{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://roby.house.gov/press-release/roby-comments-va-termination", "Roby Comments on VA Termination", "2014-10-24", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Martha Roby", "R000591", "roby.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MONTGOMERY, Ala. \u2013 U.S. Representative Martha Roby today commented on the Department of Veterans Affairs action to terminate former Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System Director James Talton.\u00a0\nTalton was placed on administrative leave in August and then \u201cproposed\u201d for termination pending review earlier this month, all while continuing to be paid. On Friday, termination action became official.\nPer the recently-enacted VA reform law, Talton may still appeal the decision, but will no longer receive pay.\u00a0According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Talton\u2019s is the first full termination decision taken under the new law.\n \n\t\u201cThose who presided over the misconduct, negligence and systemic fraud in Central Alabama must be held accountable,\u201d Rep. Roby said.\n\t\u201cResponsibility for what has taken place at the Central Alabama VA doesn\u2019t rest with one person. I don\u2019t expect the director to be the last one fired, nor should he be.\n\t\u201cA key reason a culture of complacency has festered for years at the Central Alabama VA is the consequence-free environment it has been. It is what happens when employees see clear misconduct and even criminal behavior repeatedly go unpunished.\n\t\u201cThe work here isn\u2019t done. Last week, Deputy VA Secretary Sloan Gibson told me he would be personally involved in overseeing reforms in Central Alabama. I believe direct oversight from the senior level at the VA enhances accountability and improves our ability to get real change in Central Alabama. \n\t\u201cInstilling accountability at the VA is a monumental task, but it is essential to ensuring a health care system that doesn\u2019t leave veterans behind.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://roby.house.gov/press-release/roby-comments-va-termination"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.361526247113943, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}