Denver Post Editorial Board Endorses Coffman VA Hospital Reform Bill“Coffman’s idea is gathering momentum”The Denver Post editorial board has endorsed U.S. Representative Mike Coffman’s (R-CO) bill to get the Aurora VA hospital built by using VA bonus funds to cover the cost overruns. “Beyond the outrage over the $1.73 billion cost estimate for the new Veterans Affairs hospital in Aurora, there is the reality that it still must be built,” wrote the Denver Post editorial board. “So how to pay for it?” There is no easy solution to this problem, as the Post editorial says. “It may be politically untenable to expect Congress to appropriate an extra $930 million needed to finish the facility, which officials don’t expect to open before 2017, and just add to the federal deficit.” Coffman’s plan calls for raising the current authorization cap on the over-budget Aurora hospital and removes the VA from ever managing a major hospital construction process again. The Aurora hospital is currently a billion dollars over budget. To pay for the cost overruns, Coffman’s bill prohibits the payment of VA bonuses, which are currently authorized at $360 million per year, until the hospital is fully operational. “Credit Rep. Mike Coffman, the Aurora Republican, for his plan to both pay for the overage while holding the VA accountable,” writes the Denver Post. Noting that the bill’s reform efforts are gaining steam in Congress, the editorial says “Coffman’s idea is gathering momentum. Colorado’s Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner introduced a companion bill and Democratic Rep. Ed Perlmutter of Golden announced his support.” Read the full editorial here: “Use VA bonuses to help fund Aurora hospital” |
