Randy Kuhl's office has posted his letter to the VA protesting the closure of the Canandaigua VA Hospital acute psychiatric unit. The Water Buffalo Press contacted his office, which denied that the response was due to pressure from Eric Massa. The same staffer said that the letter reflects Kuhl's long-held beliefs regarding the closing.
Whatever Kuhl's long-held beliefs may be, today's fire-and-brimstone letter is much more forthright than his spokesman's response when the news of the closing leaked just before the election. Back then, Bob VanWicklin was trying to spin the closing not such a bad thing, since the overall level of services to vets would be increased. That's no longer Kuhl's position.
Writing a letter to the VA is probably the limit of Kuhl's influence on this particular issue. At Saturday's meeting in Henrietta, he also said that he supported full funding of the VA budget. Given the mess at Walter Reed, which apparently extends to VA facilities, there's little doubt that Kuhl will have an opportunity to express his long-held beliefs, as well as his support for full VA funding, in the form of a vote.
Comments
At the Torrey Town Hall Saturday Kuhl said he would "go to the White House if he had to" to keep the VA Psych unit open.
That's interesting. Since the White House is trying to get in front of the Walter Reed issue, I wonder if he'll get something accomplished...
I doubt that he could be elected.