Posted on 02/04/2016 6:04:56 PM PST by george76
A high-ranking Department of Veterans Affairs official on Tuesday defended the VA's failure to discipline two employees accused of misconduct, and blamed the outrage over their lenient treatment on "considerable external pressure" by the media and Congress to punish personnel who may not have done anything wrong.
Sloan Gibson, deputy VA secretary, praised a judge's recent decision in personnel cases that stopped the demotions of Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves, two VA officials accused of together stealing more than $400,000 in benefits from the government.
...
According to the inspector general, Graves had pressured a colleague to leave his job so she could manipulate the VA's employee relocation program and pocket nearly $130,000 in benefits. The same report found Rubens had created a less-demanding position for herself at the VA's regional office in Philadelphia, then netted $274,000 in moving benefits to take the job while retaining the same six-figure salary.
...
VA leadership has resisted Congress' attempts to overhaul the agency's policies for holding officials accountable, even in the wake of a nationwide scandal in 2014 that severely hampered the VA's credibility on the issue.
...
Rep. Jeff Miller, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said the VA's effort to issue "an even weaker slap on the wrist" to Rubens and Graves should be of "little comfort" to taxpayers.
...
Miller said he spoke with Gibson Tuesday morning to ask "for his assistance in this effort," but noted Gibson "adamantly refused."
"VA leaders have fought these efforts at nearly every turn," Miller said of legislative attempts to increase accountability at the embattled agency.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
“.... and blamed the outrage over their lenient treatment on “considerable external pressure” by the media and Congress to punish personnel who may not have done anything wrong.”
Is this supposed to be a sentence in the English language? Because it makes absolutely no sense.
Up is down, down is up. Why should anyone follow any law when the feds follow none. Every man for himself as the end is near. Thank you feckless fool on the hill.
what was Obummer’s cut?
The Civil Service is as corrupt as it can be. Add to that the corrpt Obama administration and his appointees, and this is what happens. There is a reason people say you cannot fire a civil service employee is shown in this case. I don’t think the judges in these cases have an ounce of common sense or know the law.
Ok, but they DID do something wrong and there are no consequences. But of course, we can still blame the things that were not at issue when it was suspected that they didn’t do anything wrong but now that we know they DID do something wrong....there is apparently no change in our thinking.
I think trained animals could run the government better than crop we have now.
“..VA leadership has resisted Congress’ attempts to overhaul the agency’s policies for holding officials accountable.....”
Who’s the boss!?
Does anyone remember when 6 Billion went missing when Hillary was Secretary of State.
Like POOF. And they never found it.
Whoâs the boss!?
Obviously Obama is the boss. Just look at the emasculated, constipated Republicans in our supposedly conservative majority in Congress. Who still thinks they deserve our support? The Democrats can get away with doing anything they want. They can even pass their own budgets! I offer the current Hillary scandals and the VA as evidence.
Are either of these women Veterans?
Shut down whatever office they are in.
Quit playing patty-cake with these two.
These are hardcore criminals.
No mercy.
Criminals and malignancies. They hate Veterans...and steal funds from the Veterans’ care. They should be fired and exiled for their perfidy.
How do you spend that kind of money to move?
How much was re-directed to their bank accounts.
“According to estimates provided by the American Moving & Storage Association, the average cost of an interstate move is about $5,630, based on an average weight of 7,100 pounds and distance of 1,200 miles.”
http://www.angieslist.com/articles/6-tips-moving-out-state.htm
bkmk
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.