'Are You Willing To Tell Us That You're Going To Fight For A Strong VA': Sanders Grills Doug Collins

[@TomLuka-t9p]

Mr Sanders, you say there is a "limited amount of money". Why is there in your words a limited amount of money for our Veterans who put their lives on the line for the USA but unlimited funds for Ukraine?

[@garr123]

There aren't unlimited funds for Ukraine. It literally comes out of the defense budget, which isn't for anything else, and is mostly in the form of old equipment and munitions.

[@williamwest9204]

​@@garr123the equipment is the exact same shit we use today. It's not like we're giving 1950s era shit to them

[@garr123]

@@williamwest9204 Yeah, but we can't five artillery shells to vets.

[@jrhymescrypto]

We’ve given $182 billion to Ukraine and spent $400 billion on the VA, that’s half the VA’s budget giving to a corrupt comedian waging an unwinnable war

[@GinaSpector-mz2uq]

Love Doug Collins

[@juliancox4263]

Doug Collins is smarter than 95% of the people in that room he is the man and he knows what the hell he's doing

[@michaelross5193]

So there's a limited amount of money for the VA for veteran health care, but every senator, congressman, etc., has free healthcare during and after their term is up or voted out!

[@markmcelroy8722]

I love Doug Collins. And Senator Sanders instead of giving Billions to Ukraine, allocate those billion to our VA. OUR Veterans deserve OUR money, not another dime to Ukraine.

[@tylertyler82]

We are not giving money to Ukraine. We are giving them our old weapons and ammo while we replace the old stuff and modernizing our own military. There are thousands of jobs out there that depend on this and it benefits our military and economy.

[@markmcelroy8722]

@tylertyler82 okay I guess you are a Democrat or a RINO when the Council of Foreign Relations has stated that Ukraine has received $175. Billion dollars in aide , weapons, and humanitarian sundries, is not a lot of money.

[@Jeep_Commander]

If we stop giving money to Ukraine then money wouldn't be a problem, as a veteran myself who served 20+ years I can speak on the use of the VA from first person, some are good and some are really bad there seems to never be those in the middle just good or really bad. Congress always holds up any things that they ever want to do to make it any better.

[@Whattheheck829]

Thank you for serving!

[@garr123]

Funds for Ukraine come out of the defense budget. It won't go to veterans because the budget is already set. A lot of it is also old equipment and munitions, which literally can't be turned into funds for the VA even if somehow that was how the budget worked.

[@Jeep_Commander]

@@garr123 I know how the budget works, it was just an observation based remark, but if you want to play the how the government money spending game there is a way that the money could work in the favor of the veteran and extra money for the VA instead of just giving Ukraine all this equipment and munitions as you state we could sell that crap to a country that is will to pay for it and then reallocate the funds to assist the veteran or the VA itself. And if you want to get down to the root of it Congress can reallocate any money in the budget as long as they want to and any excess equipment or goods can be auctioned off either through DRMO or any other government auction. Stop trying to justify giving money or goods to another country when people right here in America need help first. The European countries need to start giving more because they are right there and are the first that could be in danger, it is damn time that the USA has to stop being the worlds police and everyone calls on us for help before they even try and do anything for themselves.

[@garr123]

@@Jeep_Commander We're not going to sell it. We'd just decommission it at cost.

[@lewbaxter243]

I’m sorry Senator, for a veteran to receive health care that’s “pretty good”, isn’t good enough!

[@dillinger63941]

So there's a "limited amount of money" according to Bernie of 8 billion dollars for our veterans, but Ukraine got over 200 billion. Got it.

[@marcc.5535]

FACTS!

[@tromedl]

How much do the billionaires get? How about not giving billionaires tax cuts?

[@JB-sc6op]

500 billion to ai private sector, but guess that's okay too.

[@mriccardi825]

@@JB-sc6op Would you rather us lose out to China and have them ahead of us in yet another tech sector? AI is the future, if we don't seize it, they will.

[@hellokittyangel211]

I share in your frustration about the tax dollars being used in Ukraine, but what he meant was ”a limited amount of money" to get things done with in regards to this specific government funded program.

[@paulstebenne8401]

I like the VA care system. Example My VA cardiologist take 60 during my visit, my private Cardiologist visit 15 mins or less. Guess who I go to the most? PCP vet doc 30 mins of care, my private PCP 5 mins out.

[@ChillWill-q5x]

I like VA just fine as well, the health side anyway. The VBA business side is completely incompetent though.

[@chrismoon4677]

Bernie reminds me of doc brown from back to the future..

[@greenvelvet]

Wow...deep

[@TIMBERGHOST-r4f]

he reminds me of Mr Burns from the Simpsons

[@Whattheheck829]

😂😂😂

[@charlesnash2748]

Like the song, "He's an old hippie but he don't know what to do". Letting Bernie talk about the VA is like letting a monkey play around inside your car.

