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UPDATE: FILNER'S SHREDDER "DISCUSSION" WILL NOT

BE RECORDED OR AVAILABLE ON WEBCAST -- House

Vets' Chair's "roundtable discussion" on VA document

shredding will have no cameras or microphones.

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

This story is getting stranger by the minute.

Earlier, I reported that Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, would not be holding a hearing into the VA's mishandling (shredding) of documents, but would instead be holding a "roundtable discussion."  That story here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf
08/nfnov08/nf111408-3.htm

This morning (FRI 14 NOV 2008, 0930HRS EST) I spoke with Kristal DeKleer, Communications Director for the Committee, about this "discussion."

Who is invited to participate?  Some representatives of the veterans' service organizations (VSOs)... some officials of the VA... and some members of the press.  No names were given.

Who will attend?  No one has responded at this time.

But, the most disturbing news is that there will be no recordings made of this "discussion."  No video.  No microphones.  That means no webcast on the Committee's site. 

Also, there will be no "mult-box" or "press box" where reporters can plug in their recording gear to make a record of the "discussion."  This is being described as a "pen & pad" event for reporters.

There MIGHT be a court reporter taking notes, but that is not a given.  And, even if that happens, there would not be a transcript for a number of months.

Is this "discussion" being held in lieu of a hearing?  DeKleer didn't know. 

Will there be a formal hearing when the 111th Congress convenes?  DeKleer didn't know.

What gives, here?

This just doesn't make sense.

All we will know is what Chairman Filner gives us in a press release... what the VSOs report... or, what some reporter thinks is important.

This proceeding MUST be recorded.  We need a record to know what our elected representatives, VSOs and VA officials have to say about the mishandling and shredding of documents vital to veterans' claims.

The "roundtable discussion" will be held on Wednesday, November 19 at 10AM EST. 

I urge you to call the Committee at this number:  (202) 225-9756.

Politely ask them to webcast this proceeding and to allow reporters to record the event on audio or video, as the reporter wishes.

We deserve to know what is said at this proceeding. 

Anything less is a breach of faith with the veteran community.

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

NOTE:  The following story was just posted by the St. Petersburg Times:

Story here... http://blogs.tampabay.com/br
eakingnews/2008/11/vets-committee.html

Story below: 

Vets committee reneges on VA hearings

The chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs won't hold hearings as promised on a shredding controversy at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Instead of a formal hearing, the committee chairman will hold a two-hour "roundtable" discussion on Wednesday in Washington without sworn witnesses and no assurance the VA will even participate.

Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., who chairs the committee, could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday and no explanation about the change was provided by committee staff.

Last month, Filner told the St. Petersburg Times he was angered by reports that VA employees had improperly set aside for shredding crucial claims documents from veterans. A VA investigation found nearly 500 documents improperly set aside for shredding in most of the VA's 57 regional benefits offices.

About 13 documents were found at the VA's busiest benefits office -- Bay Pines in St. Petersburg.

Filner said he thought the VA needed new leaership. "These guys remind me of the Keystone Kops," Filner said last month. "This completely shatters confidence in the whole VA system. These documents are matters of life and death for some of these veterans."

Several major veterans service organizations have been invited to the roundtable discussion along with unnamed officials at the VA. On Friday, nobody had yet confirmed they would attend.

-- William R. Levesque, Times Staff Writer

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posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
-------------------------

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