Pryor: Not ready to call for Shinseki resignation

U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor participates in a discussion about rising college costs and student loans in Little Rock on Thursday, May2 9, 2014.
U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor participates in a discussion about rising college costs and student loans in Little Rock on Thursday, May2 9, 2014.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor says he's outraged by treatment delays for military veterans but isn't ready to call for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to step down over the issue.

The two-term lawmaker from Arkansas told reporters Thursday that he wants more information on how widespread the systemic problems that an inspector general's report revealed about the VA. Pryor said he also wants to know whether similar problems exist at Arkansas' veterans' facilities.

The inspector general said Wednesday that about 1,700 veterans in need of care were kept off the official waiting list at the troubled Phoenix veterans hospital.

Pryor has faced criticism from Republican rival U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton over the scandal. Pryor's campaign has accused Cotton of falsely portraying the Democratic incumbent as being silent on the issue.

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