“Patrick Murphy’s opposition to creating accountability at the VA is an insult to Florida’s veterans. What’s worse, Murphy voted against Marco’s legislation to please the liberal union bureaucrats who pledged millions of dollars to support his campaign. Florida veterans deserve a senator who has a proven record of fighting for them, and that’s why they’re supporting Marco in this election.” – Michael Ahrens, Rubio spokesman
Marco received praise for the role he played in getting VA reform legislation signed in to law in 2014
Marco played “a vital role” in passing legislation to overhaul the VA. “A bill to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs, for example, didn’t pass on its own but became part of a much-larger VA bill that did pass; Rubio played a vital role on a special committee that finalized that legislation.” (Chris Adams, “For Rubio And Others, Turning Ideas Into Law Is A Daunting Task,” McClatchy DC, 3/16/15)
- Rubio served on a special committee ensure his VA management accountability bill became law. “U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) will now be part of the group working to fix issues with veterans healthcare. … While he is not a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Rubio was asked to be part of the conference committee due to his work in sponsoring the VA Management Accountability Act of 2014, which was passed by the House in May. It was also included in the Senate-passed VA reform legislation earlier this month.”(“Rubio Named To House-Senate Committee On VA Reform Bill,” CBS Miami, 6/18/14)
- That legislation included a measure to allow the VA secretary to “fire incompetent managers.” “The new law would grant the VA secretary additional powers to fire incompetent managers, something Obama noted in his comments. ‘If you engage in an unethical practice, cover up a serious problem, you should be fired,’ Obama said.” (Martin Matishak, “Obama Signs VA Reform Bill Into Law,” The Hill, 8/7/14)
In April 2015, Marco introduced legislation to expand on his VA reform measures to make it easier to fire incompetent employees
On April 23, 2015, Sen. Rubio introduced S. 1082, The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act of 2015. (S. 1082, Library Of Congress, Accessed 8/26/16)
- S. 1082 would grant the VA secretary the authority to remove or demote any VA employee based on performance or misconduct. “In the wake of a new report detailing how very few people have been held accountable for last year’s scandal at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today introduced the ‘VA Accountability Act of 2015,’ which would give the VA secretary additional authorities to remove or demote any VA employee based on performance or misconduct.” (Sen. Marco Rubio, “Rubio Introduces Bill To Strengthen VA Accountability Reform,” Press Release, 4/23/15)
Senate Democrats blocked the legislation from receiving an up-or-down vote. “Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.) on Tuesday blocked an up-or-down vote on legislation meant to hold VA employees accountable for misconduct. The Democratic lawmaker denied a motion for unanimous consent after Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.), a GOP presidential candidate, brought the VA Accountability Act of 2015 to the Senate floor for immediate consideration. The bipartisan bill would allow Department of Veterans’ Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald to remove or demote a VA employee because of poor performance or misconduct. The House passed the legislation at the end of July. However, Rep. Jeff Miller (R., Fla.), who introduced the bill in the House, said before its passage that McDonald does not support the legislation.” (Morgan Chalfant, “Democrat Blocks Vote On VA Accountability Act In Senate,” The Washington Free Beacon, 10/20/15)
Patrick Murphy claims he wants a strong VA and has complained about the quality of the Department’s employees
Murphy says he supports “a very strong VA.” “Murphy also expanded on other problems for the veteran community in Florida. He said a problem area is the lack of efficiency and slow pace of Veterans Affairs hospitals. He said no veteran should wait for medical care. ‘I support a very strong VA. I think it’s critical that we have a strong VA system,’ he said.” (WJCT, 4/26/16)
Murphy has complained that the VA “[doesn’t] always employ the best doctors.” “‘I do think that if you’re in a rural area, if there’s an extraordinarily long wait time in your area, that you should be allowed that access to go to the private sector.’ Murphy said a tremendous amount of funding goes to the VA medical facilities, yet they don’t always employ the best doctors or have the best equipment.’” (WJCT, 4/26/16)
But Murphy voted against the House companion Marco’s VA reform legislation
On July 29, 2015, Murphy voted against H.R. 1994, The VA Accountability Act of 2015, which would allow the VA to remove or demote VA employees based on performance or misconduct. “Passage of a bill that would expand the ability of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department to remove or demote VA employees based on performance or misconduct. The bill would also protect VA whistleblowers that report misconduct, modify the Senior Executive Service performance appraisal process, establish an 18-month probationary period for new VA employees, and place limits on administrative leave and bonuses within the VA.” (H.R. 1994, Roll Call Vote #489: Passed 256-170, 7/29/15, Murphy Voted Nay; CQ Summary, Accessed 8/26/16)
H.R. 1994 is the House companion to S. 1082, Marco’s Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act of 2015. (H.R. 1994, Library Of Congress, Accessed 8/26/16)
Murphy sided with his liberal donors at AFSCME and AFL-CIO in opposing H.R. 1944
AFSCME urged members of Congress to opposed H.R. 1994, the VA Accountability Act of 2015. “On behalf of the 1.6 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), I’m writing to urge you to oppose H.R. 1994, introduced by Rep. Jeff Miller, when it is considered on the House floor. (AFSCME, Letter from AFSCME Director of Federal Government Affairs, 7/21/15)
In September 2016, AFSCME announced it had reserved $1.8 Million in TV ads to back Murphy’s Senate campaign. “Labor union AFSCME has reserved $1.8 million in new TV air time for Patrick Murphy next week, continuing the onslaught of ads that is now well above $30 million for Florida’s Senate race. The ads will start running next Wednesday and run through Sept. 26. They will play only in the Tampa ($948,374) and Orlando ($855,000) media markets, which of the state’s 10 media markets are generally the ones saturated with the most political ads.The money is coming from AFSCME People, a super PAC run by the organization. Through July 31, it has $1.1 million mostly from donors who gave less than $200.” (Politico, 9/6/16)
AFL-CIO also urged members of Congress to oppose H.R. 1994. “On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I am writing to strongly urge you to oppose H.R. 1994, introduced by House Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL), as well as the Wenstrup substitute amendment.” (AFL-CIO,Letter from AFL-CIO Director of Government Affairs, 7/21/15)
In September 2016, AFL-CIO sent anti-Rubio mailers to voters to benefit Murphy’s Senate campaign. “The AFL-CIO labor union said Monday it’s sent 60,000 voters a new batch of mailers against the reelection of Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. … The union backs Rubio’s Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy of Jupiter.” (Miami Herald, 9/19/16)
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