[@kisha0712]

Thank you Bernie!

[@Pop-jh9bs]

Bernie is why there needs to be term limits. Temind me how he became a millionaire

[@charlie63-p2u]

Do some reading !?

[@C21536]

That would apply to most on the right in the house and senate.

[@hellokittyangel211]

Morally, unlike most of the people giving Pacaderms a bad name.

[@jamesspalten5977]

​@@charlie63-p2uWhat would you recommend?

[@garr123]

Politicians and famous government officials can write books and charge for speaking engagements/appearances. IIRC Colin Powell got like 100,000 dollars for a speech one time? Being a millionaire ironically puts him closer to the average worker than the actual elite like Musk or Bezos by hundreds of billions of dollars. Millionaire is no longer the elite. Elon Musk has 400 billion dollars. Bezos has 250 billion. If you do the math, Musk has 133 THOUSAND times the net worth of Bernie Sanders. You guys should stop voting for the GOP, they're the reason we're getting new robber barons.

[@adammarcinkowski3998]

We don't have enough money to do that, Not enough money to look after our citizens, BUT we have BILLIONS to send to foreign countries????? wtf has he been smoking???

[@garr123]

Does nobody understand how U.S. military aid works? Every other comment is bitching about it. It comes out of the defense budget. If you guys want money going to domestic welfare programs instead of the defense budget, you should really stop voting for the party with the primary goal of cutting billionaire/corp taxes and gutting welfare.

[@kostaachin4428]

Bernie Sanders means well. When he speaks, he knows the facts. He has been re-ellected many times by people of Vermont. Unlike many politicians , he has not enriched himself while in office. Finally even though he is old, he is still mentally sharp.

[@mriccardi825]

I don't agree with most of his politics but i do agree with everything you said. What I like about him having some radical views is it gets me thinking about that side as well.

[@gregoryshelton4024]

I don't have any of my veterans friends that have anything kind to say about the v. A

[@tweetalig]

It really depends on the state. In MD, the VA is a shitshow.

[@suburbanwisdom]

Bernie totally overdoes his stupid accent and drama. Such a phony but always fun to watch.

[@jasonkirkk]

Bernie is crazy as usual

[@texan903]

He still doesn't have donald beat.

[@kendavid4386]

BERNIE THINKS HE IS THE SMARTEST GUY IN THE ROOM MOST MARXEST DO.

[@hawkeyereactions]

he IS

[@GinaSpector-mz2uq]

Get rid of Bernie

[@murknellnewton726]

It's been time for Bernie to be voted out, a border agent was unalived in his state today, Bernie is a double dipper, talks out both sided of his mouth

[@robertchapin3683]

Bernie always reminds me of the cartoon, The Ant and the Aardvark.

[@meowerluv]

At the VA hosp I work at, many nurses are doing non-clinical roles with very light workloads. If leadership is bold enough to look at every position and their workloads, I a pretty sure there are plenty of positions that can be eliminated and put them back to patient care! Maximize human resources and hire better nursing leaders who will make staff accountable and productive. Many nursing leaders are weak, concerned more on getting along with staff.

[@Cornspach]

The Va care is great . State hospital is all about making money . The Va healthcare industry takes care of people . The state is in the job of keeping people sick

[@jddotson7107]

There should not be limited money for veterans we paid our dues and sacrificed with a promise to be takin care of and most of us haven't we arerushed and misdiagnosed on a regular basis everytime they get system that works the government changes

[@garr123]

Stop voting for Republicans and maybe you'd see more funds allocated to domestic welfare programs. Financial ghouls and the rich don't care if you're a vet, it's still taxing them to give poor people money.

[@Gauge1LiveSteam]

Not all vets are eligible for VA medical.

[@jamesdermont5064]

How much did illegal migrants get?

[@bigGMOPAR]

bernie, quit spending money on ukraines army and take care of our own first. if there is not enough money for our veterans, there sure as hell shouldn't be a dollar for any other countries !

[@garr123]

Ukraine aid comes out of the defense budget. I'm sure Bernie Sanders is one of the politicians who would argue we need to cut the defense budget to help fund domestic welfare. But the GOP hate that, and they win, so it won't happen.

[@JS-.-]

So far his questions were the most reasonable of the left so far lol.

[@demaupin]

Yeah, it was refreshing to hear a Democrat ask fair, well informed and relevant questions for once. I watched this right after Hirono's nutty and disrespectful mess. I can see why Bernie has a good reputation when it comes to bipartisan co-operation on veterans' affairs.

bye bernie

[@elizabethlacky6068]

Bernie always sounds ignorant..

