(Ben) Nelson (D-Ne) to tour Walter Reed (chairman of an armed services subcommittee on personnel)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1216&u_sid=2339408

Published Thursday | March 1, 2007
Nelson to tour Walter Reed
BY JAKE THOMPSON
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

WASHINGTON - Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., will tour Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Monday after newspaper reports of dilapidated facilities and poor care for some wounded veterans.

Nelson plans to talk with service members and their families to examine living conditions and care in the wake of reports of neglected patients, mold-covered walls and insensitive staff.

"The conditions that have been reported are outrageous and a national disgrace and an embarrassment," Nelson said Wednesday.


Ben Nelson

His tour will come a day before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to look into conditions at Walter Reed.


FULL story at link.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Very worthwhile incident related by Senator Nelson in the article.

If he hadn't been able to get involved, a very injured constituent would be back in Iraq right now.

What a nightmare.

[gratuitous]

2. Nelson might just shed some skin on this visit

For a Democrat, he's got a hide like an elephant. Perhaps a firsthand look at the inevitable outcome of Republican policies will move him a little closer to his caucus.

[w4rma]

3. Or he might help cover it up. I hope he goes your route.

I didn't realize until now that one of the Nelson twins was chairing the committee that is investigating this. They are both too close to the Republicans, imho, to be absolutely sure that this situation will be investigated properly.