Gov. Scott renews call for VA secretary to resign

Governor orders state inspections

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – After learning that a veteran died at a VA Medical Center in Bay Pines in April, Florida Gov. Rick Scott again asked Veterans Affairs Secrectary Eric Shinseki to resign.

The unnamed veteran died of bladder cancer that was misdiagnosed and mistreated. State hospital inspectors were turned away from the facility after Scott ordered state inspections of VA hospitals in Florida.

Tuesday morning during a live interview on WJXT's The Morning Show, Scott make his first public request fo Shinseki to step down. 

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"Our VA facilities need transparency and accountability. It starts at the top," Scott told Channel 4's Bruce Hamilton.

On Sunday, Scott released this statement:

"There's no question that the VA is failing to keep their promises to the men and women who served our country. This case demonstrates that the problems we've seen at VA hospitals are institutional and have been going on far too long. We learn of more preventable tragedies and mistreatment at VA hospitals every day, but there is no evidence that President Obama understands the scope of this problem. For the sake of our veterans, Secretary Shinseki must resign so we can immediately begin cleaning up the mess at the VA and make sure that our heroes get the care they need. His resignation will be just the beginning of much-needed reforms."