MSNBC "Rachel Maddow Show"- Transcript: Veterans Suicide

Interview

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Joining us now for the interview to prove a miracle is at hand is
conservative Republican Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia, chairman of the
Senate Veterans Committee.

Senator Isakson, thank you so much for being here.

ISAKSON: Thank you, Rachel. It`s good to be with you.

MADDOW: So, the Senate vote on this bill looks like it is finally
happening. We`re hearing noon tomorrow. I have to ask if you know if
anybody sort of plans to pull a Tom Coburn here, block this bill at the
last minute for any reason at all. Or do you think this will pass easily?

ISAKSON: I think it will be unanimous. And to Tom`s credit, we found
an answer to Tom`s problem on the 22 million. We found money within the
existing agency budget to pay for the Clay Hunt bill. So, Tom Coburn is
happy, our veterans are happy, and I (ph) is happy.

We`re just happy that we`re addressing one of the single largest
byproducts of the Afghanistan and Iraqi war, the tragedy of suicide among
our veterans.

MADDOW: Do you think that there have been substantive -- I mean
Senator Coburn put this hold on it, and as you said you addressed some
concerns that he had about paying for it. What I found remarkable is
Senator Coburn in putting that hold didn`t convince anybody else to vote
against this thing with him. Was there any objection to it in the Senate
last Congress other than his objection?

ISAKSON: Well, at that time I wasn`t chairman of the committee. So,
I`m not sure I was aware of every objection but Tom was the most
significant objection, which is why I took care of it, because I have a
high regard for him and his commitment.

MADDOW: You have said that this year, since taking over as chairman
at the Veterans Committee in the Senate will be the most bipartisan
committee in the U.S. Senate. As chairman, as the man with leadership
responsibilities in that committee, what do you need to do to make sure
that happens?

ISAKSON: Make sure we understand our job is to see to it the people
who voluntarily sacrifice and risk their lives so we could be what we`re
doing what we`re doing today get absolutely every promise they have been
made by the United States government for their health care, for their
education and for their well being. I`m going to be committed to that,
whether they are a Democratic veteran, Republican veteran, a libertarian
veteran, or Rachel Maddow veteran, whatever it maybe.

MADDOW: Do you think that spirit of a mission-driven bipartisanship,
a part of policy where with being partisan just doesn`t smell right,
doesn`t feel right to anybody involved in it -- could that extend to other
areas the Senate is working on as well, or is this a veterans-only climate?

ISAKSON: No, no, I don`t think it`s veterans-only. Certainly in
terms of foreign policy and certainly our battle with ISIS and terror,
there are a number of areas where we need to lock arms as Americans and get
over our partisan differences and do what`s best for our country and our
people.

MADDOW: Pretty much everybody agrees the Clay Hunt bill is a start.
I have been moved by the fact that Clay Hunt`s parents have been so
articulate and so tireless in advocating specifically from the position of
what their son went through and what he was trying to get and couldn`t get
in terms of his V.A. care. It`s also been moved by the fact that Iraq and
Afghanistan Veterans of America was integrally involved in creating what`s
in this legislation but it is just a start.

Is there a next piece on this agenda? If stuff can happen if the
Veterans Committee that can`t happen anywhere else because of that spirit
of bipartisanship, what`s the next step after this?

ISAKSON: The next step is going to be the accountability that this
bill calls for. So, we get reports from the outside auditors to look at
what the V.A. is doing in terms of mental health care follow through and
find out where we can improve it even more. This bill is about improving
and hopefully perfecting the follow-through of mental health patients as
they go through the V.A.

One of the biggest problems about suicide is this, it is a stigmatize
affliction. A lot of people don`t want to talk about it. They don`t want
to share the fact they take their own life. We need professional
psychiatrists and psychologists and people in the V.A. who can identify
symptoms, can identify the people who are having trouble, and can follow
them and track them along the way to help bring them back to good solid
mental health.

MADDOW: Senator Isakson, Republican of Georgia, chairman of the
Senate Veterans Committee, it is really great to have you here, sir.
Appreciate you being willing to do this. If you would tell other
Republicans the Senate that it`s OK to talk to me, I`ll send you a big box
of chocolates.

ISAKSON: I`ll tell them you are the greatest.

MADDOW: All right. Senator, appreciate you being here.

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