. >> >> join c-span on our newsmakers program this week as senator johnny isakso, a republican completing his second term, and who has announced his candidacy for the next term. he is the chairman of the veterans affairs committee. >>>> thank you for being with us. great to be with you. >> let me introduce the reporters will be with us. we are changes is with the military times, and connor o'brien covers that covers defense for politico. leo, you are up first with questions. >> i wanted to talk about the budget announcement this week, in particular the v.a. budget and you originally said you had concerns that the obama administration is growing more money at all the v.a.. that is not the way to solve it.

n> senator johnny isakso has an ambitious agenda. in many committees and is difficult to get things done because of politics. but who is not in favor of helping veterans? do you think these have a better chance? >> there are a few issues that have a better chance of making it through. it is the question of how ambitious it has. some of the things that they v.a. is asking for, revealing the -- reforming the appeals going to bere is some fights over that, and that is going to take more time. i do not know if it will be as convergence of us what we saw two years ago, which was the creation of the trust program -- what we sawve as two years ago, with the creation of the choice program. we will see what it comes down to. >> i would add that cost has been an issue. it was when they created the choice program, about six months earlier when senator sanders tried his veterans bill. standard it was a highly ambitious bill. at first it was not paid for when he brought it to the floor. i think that can be a stumbling block as well. >> i feel lik

. >> >> join c-span on our newsmakers program this week as senator johnny isakso, a republican completing his second term, and who has announced his candidacy for the next term. he is the chairman of the veterans affairs committee. >>>> thank you for being with us. great to be with you. >> let me introduce the reporters will be with us. we are changes is with the military times, and connor o'brien covers that covers defense for politico. leo, you are up first with questions. >> i wanted to talk about the budget announcement this week, in particular the v.a. budget and you originally said you had concerns that the obama administration is growing more money at all the v.a.. that is not the way to solve it. what is your opinion of what the budget is? do you feel like that's what's happening here? >> the increase in the budget is 9.8%, but 12% of that is mandatory because we have made promises to those who serve in the military. that is not appropriations, it s something we have to do. discretionary spendling, which is where you get runaway spending, is down. under the circumstances, being do

johnny c-span on our newsmakers program this week as senator johnny isakso, a republican completing hisond term, and who has announced his candidacy for the next term. >> thank you for being with us. >>great to be with you. >> let me introduce the reporters will be with us. we are changes is with the military times, and connor o'brien covers that covers defense for politico. >> i wanted to talk about the budget announcement this week, in particular the v.a. budget and you originally said you had concerns that the obama administration is growing more money at all the v.a.. that is not the way to solve it. what is your opinion of what the budget is? >> the increase in the budget is 9.8%, but 12% of that is mandatory because we have made promises to those who serve in the military. that is not appropriations, it is something we have to do. circumstances, being down to 5% is ok. i am down with being with where they recommended. >> have you seen the reforms they have had in their? are they headed in the right direction? we have seen dramatic increases over the last few years or so. is it sus