on Capitol Hill increased the
chances lawmakers will leave Washington before passing the measure
aimed at eliminating long waiting lists at VA hospitals and clinics.
As the scandal over cover-ups at VA facilities deepened, the House
and Senate passed largely similar emergency bills in June to give
veterans a two-year period to seek private care at VA expense if
forced to endure long wait times. Hardly any lawmakers voted against
the measures, and they appeared to be on a fast track to enactment.
But that was before cost estimates were available. The Congressional
Budget Office has estimated a $35 billion price tag, and the two
parties have disagreed over how - or even whether - to pay for these
costs.
Emergency appropriations, typically used for wars or disaster
relief, can be added to the deficit without any offsetting savings
under congressional budget rules.
The proposal introduced by Sanders on Thursday would provide less
than $25 billion in new funds for VA health care, with $3.3 billion
offset by other savings in the department's budget.
Miller came back with a plan for $10 billion in emergency funds,
with other budget needs to be settled in the fiscal 2015 VA spending
bill later this year.
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The new proposals were announced after the VA's acting secretary,
Sloan Gibson, last week told senators the agency needed $17.6
billion to clear the medical appointment waiting lists, including
money to hire doctors and nurses and open new clinics.
"We were so close before the $17.6 billion number got thrown in,"
Miller told reporters. "And then everything stopped."
The Florida Republican said he was still hopeful next week would
bring some kind of resolution.
"But arriving at a compromise will be impossible if Senate Democrats
refuse to even participate in Veterans’ Affairs conference committee
meetings and negotiations as they did today," he added.
The legislation also provides the VA secretary new powers to fire or
demote employees, based on poor performance.
(Reporting By David Lawder; editing by Gunna Dickson)
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