Former Sen. Scott Brown In Line For VA Post
BOSTON (CBS) -- Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown is being considered by President-elect Donald Trump to become head of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The longtime politician talked about his potential new job during an appearance Friday evening on WBZ NewsRadio 1030's "Nightside with Dan Rea." Brown also confirmed the news with WBZ-TV political analyst Jon Keller.
"Well, it is a little premature. He (Trump) said he was going to give me the strongest recommendation to his team. Then, obviously, you know, they're going to get in touch with me. So, I'm not quite sure what that means exactly. But I know I'm now in the running to be the head of the V.A.," Brown said.
The former Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire said the thought of joining the Trump administration is a little scary and an honor at the same time. But the federal department has problems that need immediate attention.
"Obviously, we need to make it so soldiers don't kill themselves and/or wait in line so long that they end up dying; I think that is the clear priority," he said.
If formally nominated, Brown, a longtime Army National Guard Reservist, hopes to receive bipartisan Senate approval. But he says the job is about the soldiers, not politics.
"Some of the first things I'd do just off the top of my head is to establish a 24/7, 365 live hotline that's manned by a real person. And that we have some type of quick reaction team to get people right to that soldier, like immediately. I think that's critically important," Brown added.