NC Senator Richard Burr VA VHA update May 23, 2014, S 2362 prohibits bonuses through 2015, Inspector General report VHA accurately processed only 69% of Quick Start claims
“Veterans are tired of waiting for the next report, the next investigation, the next media “Breaking News Alert.” VA is broken, Mr. President. Veterans don’t want the appearance of leadership on this issue. They want action.”…NC Senator Richard Burr, May 23, 2014
“If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin”…Samuel Adams, 1776
“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″
From NC Senator Richard Burr May 23, 2014.
“This week, I continued to work along with some of my colleagues on addressing the serious problems facing the VA and the Veterans Health Administration. On Tuesday, Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and I introduced S. 2362, legislation that would prohibit the payment of bonuses to employees at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) through Fiscal Year 2015.
It is appalling and totally unacceptable that the VHA, which is being scrutinized by Congress and the media for a string of national scandals, is giving out bonuses. It is totally inconceivable that the Veterans Health Administration can justify rewarding themselves while they fail our veterans. It is my hope that the Senate will swiftly adopt this legislation so that such gross misconduct is no longer rewarded at taxpayer expense. To read the full statement on S. 2362, click here.
Also on Tuesday, the Office of Inspector General (IG) released a report on the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Quick Start Program. The Quick Start program was designed to help service members smoothly transition to civilian life by beginning the disability claims process for veterans prior to their separating from the Armed Forces. However, this new IG report shows that numerous factors — such as ineffective use of resources, inadequate training, and insufficient program controls — led to problems with the timeliness and quality of VA’s decisions on these claims. The IG found that the VBA accurately processed only 69% of Quick Start claims during 2013. That is 29% lower than VA’s 98% goal and well below VA’s reported quality measures. In light of last week’s hearing regarding the accuracy and trustworthiness of Veterans Health Administration’s wait time data, I question the Administration’s claim that the VA disability claims backlog is improving. The findings in this report are symptomatic of the ongoing, pervasive problems at the VA. Congress must conduct aggressive oversight to make sure that the VA is treating our veterans with the respect that they deserve. To read IG’s full report, click here.
On the topic of oversight, this week minority members of the Senate VA Committee and myself signed a letter calling on Chairman Sanders of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to hold several oversight hearings on numerous topics including, but not limited to, the Veterans Health Administration, the quality of VA healthcare, and the integrity of the VA’s data and performance metrics. It is obvious from the ongoing VA scandals and the report above that the Department desperately needs vigorous oversight. It is our mission as a committee to provide oversight; yet the Chairman has chosen to ignore reasonable requests for hearings. My fellow minority members and I hope that this letter will be heard and oversight hearings will be scheduled immediately. To read the full text of the letter sent to Chairman Sanders, click here.
This week, President Obama held a press conference addressing the issues within the Veterans Administration. I listened with great interest to the President’s remarks on the unfolding VA scandals. Quite frankly, I am shocked that the President feels he needs to wait for the results of yet another investigation before he takes action. As we discussed in our committee hearing with the Secretary last week, there are at least four years’ worth of reports from the Inspector General, the Government Accountability Office, the Office of Special Counsel, and Office of the Medical Investigator highlighting the problems within the Veterans Health Administration. Yet, we still can’t connect the dots without a report on Phoenix? Veterans are tired of waiting for the next report, the next investigation, the next media “Breaking News Alert.” VA is broken, Mr. President. Veterans don’t want the appearance of leadership on this issue. They want action. To watch the President’s full press conference, click here. For the transcript of this video, click here.
On Wednesday, I introduced legislation to correct a mistake by the Census Bureau and the Office of Management of Budget (OMB) that is hurting eastern North Carolina. A year ago, OMB issued new rules that arbitrarily separated Brunswick County from the Wilmington metropolitan area. This separation has not only led to an understatement of the size of North Carolina’s economy, but hurt economic development in the area. Everybody in North Carolina knows that Brunswick County is part of the greater Wilmington area. Instead of mindlessly applying bureaucratic rules, the Administration needs to address what reality looks like for people in North Carolina. If passed, this legislation would settle the issue by requiring the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to consider Brunswick County to be part of the same metropolitan statistical area as Wilmington, North Carolina– just like it always has been. To read the bill text, click here.
