Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas is now the second Democratic senator to co-sponsor the VA Management Accountability Act. The legislation, authored by Florida Republican Marco Rubio, would allow the secretary of Veterans Affairs to fire senior staff members based on performance. The bill had the support of more than 20 Republicans as well as one Democrat, Bill Nelson of Florida.
One veterans group, Concerned Veterans for America, had launched an ad campaign Wednesday morning criticizing Pryor and other Democratic senators for not supporting the Rubio bill. On Wednesday afternoon, an aide confirmed to THE WEEKLY STANDARD via email that Pryor now supports the bill. Pryor also supported similar language that was attached as an amendment to a budget resolution approved by a Senate committee last week.
