New bill gives VA secretary power to fire any employee! What do you think?

CSM Michael Lynch — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 09:23:30 -0400

Now that he has the power lets see what he does with it. They identified over 1000 VA employees that should be fired, what are your thoughts on how many will be canned. I'd be willing to bet, if we are lucky, not more than 100 will be discharged from VA Service. I personally hope it is all 1000 and anymore they find out that have screwed veterans over.

You have the go ahead secretary now use it to fix the broken and corrupt system and start doing things right for our veterans. Salutes

New bill gives VA secretary power to fire any employee

The Veterans Affairs secretary would be able to fire any agency employee for bad performance or misconduct, under legislation introduced April 23.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Apr 24 at 2015 9:26 AM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 09:26:41 -0400

Too bad they won't. The governmental system is so full of waste, fraud, and abuse that I doubt we will see anyone within their programs terminated at any rate they need to be.

I did see an interesting concept to help level out the cost of the retirement programs for those entering the workforce at any governmental institution to change it for hiring one person for every three that retire, which would hopefully equalize the number of employees, amount of work done, etc throughout the system as a whole. If you bring that in with the firing of employees as well it might accelerate the process.

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Apr 24 at 2015 9:27 AM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 09:27:00 -0400

It's too bad this isn't standard practice. All employees should be able to be fired!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 9:29 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 09:29:28 -0400

If I were the Secretary I would have a field day. I'd make it fun too. I'd go up to them and tell them to pick a number between 1-10. Whatever number they pick, I'd say "That's right! That's how many minutes you have to gather your shit and get out of here. You're fired!"

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 24 at 2015 9:48 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 09:48:55 -0400

The VA is the one topic I let myself get truly irate about.

However (pausing for dramatic effect), I'm not sure how I feel about this.

This seems like a fox guarding the hen house issue. Although I do agree the Secretary should be able to remove "bad cogs" from the machine, as he sees fit. I also think that Political Appointees should have very tight reins when it comes to removing non-elected Civil Servants.

There's a reason we have a Civil Service Union, and it was generally because our politicians were abusing our "administration."

I fear that "sweeping changes" which is what we need, will lead to "salt the Earth" and "fear to fail" and "not my job" mentality which may be worse than what we have now.

Many of the People in the VA are great. Every interaction with the PEOPLE at the VA I have ever had has been good. They are trying to help. Every interaction I have had with the SYSTEM however... that's my issue.

I think the SYSTEM is broken. Not the PEOPLE.

I can rant all day long about the VA. I have. I loathe the organization, and as I said, I do let loose and get irate about them. I use the full fury of my 1a Protections on them. But I fear that this solution may not be correct.

It's like firing a plumber because he doesn't have the right tools to do the job, when the plumbing itself was cobbled together over the last 250 years, and takes a rocket scientist to figure out.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Apr 24 at 2015 9:57 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 09:57:22 -0400

Unfortunately, I can see this power being used to get rid of the whistleblowers, and thus making sure that nobody else repeats the act. For one time in my life, I sincerely hope that I am wrong.

I hope that this authority is used to weed out those who are causing harm to those they are supposed to be caring for.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Apr 24 at 2015 10:11 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 10:11:52 -0400

I'm not sure that getting more shovels is going to help to get out of the hole.
Especially when I see stuff like this...

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/01/30/va-nurses-picket-increased-hospital-staffing/22602961/

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Apr 24 at 2015 10:43 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 10:43:04 -0400

For your further consideration.
At the top is a slide show .. clicking on that will open up a presentation.
This is published in 2010 by the VA and shows where the money is going from 2000 to 2009.
It is a slide show with 9 slides.

http://www.va.gov/vetdata/expenditures.asp

Expenditures - NATIONAL CENTER FOR VETERANS ANALYSIS AND STATISTICS

Geographic Distribution by state, county and congressional district

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Apr 24 at 2015 11:00 AM

SSG Trevor S. — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 11:00:02 -0400

I can find no fault in the logic of making it easier to fire the miscreants and complete low life scum that muck up a system to the point of Veterans waiting so long they find their way to a grave before fulfilling the promises made to them. Clearing out positions filled with bottom feeders will allow others with more motivation to fill the positions, and will serve as a deterrence for those slipping into dysfunctional accountant thinking vs thinking about veteran care.

Response by SGT Steve Oakes made Apr 24 at 2015 1:42 PM

SGT Steve Oakes — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 13:42:34 -0400

Maybe they should just get rid of the whole damn system. Take everyone who is an eligible veteran and make them inactive reservists. Then take all the VA resources divvy them up among the branches and them them care for there own. The active duty people care for the ones that came before them. I have seen a lot of talk on here about the military needing to remember the past. To take pride from the accomplishments of those who came before. This would help with that. It would let he new service members interact and learn from the old guard. The veterans would benefit from the drive and professionalism of active duty people that feel a connection and obligation to those who came before them.