Be sure to keep an eye out for a special edition of my weekly newsletter, and spend time this weekend reflecting on the real meaning of Memorial Day. As we gather with our families, give thanks and honor to those who gave their lives for our freedom. I wish you all a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend.
Sincerely,
Richard Burr”
Citizen WElls 
God bless and protect our veterans.
God bless and protect everyone who believes in liberty.
Good morning Zach, et al.
CW……..
I personally gave up a long time ago on the VA. It appears to me that I done the right thing. I was disgusted with the organisation at the time,but the notion remained in my mind that somebody with a much more serious affliction might be trying to get treatment. I decided that it was time for me to step aside,and allow the guy behind me who might need attention worse than me to move forward. I don’t even purchase my Lisinopril at vets. It is too far for me to safely drive. Extremely dense traffic around our VA hospital. What I have learned lately about the actions of the VA leadership tells me that the institution was, and still is being financially MILKED by a bunch of SLIMEY A$$HOLES. Mzzzzzzzzzzz.Hellman has been ordered to pay back all of her ill gotten bonuses. Just one step in the right direction. Perhaps there are others who should receive some “SLAMMER” time. I pray that they are found, and rewarded for their criminal behavior.
oldsailor.
I have stated for years that I believe that veterans should get first rate service at the best civilian hospitals & do away with the VA hospital system.
This would not replace triage from military hospitals.
May 24, 2014
“Media Shattering: Sheriff Joe Arpaio Exposes Obama ID Fraud Cover-Up Live On Fox News”
“I Tell It LIke It Is: Sheriff Arpaio did have TV conflicts. He was on the “Cavuto” show. He was asked if he would be running for Governor. Sheriff Joe said no because he has “several very interesting investigations he and his teams are working on”. Later he stated that he has “an interesting high-level investigation that no one seems to be interested in”, an obvious dig at FoxNews.
BirtherReport: Regarding the headline; Imagine if any other interviewee dropped nuggets like Sheriff Arpaio did during this interview. A real Journo would be fired if they didn’t follow-up. . Cavuto confirms Team Arpaio’s shock claims that Fox News is refusing to cover the Obama ID Fraud scandal…
All of the so-called main-stream media in America should be disbanded and punished for their complicity…”
http://www.birtherreport.com/2014/05/media-shattering-sheriff-joe-exposes.html
CW………
In all probability the vet would get a lot better quality of care,and at the same time the Fed wouldn’t be paying a hell of a crowd of people whose (abilities might be questionable),a lot of MOOLA for doing as little as possible. I think you are absolutely right! In addition the Government wouldn’t need all of the HIGH maintenance cost buildings either.
Larry Klayman Warns on “USA Freedom Act”: ‘We Can’t Trust Gov’t to Protect Constitutional Rights’
http://www.wnd.com/2014/05/usa-freedom-act-and-bipartisan-tyranny/
West: “Today I had an experience that I truly felt was God sent. On the plane, I sat next to someone who knew someone on the roof in Benghazi that night. This is the “ground truth” I learned”
http://www.westernjournalism.com/exclusive-source-tells-allen-west-truth-benghazi/
Kerry Lies About Temps to Push Global Warming
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/kerry-says-wrongly-some-temps-week-broke-every-record-s-ever-been
Obama Admits: ‘Hard to Talk About Global Warming’ in Chicago
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/05/23/President-Obama-I-Look-Like-Morgan-Freeman
The “Constitutional scholar”, usurper, has spoken.
