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WILL THEIR DEEDS LIVE UP TO THEIR WORDS? --

Filner and Akaka take over Chairmen roles on

Veterans' Committees. Can they make

it work for veterans?

 

  
             Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)                               Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
        Chairman, House Committee                      Chairman, Senate Committee
              on Veterans' Affairs                                     on Veterans Affairs

 

On Thursday, (January 4, 2007) I watched the swearing in ceremonies for the new Congress.

I am happy to report that Democracy is safe and it appears our Republic will last at least another two years.

I haven't seen such a love-fest since the Grateful Dead played a concert in Golden Gate Park.

That was yesterday.  Today, the smiles disappear and we get down to business.

We have new Chairmen on the Veterans' Affairs Committees.

On the House side, we welcome Rep. Bob Filner, Democrat from California.  Filner, sometimes referred to as "The Mouth," has no problem stating his case.

Last year, reacting to the theft of a VA laptop that contained the personal information of more than 26 million veterans, Filner made a name for himself.  He turned to two VA officials, and with network cameras rolling he said, "You guys f---ed it up.  Stop covering your ass and figure it out." (story here... http://www.vawatchdog.org/old%20newsflashes%
20JUN%2006/newsflash06-14-2006-1.htm )

That remark endeared him to veterans everywhere.  Now, the question is:  Can Filner do the job?

In a recent article by journalist Tom Philpott, Filner is described as a "firebrand" and his abilities are questioned.

From Philpott's article:  "...Filner is seen as such a partisan, and his rhetoric can be so imprecise, that some veterans’ advocates wonder what this firebrand will achieve as chairman."  (complete article here... http://www.military.com/
features/0,15240,121608,00.html )

Philpott goes on to quote someone identified as a veterans' advocate who said:  “The veterans’ committee assignment didn’t mean a darn thing to him [Filner] when he was there in the minority. I just frankly don’t think he did very much."

A highly-placed official at one of the major VSOs told me they would have preferred Rep. Michael Michaud of Maine in the House Vets' Chair.  Michaud is seen as more "studious and thoughtful" and regarded as a "cooler head" with more experience at negotiation.

Filner outspokenly favors any legislation that benefits veterans.  Is that realistic?  We'll see.  Filner has a lot to learn, but he also has a lot to give.  Will he deliver for veterans?  Or will he piss off half of Capitol Hill?

Over on the Senate side, things are not quite as exciting.

The new Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs is Sen. Daniel Akaka, Democrat of Hawaii. 

Akaka is known as a true friend of veterans and approaches his work with thought and diligence.

But, Akaka is not afraid to speak out when he feels veterans have been wronged.  Last year, after reading the GAO report about the VA cooking the books, Akaka said, "It is distressing that VA's health care budget over the past three years has been built like a house of cards. Budgets must be built on solid facts, without that we will continue to have the shortfalls which jeopardize patient care." (story here... http://www.vawatchdog.org/
old%20newsflashes%20FEB%2006/newsflash02-02-2006-9.htm )

All-in-all, I think veterans will get a fair shake from both Filner and Akaka... IF ... they follow their words with deeds.

It will be most interesting to watch what happens with Full and Mandatory Funding for VA Healthcare.  Both have supported it in the past...will they push this legislation now?  I certainly hope so.

It's truly going to be an interesting couple of years.

Stay tuned!

---------------

Larry Scott

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