INTERVENTION.
JOHN: MORE THAN 100,000 VETERANS LIVE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE FIFTH LARGEST VETS POPULATION PER CAPITA IN THE US.
MORE THAN 100 ARE HOMELESS IN THE STATE, AND MORE THAN 40,000 NATIONALLY THE CARES ACT PROVIDED BILLIONS FOR VETERANS SERVICES INCLUDING FOR HOMELESS VETS, BUT ADVOCATES
SAY THEY NEED AN ADDITIONAL $500 MILLION TO $1 BILLION TO HELP.
AS A VETERAN, WOULD YOU SUPPOR ADDITIONAL HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS, AND MORE GENERALLY, PLEASE LIST PRIORITY SERVICES FOR VETS THAT YOU SUPPOR
GENERAL BOLDUC: I GET MY MEDICAL CARE FROM THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HERE IN MANCHESTER.
I AM A100 PERCENT DISABLED VETERAN AND THAT’S WHERE I GET MY CARE AND I WILL KEEP THAT CARE WHEN I GO TO CONGRESS UNTIL WE FIX THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
THE BUREAUCRACY IN WASHINGTON DC IS BROKEN AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, BUT MORE PORTLY, WE NEED TO GET THE V.A. OUT OF THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY CANNOT MANAGE IT
PROPERLY.
WE NEED TO PRIVATIZE ALL OF THAT FOR OUR VETERANS AND THAT WILL INCREASE THE CARE, IT WILL DECREASE WAIT TIMES, AND IT WILL GET AT THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE EXTREMELY HIGH SUICIDE RATE FROM
2008 TWO 2018, THE ENTIRE TIME JEANNE SHAHEEN HAS BEEN A SENATOR, WE’VE LOST OVER 60,000 VETERANS.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING AS A VETERANS ADVOCATE FOR 34 MONTHS FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE, CROSS NEW ENGLAND AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I’M A NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON.
I WILL GO TO WASHINGTON DC AND MAKE THE RIGHT CHANGES TO HELP OUR VETERANS AND OUR FAMILIES.
MR. MESSNER?
ALSO A VETERAN, HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
MR. MESSNER: FIRST OF ALL, I THINK MORE CHOICE FOR VETERANS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I DON’T THINK WE SHOULD PRIVATIZE THE ENTIRE V.A.
MEDICAL SYSTEM, BUT I DO THINK VETERANS SHOULD HAVE MORE CHOICE.
MANY VETERANS I SPOKE WITH AROUND THE STATE LIKE GETTING THEIR MEDICAL CARE FROM THE V.A.
SYSTEM.
THEY DO.
SO I THINK THAT’S THE FIRST THING.
SECONDLY, I VISITED SOME VERY, VERY GOOD NONGOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP HOMELESS VETERANS, THE BRIDGE HOUSE UP IN PLYMOUTH, THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB, IT’S ENTIRELY SELF-FUNDED.
I WAS AT THE LIBERTY HOUSE LAST WEEKEND I FOUND OUT FROM THEM THEY CANNOT GET ANY FEDERAL DOLLARS TO HELP THEM.
SO, THE BUREAUCRACY IS MAKING IT TOO DIFFICUL TO HELP THESE NONGOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE HELPING VETERANS AND WE NEED TO CUT THROUGH THE RED TAPE.
AS A POLITICAL OUTSIDER, I WILL GET THAT DONE.
I’M A VETERAN AND HAVE TWO SONS SERVING AND I WILL GET IT DONE FOR THE VETERANS.
ADAM: YOU ARE HAVING A BIT OF A REACTION.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?
MR. MESSNER: I DON’T -- GENERAL BOLDUC: I DON’T KNOW HOW HE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT HE -- WHAT VETERANS GO THROUGH FROM THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION WHEN HE DOESN’T GO THERE.
I’VE HAD FOR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS AND 34 MONTHS.
I’VE HELPED LITERALLY 50 TO 60 VETERANS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET HEALTH CARE.
I CANNOT GET AN APPOINTMENT ON TIME ON SCHEDULED TIME.
MY YEARLY APPOINTMENT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN MAY, BUT I CAN’T EDIT UNTIL NOVEMBER.
THIS IS THE PROBLEM.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT THINK THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUE IS AND THEY HAVE CIRCULAR ARGUMENTS OR CIRCULAR CONCERNS AND GOD BLESS AMERICA, WE NEED TO HELP OUR VETERANS AND WE NEED BETTER
SOLUTIONS THAN WHAT I JUST HEARD.
ADAM: YOU GET A LITTLE EXTRA TIME TO RESPOND THERE.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?
MR. MESSNER: I TALK TO VETERANS.
I TALKED TO VETERANS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
I’VE HEARD FROM VETERANS FROM THEIR MOUTH THAT THEY LIKE THE CARE THEY GET AT THE V.A.
I’VE ALSO HEARD FROM VETERANS THAT THEY LIKE CHOICE.
I’VE HEARD FROM VETERANS THEY DON’T LIKE THE CARE THEY GET FROM THE V.A.
WHAT I AM SAYING IS PROVIDE MORE CHOICE FOR THOSE WHO DON’T LIKE THE CARE AND THOSE WHO LIKE IT CAN CONTINUE TO GET THE CARE THERE.
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE ONE OR THE OTHER.
WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM VETERANS MANY, MANY TIMES IS THERE ARE SOME VETERANS WHO LIKE THE CARE THEY RECEIVE AT THE V.A. AND COME A QUITE FRANKLY, WOULD BE -- WOULD NOT BEFORE PRIVATIZING.
OTHERS WANT MORE C