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UPDATE: FILNER'S VA SHREDDER HEARING DISAPPEARS,

TURNS INTO "ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION" -- House Vets'

Chair's promised hearing on VA document shredding

will now be an informal "discussion."

Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), House Vets' Committee Chair

All stories regarding the VA's shredder and document handling scandal can be found on this page... click here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/VAshredderscandal.htm

Your comments accepted at bottom of page.

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

by Larry Scott

I'm not sure what this means, but it doesn't sound good. 

As I reported earlier in an article here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08
/nfoct08/nf102308-7.htm

Shortly after this article was originally posted, I received an email from Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.  His comment on the following story was, "These guys remind me of the Keystone Cops!"

Filner went on to say, "We will have two hearings during the week of November 17th: (1) Implementation of the GI Bill and (2) Shredding Our Confidence in the VA"

Now, word from Filner's office is that there will be no hearing.  Filner has decided to hold a "roundtable discussion" on the VA shredder and document mishandling problem.

At the time of this writing (THU NOV 13, 2008, 1842HRS PST), there is no posting on the Committee's web page about this.

I exchanged emails with Kristal DeKleer, the Committee's Communications Director, and she informed me:

"On Wednesday, November 19, the Chairman will hold a roundtable discussion at 10 a.m. to discuss issues concerning our veterans, specifically focusing on recent reports of documents being shredded at VA regional offices."

Who will be involved in this "discussion?"  DeKleer replied:

"I do not have a confirmed list of attendees at this point. I do not know who the VA is sending. The Committee has not asked for prepared testimony from participants Chairman Filner will lead the roundtable discussion."

Here's what this sounds like to me.....

This appears to be a list-minute, thrown-together "discussion" that avoids a formal hearing.  If I remember correctly, participants at a "discussion" are not sworn witnesses.

Is this going to take the place of a formal hearing at some point in time?  I don't know.  But, I'll sure find out. 

This issue better not be swept under the table by the Committee.  It is far too important.

You can keep an eye on the Committee's schedule page to see who might show up for the "discussion."  Also, we do not know at this time if the "discussion" will be televised on the Committee's streaming video channel.  Page is here...
http://veterans.house.gov/schedule/

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posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
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