Omaha World Herald: Editorial: Bringing a little Omaha to DC, by way of a VA clinic

Congress has coalesced around Omaha’s sound idea to let local donors help the Veterans Administration serve the medical needs of local veterans better, faster and cheaper than the federal bureaucracy can on its own.

The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford, D-Neb., and Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., would change federal law to allow public-private partnerships with the VA, the kind Omaha used to build CenturyLink Center Omaha. The measure would let the VA to replace Omaha’s aging VA hospital more quickly than by federal funding alone.

The local plan is to replace the hospital with a new, $136 million ambulatory clinic. This would serve most Omaha-area veterans’ medical needs more safely and efficiently than the hospital. Private donations would help build the clinic faster than the VA could afford to because of cost overruns with other VA construction projects.

Ashford’s bill passed the House Wednesday. The Senate passed it overnight Friday, surviving an effort by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., to hold up consent votes on widely supported bills, including Fischer’s, while he sought an amendment to help coal miners.

“This bill is a good bill and it is needed,” Fischer told The World-Herald. “With it, our nation can better deliver on its promises to our veterans.”

Nebraska 1st District Rep. Jeff Fortenberry called the VA clinic partnership bill “transformative.” Iowa 3rd District Rep. David Young described it as “a new way of doing things.” Both helped Ashford get it passed.

Ashford’s replacement, Rep.-elect Don Bacon, R-Neb., a retired Air Force brigadier general, has applauded the public-private effort.

All of this effort restores a little confidence in Congress’ ability to act in a bipartisan fashion to address important national needs. Gridlock doesn’t have to be a default position.

Ashford, who helped rally local donors to the cause, told The World-Herald that Omahans are ready to act as soon as the law lets them. Secretary Bob McDonald said in an August visit to Omaha that he’d like this clinic to pilot a new way forward.

Clinic supporters are champing at the bit to show that public-private partnerships can get help more quickly to the men and women who served — and those who keep them healthy.

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