First, the Contra Costa Times stepped up. Then the Stockton Record added their support. And now The Argus (of Fremont) is praising Congressman Jerry McNerney's proposal to not only keep the Livermore VA hospital open -- but expand it to serve veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder:
Rep. Jerry McNerney has made a proposal to Veterans Affairs officials in Washington that makes sense for both troubled VA bureaucrats concerned about the quality and quantity of mental health care for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the freshman congressman's constituents.
The Argus goes one step further than the Times and Record by advocating that other congressional members recognize the importance of expanding the Livermore facility:
The first-term lawmaker's proposal is a viable, well-timed alternative to our failure to provide adequate mental health care, which we've traditionally fallen short on during and in the aftermath of our nation's wars. It has sufficient validity that the entire California congressional delegation — including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — should get behind it.
We trust McNerney will pursue his goal in upcoming conversations with VA Secretary James Nicholson. And, considering the need for more and better mental health care for veterans, Nicholson would do well to adopt the congressman's proposal.
We couldn't agree more, of course. Now, with a local consensus building in support of Congressman McNerney's proposal, will Secretary Nicholson do the right thing?
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