VA chief rejects criticism of hospital

Dan Kulin

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2004 | 9:24 a.m.

Claims by former Sen. Max Cleland that a veterans hospital planned for North Las Vegas won't come to fruition because of lack of money upset Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi, who said Cleland is wrong and merely trying to scare veterans for political gain.

Principi said the hospital is still on track and will be built, an assessment backed by Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and other members of Nevada's congressional delegation.

"Max Cleland is an outstanding public servant ... unfortunately in this instance I think he misspoke," Berkley said. "This is a done deal. It's going to happen."

Last week Principi and Interior Secretary Gale Norton announced plans to build a new veterans medical center at Pecos Road and the Las Vegas Beltway in North Las Vegas. The proposed $300 million project would include a 90-bed hospital, 120-bed nursing home and an outpatient clinic. Construction could start around the end of 2005 or early 2006 and be completed in 2008-2009, Principi said.

Cleland, a Georgia Democrat who is national co-chairman of the Kerry-Edwards campaign, appeared Monday on the political talk show "Face to Face With Jon Ralston." During the program, Cleland said: "That is a fake hospital ... there's no money in the budget for it."

Principi reacted strongly to Cleland's comments.

"That is outrageous. It's simply outrageous for him to engage in politics of fear," Principi said. "It's unfair for him to say that. We are on track and moving forward."

Principi said that while all $300 million for the medical complex isn't sitting in an account waiting to be spent, the land for the complex, which is now overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, will soon be transferred to the Veterans Affairs Department.

"We don't have all the money in the budget right now," Principi said, which he and Berkley said is typical for large projects that will span several fiscal years. "Sen. Cleland knows that. He knows you don't get all the money up front."

Principi said Cleland's motivation is that he wants to "disparage the president and enhance Sen. Kerry's prospects."

Berkley, however, said Cleland simply misspoke on an issue with which he's unfamiliar.

Jack Finn, a spokesman for Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said the medical complex will be built and has strong bipartisan support from the state's congressional delegation.

Adam Mayberry, spokesman for Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., agreed. "Certainly not all the funding has been made available, but it will be and that's typical," Mayberry said. "But it will be built, and it will get funded regardless of who the next president is. This is a pretty important project for Nevada."

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is confident the hospital will be built, said Reid spokeswoman Tessa Hafen.

"The delegation is in lockstep for this," Berkley said.

Cleland could not be reached for additional comment.

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