Before i call the meeting to order let me apologize fob being a little late i got called on a couple things coming down the hall. Were going to stand at ease thats a military term i learned a long time ago in the air force for just one minute while i talked to my trusted friend the Ranking Member and then well open the meeting. Call this meeting the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee together i apologize for being a little bit late but i wanted to make sure we were on the right track and i didnt mess anything up. I want to welcome secretary shulkin whos had a great start. I dont think anybody started out with a better unanimous vote than he, you cant do any better than unanimous when you get affirmed. I think the vote last week on accountability was extraordinary. And the way we got to the decision working together hand in hand was extraordinary and i commend the Ranking Member on his help in doing the same. Weve got some other things to do today to Start Talking about budget wise and w
Chairman isakson call this meet of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee together. I apologize again for being a little bit late i want to make sure were on the right track. I didnt mess anything up. I want to welcome secretary shulkin, who has had a great start. I dont think anybody in this administration started out with a better unanimous vote than he. Doing better than unanimous when you are confirmed. I think the vote last week on accountability was extraordinary. And the way we got to the decision working together was extraordinary and i commend the Ranking Member on his help in doing the same. We have some other things to do today to Start Talking about. Well have some other decisions made. We can keep the same tempo, same discipline, and same commitment to making sure we all know what each other knows before they happen rather than find out after the fact well all be better off. I welcome dr. Shulkin and the other members of the staff that are here today. And appreciate all tha
[inaudible conversations] this morning epa administrator scott pruitt testifies before House Appropriations subcommittee on Donald Trumps fiscal year 2018 budget request for the agency. Live coverage at 11 00 am eastern on cspan3, cspan. Org and the free cspan radio apps. Next, Veterans Affairs secretary doctor David Shulkin testifies on the president s 2018 budget request for his department. The hearing also has representatives of veterans groups talking about budget proposal. This hearing is about two hours. [inaudible conversations] let me apologize for being a little late. A couple things coming down the hall, i dont want to flip up on me but stand at ease. In the air force, and for just one minute, my trusted friend, Ranking Member, will open the [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] call this meeting of the Veterans Affairs committee together. I apologize again for being a little bit late but i want to make sure we are on the right track and i didnt mess anything up
I wanted to make sure we were on the right track and i didnt mess anything up. Wanted to welcome secretary. I dont think anybody who had a better unanimous vote. It was extraordinary and the way we got to the decision working together and was extraordinary. I commend the Ranking Member on his help doing the same. We have some thing to talk about budget wise. We can keep the same tempo and same commitment to make sure we all know what happens before it happens and well be better off. I appreciate all they have done in our meeting to explain where they are going. It is upward and outward and further ahead all along. I will make a long statement except to say a couple of things. I dont want to make this today but one thing i have to brag about, the certainer decision in getting our electronic after years of unwillingness is extraordinary. There are signs people were coming together in the past and makes sure it happens and works for our department of defense and the department of veterans
Is headline politico. Com, the Georgia Special elections hurdles toward a nailbiting finish. The voting taking place on tuesday. Joining us on the phone is dan lippman, reporter and coauthor of politicos playbook. Well talk about the week ahead in washington, but dan, lets first talk about this special election in georgia, because thats going to dominate a lot of the political talk in the days ahead. Caller thats very true, steve. It seems people are concerned that democrats arent thrilled about john ossa, but they feel like theres a lot of energy on the democratic side. Theyve lost a couple of elections they wanted to win. So its a real test in this most expensive congressional race ever, whose side pulls it out. Host any indication from early voting on what that could preview tuesday night . Gerry i think theres been a ton of early votes that is sometimes hard to read the tea leaves, but usually more turnout helps democrats, and so we have seen record early voting, and that could be