Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 28, 1992 TAG: 9203280219
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"To the extent that it might ensure some resolution of the dispute there, I think it would be a good idea," said Jim Connell, Robb's deputy state director.
"If there could be anything done to alleviate the [union's] concerns that the VA is not capable of an unbiased review, we're going to do it. Requesting a GAO investigation is definitely a consideration."
The America Federation of Government Employees local in Salem this week announced that it was asking congressional legislators for a GAO investigation of the Salem medical center. The request came three days after the union was denied participation on a VA review team that spent this week investigating the center.
Connell said Robb did not intend to wait until the review team's findings were reported before he made a request to the GAO.
"We feel pretty comfortable that the VA is competent to do a fair and unbiased investigation," Connell said. "But on the other hand, I think the prospect of having an outside review is probably going to go a long way to make them [the union] more comfortable."
Phil Smith, spokesman for Sen. John Warner, said Warner intends to wait until the review team reports on its investigation before he takes any action.
Warner had not responded to the union's request for a GAO investigation.
Smith said Warner has had daily contact with the VA department in Washington "in terms of routine inquiry about the situation."
"He asked to be kept informed," Smith said. "It's fair to say that he's monitoring the situation."
Warner, former secretary of the Navy, served in the Navy during World War II and in the Marine Corps during the Korean War.
Robb served as a Marine Corps officer in Vietnam.
by CNB