**********************
Obama Blames Founding Fathers for Congress Gridlock
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/may/23/obama-blames-structural-design-congress-gridlock/
IRS: 318,000 Fed Workers Owe $3.3 Billion in Back Taxes
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BACK_TAXES_FEDERAL_WORKERS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-05-22-17-01-11
Fuddy Autopsy Appeal: Black Hole Theory And Loretta Fuddy’s Death
http://www.birtherreport.com/2014/05/fuddy-autopsy-appeal-black-hole-theory.html
Sellin Speaks: Managing Expectations About The Cold Case Posse Investigation
http://www.birtherreport.com/2014/05/sellin-speaks-managing-expectations.html
EMBARASSING!…SCHEDULED UC IRVINE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER WILL BE AMERICA’S FRAUDULENT “PRESIDENT” AND LIAR -IN-CHIEF…JOIN THE PROTEST JUNE 14, 2014 AT ANGEL STADIUM IN ANAHEIM…
http://giveusliberty1776.blogspot.com/2014/05/embarassingscheduled-uc-irvine.html
Obama back on the golf course…..Mark Knoller tweet: “Pres. Obama playing golf this morning at Andrews AirForce. His foursome includes his roommate from his days at Occidental College.”
AKA his “spouse” of “the ring”?
More re: “the ring”
http://savetherevolution.com/2012/10/29/barack-obamas-ring/
Reset the Federal government.
Good morning CW, et al.
Thanks to all of our Vets out there.
Attorney Klayman to Alan Colmes on Fox News Radio: Obama Born in Kenya; Even If Born In Hawaii, Not Natural Born Citizen
http://www.birtherreport.com/2014/05/fox-news-atty-klayman-obama-born-in.html
WHAT A STUNT! WHAT A JOKE! AMAZING!…AMAZING!…FOREIGN-BORN, INDONESIAN WITH PHONY NAME AND FRAUDULENT ID DOCUMENTS WHO HAS DONE MORE TO DESTROY AMERICA’S MILITARY (BTW MORE DEATHS IN AFGHANISTAN UNDER OBAMA THAN BUSH…BUT WHOSE REPORTING THAT?) PEACE AND SECURITY THAN ANY PRESIDENT IN OUR HISTORY
http://giveusliberty1776.blogspot.com/2014/05/obama-slips-into-afghanistan-to-visit.html
Shame on those murderers in Washington who have allowed our veterans to suffer and die. May God provide justice and compassion for our heroes.
God bless all our present and past Veterans, and a special blessing to all those who fought and died in order to keep us free.
A special prayer going up today, tomorrow, and always for our brave Veterans.
All have a wonderful and Safe weekend.
Do not be intimidated by Godless progressives into silence. Obama and his sycophants are pure evil. The mounting death toll proves this beyond any shadow of a doubt. Stalin and Hitler would be proud.
In the early days of WW2 Hitler’s disease fogged mind led him to think that taking Britain would be a PIECE OF CAKE,after all every soldier was a SUPERMAN. How could he lose when his Luftwaffe could drop thousands of bombs at a time upon any city in England. Well the Russians with mother nature’s help twist the Supermen into a writhing freezing mass of protoplasm, and would you believe it…..thousands of the SUPERMEN perished,and it only took mother nature to provide the mass executions of the SUPERMEN. ……….”JA VEE ISS DER SUPERMEN……DER IRON PURE SUPERMEN”, har har har …….WHERE ARE ALL OF THE SUPERMEN NOW?
“”I don’t even purchase my Lisinopril at vets. “””
It is delivered to our mailbox.
Capturing America’s Heart: A Third Awakening?
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/May/Casting-a-Gospel-Net-Across-the-Nations-Heart/
SUPERMAN is now obot pajama boys and girls and the media propping up this cluster ****???
Maybe a tornado will wipe out the Cheetos factory and end this madness? 🙂
Are you old enough to have witnessed firsthand WWII? If yes, you must see the parallels as do I.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-05-25/who-persuaded-you-ignore-obamas-scandals
Good morning CW, et. al,
CW, I love that Media photo. Says it all!