[@RodneyForReal]

Because he is ignorant. He is a grifter. A rich man pretending to care for the poor, all while busily lining his pockets - a total American fraud.

[@texan903]

He's no worse than the president.

[@s.n.e.8941]

He asked important questions.

[@kisha0712]

I love the VA!

[@winwinwin420]

Crazy Bernie Sanders

[@philb4682]

Shut down the VA and give Veterans Tricare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@EL-iu2tp]

It always kills me when a patient at the Va. I see catered meals for the hier up meet8ng they hold. And we eat off trays that come from a truck that are all the same. For the veterans.

[@varrick1226]

Doug is a sharp man who I know will do what's right for our great Vets.

[@doraalvarado7910]

Bernie you need to retire and enjoy your grandchildren. What's this obsession to be eternal in Congress? These really senile people keep holding their positions of "power" because they don't have a life where to go to at the end of the day!

[@C21536]

Tell that to Barasso and McConnell. Always a double standard coming from the right. Elections are only fair when the right wins, right? Eternal ignorance.

[@texan903]

The same applies to donald. He needs to retire, focus on the grandkids, and work on his weight problem.

[@sirbrad2336]

The proof is in the Maple Syrup.

[@Raya14]

In Utah northeast, there is one 1000sq ft outpatient clinic. It is 138 miles to the clsest VA hospital in SLC. For anything more than ten minute exams or vaccination, one must make a 276 mile round trip and a two to three hr wait to be seen. At best it is an all day affair. Being able to see an out of system is fine if one can find a Dr willing to wait for reimbursement. Even after one must wait for VA approval. Utah prides itself on its care of veterans in the headlines. Not so much in Congress.

[@charlescurrin-kw8ww]

Bernie is a perfect example of why term limits are needed

[@elmer8107]

A strong VA would include more staff and not less. It would include better pay than civilian sector. It would include better care and less wait time. It would include protecting all veterans benefits including disability ratings and pay. This is the only way to make a strong VA. What will not make a strong VA. Firing staff, weakening the numbers, getting rid of veterans benefits, and outsourcing.

[@s.n.e.8941]

Poor Mr. Collins, he really does not understand how much money Community Care costs the government. It is crazy to think that Community Care for everyone is the solution. Just crazy.

[@thunderbird0428]

True but one cannot expect a 80 year old veteran to travel 6 hours to see a doctor in the VA he can see less than 15 minutes away in the community. So there is a place for community care.

[@s.n.e.8941]

@thunderbird0428 An 80 year old Veteran is not required to drive 6 hours to see a provider. Nope

[@Franz-f8w]

Good that we have a VA now we need a SA senior administration to set up FREE nursing homes for the rest of the seniors.

[@4RTigers]

Why was the staffing so bad under Biden and the guy who he said was doing so great!?!?!?!

[@danielcostello4041]

Bernie, talking about veterans is almost insulting.

[@sirbrad2336]

Maple Syrup on the brain.

[@upperstone6738]

Bernie Sanders never worked a hard day in his life. He’s all talk no action.

[@cernhutch]

Ashamed of Bernie, and ashamed of those who keep his socialist nonsense in congress.

[@frank-t9l5h]

Bernie says bureaucracy, call Elon and Vivek.

[@clintstudt3796]

Doug Collins should have been attorney general,

[@benburra6655]

The male version of C ANNOT U NDERSTAND N ORMAL T HINKING

[@bobreynolds4980]

I believe that Pete Hegseth, a 22 year Army Combat Ranger officer who has used the VA Health Care System has a better idea what Veterans are getting in terms of Health Care unlike you Senator Sanders who never served. What Hegseth has concerns with are that Veterans are not getting assisted with PTSD and Combat related disabilities. I know because I have yet to receive compensation for PTST for over 35 years even though there are diagnosis in my records at the VA that indicate that I exhibit symptoms of PTSD and have actually been given medication for that.

[@texan903]

Does Hegseth know the needs of military sexual assault victims?

[@s.n.e.8941]

Veterans don't have to be service connected for PTSD in order to receive treatment for it. They just request MH care at their VAMC. I'm not sure why people still think they must be sercice connected or compensated in order to get treatment. VBA and VHA are different. Veterans can get therapy and work on their PTSD. You don't need compensation in order to do therapy.

[@JoshuaGrover83]

It is horrible in Oregon

[@kimber8568]

Bernie is the best. Appreciate how he discusses va and his questions.

[@robertspeicher5047]

NOW THIS HILARIOUS. A " MAN?" WHO NEVER HELD A JOB. NEVER SERVED ASKING ABOUT CARE FOR VETERANS.

[@TheExaltedPatriarch]

The VA in California spends millions on their law enforcement at hospitals. All the best uniforms, weapons, equipment, vehicles, ammunition. They can do with less to help hire medical staff & care.

