Congressman Andy Harris (R -MD), a Navy veteran and Maryland doctor with VA medical training, hopes Veterans Affairs Secretary Gen. Eric Shinseki is “madder than hell” but ultimately, believes the VA Secretary “should be fired.”
In an interview with WMAL’s morning-drive show, Dr. Harris told the D.C.-based radio program: “I have to tell you, VA Secretary General Shinseki should be fired. There should be numerous people fired.”
The doctor believes the VA is an “overall bureaucratic mess” and the government-run system is not working.
Harris, Maryland’s only Republican serving in Congress, was inspired to run in 2010 to fight the ObamaCare law. His limited government and free market beliefs in the medical system also extend to allowing veterans to have more medical options beyond the VA system.
“I’ve held for years that we should give every Veteran the ability to voucher out of the VA and go to a private healthcare system,” Harris told WMAL. “Every single veteran should have a choice. Don’t make them do it. Give them the choice. I will tell you, give veterans the choice, most them, I believe, will choose to be taken care of outside the VA medical system. ”
Harris is hopeful that the VA scandal could be “the catalyst” for real change to the system.