  The American Veteran's On-Line News Magazine Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage VA NEWS FLASH from Larry Scott at VA Watchdog dot Org -- 11-20-2008 |
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The American Veteran's On-Line News Magazine Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage VA NEWS FLASH from Larry Scott at VA Watchdog dot Org -- 11-20-2008 |
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PRODUCES FEW SURPRISES -- VBA chief promises to take care of vets whose VA claim documents have been "mishandled."
All stories regarding the VA's shredder and
document handling scandal can be found on this page... click here... Your comments accepted at bottom of page.
------------------------- by Larry Scott
On Wednesday, November 19, 2008, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, chaired by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), held a roundtable discussion on documents mishandled and possibly shredded by the Veterans' Benefits Administration (VBA), the benefits arm of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA). If you are looking for great words of wisdom about what happened at this roundtable, you won't find them here. It was simply more of what we've become accustomed to from Congress as Filner "rounded-up the usual suspects" and let them jabber for the cameras. Maybe I'm too cynical... comes with my age, being a veteran and an old news guy. But, when I watch a Congressional Hearing (or roundtable discussion), I listen for what's not said. I listen for what's not asked. And, there was a lot not said and not asked. The first thing I noticed was the lack of Republican Committee Members at the roundtable. I was beginning to think bad political thoughts until a press release from Ranking Minority Member Steve Buyer (R-IN) came into my email box. Buyer's said, it part:
So, this begs the question: Why didn't
Filner hold the roundtable on the 18th so more Members could attend?
And, will Filner hold a full Committee Hearing when we get the reports
from the VA's Office of Inspector General? Buyer's press release is
here... I guess the simplest way to describe this roundtable is: Yawn! Paraphrasing now: Filner told VBA
chief Adm. Patrick W. Dunne, "You guys shouldn't have put stuff in
shredder bins." Filner seemed like he wanted to be angry, but
just didn't pull it off. Filner did,
There were no real surprises. But, a couple of interesting items surfaced. It was suggested that the VBA offer an "amnesty" to employees who come forward and admit to wrongdoing regarding the handling of documents. Come on! I don't see anyone holding up their hand and saying, "Boss, I shredded 93 C-files... but, I'm sorry." Even if there's no punishment, it's a guaranteed career-buster. So, here's a better idea. How about offering a cash reward to VBA employees who rat-out their fellows who have been guilty of document destruction? You'd have them lined-up for blocks and VBA couldn't print the reward checks fast enough. Adm. Dunne did say one very interesting thing near the end of the roundtable. After explaining how they came up with the 18-month retro rule for re-opened claims (see here), Dunne said that if the new rule didn't work, VBA would change it to make it work. He appeared sincere and the general feeling from those with whom I've spoken who watched the roundtable is: Dunne WILL make it work because the shredder scandal put a black mark on his record, and he wants it taken off. However, Filner doesn't see it that way. He
seemed to have rediscovered his anger later in the day when he issued a
press release blasting the VA for the shredder problem. Excerpts
from the press release are below... and full press release is here...
I wish Filner had been that angry and straightforward during the roundtable. Generally agreed to by all: The VA claims process doesn't work correctly. And, there appeared to be agreement that VBA must go to an electronic system to handle claims. For another look at the hearing, there is an
article in The Army Times here... Now... let's hand out our Roundtable Discussion Awards.
Final thought: After watching the webcast of this roundtable for two hours, I was left with an empty feeling. More promises... no oversight... same ol' stuff... please keep moving... there's nothing to see here, folks... pay no attention to those veterans whose claims have been delayed or denied... we have solved the problem... let's move on, please... keep moving, please... The video of the webcast of the roundtable should be
available sometime on THU 20 NOV on this Committee web page... ------------------------- ------------------------- Don't forget to read all of today's VA News Flashes (click here) |
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