[@meowerluv]

But there are plenty of clinical staff as well , however they are doing non-clinical roles that can be done by non clinical personnel instead. Poor leadership, weak supervisors heading departments since their hiring is not based on merits and abilities but on who are good in interviews and can answer their "competency-based questions". many good workers aren't necessary good in the kind of hiring interviews that VA uses.

[@ValerieHart-mu9gw]

Term Limits required for these old fogeys, you all get worse with time and f n waste too much valuable time. Sickening😊

[@hawkeyereactions]

u mean like grassley who is 95? or trump who is pushing 80. I agree.

[@lanielouwraps]

@@hawkeyereactions no people like Sanders, Biden, and all the other leftist crazy people!

[@ynadejesus8172]

And yo those Texas congresswoman who is now in a nursing home. Lol

[@kylecarney2149]

No matter what changes can always count on Bernie to be Bernie. You’re the man!

[@mirandamonet487]

Tuberville has a much credibility as the games he won at the Audubon College. He was a coach at they won zero games.

[@hotfoodonaplate3306]

Private medicine will Always cost more!

[@brianhiggins7630]

Look after others never mind your own people

[@michaeltudda8462]

I go to the CBoc in both areas.

[@devinrosser9457]

There is not a limited amount of money. Communists believe that, but capitalism proves that there are no limitations.

[@Alpharizzchad]

Senator Sanders. The VA Sends the Veteran to Community care. The Vets are going to the VA and the VA sends them to Outside service due to the VA shortage.

[@clarencewildes1747]

Having been through hard times because of democrat’s disdain for us military personnel the posing as concerned advocates by these two democrats is laughable.

[@americancitizen2794]

Let's be clear, Collins was MAGA before it was chic.

[@StephenJacobs-b9u]

Oh Bernie... my friend, quality and patient satisfaction at the VA may in fact be favorable. Now please review and explain to the voters the extent of missed construction deadlines and cost overruns for completing the new VA hospital in Denver. Therein lies the realities of government waste and project incompetence (and corruption no doubt) in spending our hard earned taxes (I mean those which will be paid for by our grandchildren) on well meaning projects. Fiscal responsibility and budget coherence are terms you seem to be oblivious to and incapable of addressing. Remember all those years when you routinely referred to those greedy "millionaires and billionaires" with equal disdain... we do? I have noticed since you became a millionaire (isn't capitalism a marvelous thing?)... you now only speak of those greedy "billionaires"... ah we see how that all works.

[@jeffreyeruhl1679]

Bernie do nothing has been....

[@larrymazon5941]

This is a joke cause you guys didn’t do anything for VA

[@Pray4ThaUSA]

Bernie sucks

[@valgilson6504]

Why do we even have a VA, just pay for their insurance and let them choose their own doctors and treatment.

[@hotfoodonaplate3306]

I have paid Medicare for over a dozen years. I never used it. I have relied on the VA to care for the several medical issues over all this time. And I have found that they are professional, compitent, caring. I trust the VA. Not only in the current state. But all over this country. Which is better the Medicare. I don't have to worry about paying $10000 for an emergency room visit. Fuck that! I say leave my earned VA benefits alone.!! It has been proven the private health vendors are way more costly for the tax payers.

[@texan903]

The VA is just fine. Your proposal is ridiculous as veterans have specialized needs separate from their civilian counterparts. Stop sending money to Ukraine and cap Congress' pay.

[@davidbrown8517]

Sanders is a fool.

[@ynadejesus8172]

You are.

[@Professorrob2k24]

How do you have senators with no military experience sit on a committee of VA affairs lol?

[@billbanta7189]

There are staff shortages in all of health care. Perhaps, more so in the VA. I know friends who have worked in private health care and for the VA. They left the VA because of the bureaucracy. The government doesn’t do anything efficiently.

[@texan903]

Don't mess with veterans benefits and services, especially without an effective, better plan in place before doing so.

[@edwizard62]

VA centers only see Veterans with issues that are Service Connected. It's not a fix all facility, although I feel it should be, but it's not.

[@hotfoodonaplate3306]

@@edwizard62 there are. Several ratings for their services. Maybe you should look it up. Before you blatantly spew fake news.

[@s.n.e.8941]

Sorry, not accurate information

[@cdubyastanley4045]

Not true.

[@hawkeyereactions]

haha another trump pawn

[@saluki7651]

Sanders???

[@adammarcinkowski3998]

Trump Has been in the office barley for 5 days. Bernie knows about the problems with the VA, Like shortage of staff. WTF have you been doing for the past 4 years Bernie???? since you know of the problems that exist. Why didn't you fix them in all those years??????

[@ynadejesus8172]

He can't do it alone unfortunately you smarty pants. 🤣