Pa. Senator Toomey On Bergdahl: 'It's Way Too Early To Come To A Conclusion'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Chris Stigall talked to Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT about what to do next with recovered POW Bowe Bergdahl and to address the problems at VA hospitals.
Toomey said we don't know enough yet about the condition of Bergdahl or what happened to him over his five years in captivity to make any judgments.
"It's way too early to come to a conclusion. I think what we've got to do is, the Army has their procedures. They have a standard way to go through an investigation and determine what happened. Why did he leave? What was he trying to do? Was he actively seeking the Taliban, as some have alleged? I don't think we know that for sure yet, but we absolutely have to get to the bottom of it. Then he has to be held accountable for any wrongdoing that he may have done," Toomey explained.
He also rejected the idea that President Obama could be impeached over the Bergdahl affair, but he hopes Republicans will be able to limit his agenda following November's elections.
"We don't have ability to impeach him, obviously, we wouldn't have the votes, wouldn't even begin to have the votes to actually do that…If Republicans take control of the Senate, we will have control of both branches of Congress, which we obviously don't have now. We'll be able to actually put legislation on the floor, which [Majority Leader] Senator Reid forbids and blocks. We'll be able to have amendments. We'll be able to have much more leverage and control over the purse strings. It'll be a way to significantly change the balance of power and begin to put some limits on a President who apparently doesn't feel constrained by the law," Toomey stated.
Toomey also said that veterans should be able to bypass the VA medical system to access the care they need if necessary.
"A veteran ought to have a choice…If the VA clinic or hospital is too far away, if it's not available, if the veteran just questions the quality of care he or she might get there, why shouldn't they be able to go to the best hospital and, without waiting, get the service they need and the government will reimburse that hospital at Medicare rates? Veterans should be first in line for the best quality care in America. Let them have the choice. Give the veteran a card that lets them go where they want to go," he said.