Remember when US Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a former Navy SEAL, claimed he would be an independent voice for veterans and positioned himself as standing up against budget cuts that would hurt vets? After stiff-arming constituents by refusing to hold town halls, the only voice he’s hearing is from the guy in the White House who wants massive cuts to the Veterans Administration. So it wasn’t a big surprise to hear Van Orden trot out the “bureaucracy” bogeyman in his latest promise that VA cuts would be all about bureaucrats and not the quality of veterans’ health care. Also: Dan Shafer talked to us about his recent column on which legislators will be watched closely for signs of bipartisanship in their newly-competitive districts.

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