Two House Democrats from Georgia are the first to buck their party and call for embattled Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign.
Reps. John Barrow and David Scott spoke out Wednesday after President Barack Obama discussed the allegations of delayed care for ailing vets that have rocked the VA – the president's first public statement in weeks about the scandal,
The Hill reports.
Praising Shinseki as "a decorated veteran who has served this country honorably," Barrow said that nevertheless "this administration has fallen short in providing the kind of care that our veterans have earned,"
The Washington Post reports.
"While I don't think a change in leadership will immediately solve the serious problems that plague the VA, I do think it's time to give someone else an opportunity to lead the agency and begin the rebuilding process to ensure these issues never happen again."
"Secretary Shinseki deserves the utmost respect for his service, but it's time for someone new to get to the bottom of what's happened on his watch," Barrow said.
Scott called for Shinseki to step down during debate on the
VA Accountability Act. The bill passed the House on Wednesday night.
Several Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate
have called for Shinseki's resignation, but Republican Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake of Arizona say they want to see Shinseki testify before a House committee
while he still holds the title so that he can be held accountable for his agency's actions.
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