Durbin has been beating this drum for years and Obama joined him starting in 2004.
The essential problem is VA Secretary Jim Nichols is a giant boob.
While there is a cottage industry in trying to make jokes about government health care, the VA has been remarkable at delivering health care, the VHA Hospitals in recent years have been outstanding at delivering care. My father had his knee replaced there and several other issues taken care of and he received top notch care.
The only time they don’t work is when people try and prove they can’t work or don’t fund them.