There is evidence to support that bonuses are paid to Veterans Affairs administrative personnel who collude to obscure administrative malfeasance, and incompetence.
May 10, 2007 (Press Release) --
The Veterans Administration has announced $3.6 million of bonuses to be provided to administrative personnel.
As many as 600,000 veterans await benefit determination while the VA deputy undersecretary for benefits has been designated to receive a bonus of $33,000. The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) bonus system is disconnected from the quality of service provided by the employee to improve the quality of care rendered to veterans.
Rather, there is ample evidence to support the contention that bonuses are paid to administrative personnel who collude to obscure administrative malfeasance, and incompetence, and punitive action against whistleblowers. These funds are used to "buy" silence from upper and middle management that have knowledge of wrongdoing. The
outcome of this behavior is a culture of incompetence and wrongdoing that is supported and encouraged by taxpayer dollars. Sadly, there is evidence to suggest involvement of Congressional representatives who have refused to act despite numerous documented complaints from VA Whistleblowers and confirmation by previous investigations. The failure of governmental agencies to protect whistleblowers' rights impairs the system of checks and balances that was designed to prevent governmental abuse of citizens. Yet, the DVA continues to “discourage the reporting of poor quality care by harassing whistleblowers or firing them” (1992).1
Again, in 1999, Terry Everett, (R-AL) chairman of the House VA Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations told a congressional panel that retaliation against VA whistleblowers was common and goes unpunished.2 A year later, Mr. Everett released a study of the VA’s compliance with the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA). He said, “The VA’s failure to follow the law has created an atmosphere of fear and reluctance of its employees to come forward with reports of wrongdoing.” And once again, in 2001 a congressional report specific to whistleblower reprisal complaints indicated that of 700 total submissions, only 0.57% of agency officials were held accountable for their retaliatory actions.3
Congress needs to investigate current and previous allegations of whistleblower harassment within the DVA and take sweeping corrective actions to protect veterans and those that care for them. There are several examples of facility directors and their designees who have been transferred to new assignments after problematic performance issues including medical research violations, mandatory drug-substitution policies, and more, resulting in the deaths of veterans.
Numerous VA administrators have continued to receive bonuses over the past 20 years despite little evidence supporting the merit of their performance. Retaliation against whistleblowers is systemic and routine among VA facilities nationwide. Examples encountered by our VAWBC members can be viewed at www.VAWBC.com by clicking on ABOUT US, then MEMBERS.
VAWBC members are hopeful that the following representatives will review and analyze information previously provided to them that impacts the health care provided to veterans. We encourage our representatives to support a comprehensive investigation to hold VA officials accountable, protect veterans and their families from corrupt cover-ups that condone dangerous medical care within the VA and put an end to sham whistleblower protection as it currently exists within the VA.
Representatives with knowledge of the stories are posted below:
Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
Congressman Bart Gordon (D-TN)
Senator Bill Frist (R-TN)
Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-PA)
Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ)
Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
Congressman Michael McNulty (D-NY)
Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA)
DVA Oversight:
Leonard Sistek
Democratic Staff Director, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for the
Department of Veterans Affairs
Arthur Wu
Republican Staff Director, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for the
Department of Veterans Affairs
References:
1. Continuing Deficiencies In The Department Of Veterans' Affairs Medical Quality Assurance Program. Thirty-eighth Report By The Committee On Government Operations. HR 102-1062. The U.S. House of Representatives. November 9, 1992.
2. Hearing on whistleblowing and retaliation in the De¬partment of Veterans Affairs. Washington, DC: U.S. House of Representatives, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. March 11, 1999:1–60. Available at: http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/schedule106/mar99/3-11-99/news.htm. Accessed May 8, 2007.
3. Kaplan E, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. A Report to Congress from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel for Fiscal Year 2001. Available at: www.osc.gov/documents/reports/ar-2001.pdf. Accessed May 8, 2007.)
As many as 600,000 veterans await benefit determination while the VA deputy undersecretary for benefits has been designated to receive a bonus of $33,000. The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) bonus system is disconnected from the quality of service provided by the employee to improve the quality of care rendered to veterans.
Rather, there is ample evidence to support the contention that bonuses are paid to administrative personnel who collude to obscure administrative malfeasance, and incompetence, and punitive action against whistleblowers. These funds are used to "buy" silence from upper and middle management that have knowledge of wrongdoing. The
outcome of this behavior is a culture of incompetence and wrongdoing that is supported and encouraged by taxpayer dollars. Sadly, there is evidence to suggest involvement of Congressional representatives who have refused to act despite numerous documented complaints from VA Whistleblowers and confirmation by previous investigations. The failure of governmental agencies to protect whistleblowers' rights impairs the system of checks and balances that was designed to prevent governmental abuse of citizens. Yet, the DVA continues to “discourage the reporting of poor quality care by harassing whistleblowers or firing them” (1992).1
Again, in 1999, Terry Everett, (R-AL) chairman of the House VA Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations told a congressional panel that retaliation against VA whistleblowers was common and goes unpunished.2 A year later, Mr. Everett released a study of the VA’s compliance with the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA). He said, “The VA’s failure to follow the law has created an atmosphere of fear and reluctance of its employees to come forward with reports of wrongdoing.” And once again, in 2001 a congressional report specific to whistleblower reprisal complaints indicated that of 700 total submissions, only 0.57% of agency officials were held accountable for their retaliatory actions.3
Congress needs to investigate current and previous allegations of whistleblower harassment within the DVA and take sweeping corrective actions to protect veterans and those that care for them. There are several examples of facility directors and their designees who have been transferred to new assignments after problematic performance issues including medical research violations, mandatory drug-substitution policies, and more, resulting in the deaths of veterans.
Numerous VA administrators have continued to receive bonuses over the past 20 years despite little evidence supporting the merit of their performance. Retaliation against whistleblowers is systemic and routine among VA facilities nationwide. Examples encountered by our VAWBC members can be viewed at www.VAWBC.com by clicking on ABOUT US, then MEMBERS.
VAWBC members are hopeful that the following representatives will review and analyze information previously provided to them that impacts the health care provided to veterans. We encourage our representatives to support a comprehensive investigation to hold VA officials accountable, protect veterans and their families from corrupt cover-ups that condone dangerous medical care within the VA and put an end to sham whistleblower protection as it currently exists within the VA.
Representatives with knowledge of the stories are posted below:
Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
Congressman Bart Gordon (D-TN)
Senator Bill Frist (R-TN)
Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-PA)
Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ)
Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
Congressman Michael McNulty (D-NY)
Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA)
DVA Oversight:
Leonard Sistek
Democratic Staff Director, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for the
Department of Veterans Affairs
Arthur Wu
Republican Staff Director, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for the
Department of Veterans Affairs
References:
1. Continuing Deficiencies In The Department Of Veterans' Affairs Medical Quality Assurance Program. Thirty-eighth Report By The Committee On Government Operations. HR 102-1062. The U.S. House of Representatives. November 9, 1992.
2. Hearing on whistleblowing and retaliation in the De¬partment of Veterans Affairs. Washington, DC: U.S. House of Representatives, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. March 11, 1999:1–60. Available at: http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/schedule106/mar99/3-11-99/news.htm. Accessed May 8, 2007.
3. Kaplan E, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. A Report to Congress from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel for Fiscal Year 2001. Available at: www.osc.gov/documents/reports/ar-2001.pdf. Accessed May 8, 2007.)
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