Politics may help save Walla Walla veterans center

By Shannon Dininny
The Associated Press

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat, and Republican U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt — who is seeking Murray's seat this fall — announced separate hearings to gather public comment on the proposal to close the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

A federal commission in February officially recommended closing inpatient services at the medical center and transferring them to community providers. The recommendation came despite cries from veterans and elected officials in three states who say patients will be forced to travel long distances — or even forgo care — if the hospital closes.

Nethercutt planned public hearings today and tomorrow in Spokane and Walla Walla. Dr. Robert Roswell, undersecretary for health in the Veterans Administration (VA), will join Nethercutt to meet with patients and hear from veterans.

"Veterans in Eastern Washington are anxious about potential changes in services," Nethercutt said in a news release. "I wanted veterans, veterans organizations and community officials to be able to voice their concerns directly to the officials who have a say in the future of our facilities."

Murray announced she will chair a field hearing of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Monday in Walla Walla.

"Washington state veterans who will be affected by federal decisions deserve to have their voices heard and this hearing will give them that opportunity," Murray said in a news release. "The administration needs to understand that Washington's veterans are real people, not just statistics."

The issue clearly is becoming a political football, said Jerry Swanke, regional director for the American Federation of Government Employees. The union represents 140 hospital employees.

But, he added, "Any attention on the veterans is ultimately going to achieve good things for the veterans. The more public debate there is on this issue, the better a public service is going to be provided."

Both sides denied political maneuvering was at play.

"Helping our veterans has never been a partisan issue, and it shouldn't be now," said Alex Glass, a Murray spokeswoman.
 
April Gentry, a Nethercutt spokeswoman, also said the issue should not be characterized as a political one.

"Everyone's worried about taking care of our veterans," she said.

Federal officials announced last July the hospital was being considered for closure as part of an overhaul of the health-care system.

Established in 1858 on 84 acres at Fort Walla Walla, the hospital provides medical care for close to 13,000 veterans annually. According to the VA, about 69,000 veterans live in the hospital's 42,000-square-mile service area spanning Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

The hospital has 66 beds, including 22 for psychiatric and substance-abuse care.

Hospital officials have said they will not comment until a decision is made.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company