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While Vets Were Dying, The VA Spent $20 Million on Art
Daily Sheeple ^ | 7/27/2016 | Joshua Krause

Posted on 07/27/2016 3:15:52 AM PDT by HomerBohn

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To: Pollster1

In vet centers and va hospitals I have no idea why they don’t have a vet do the stuff. I’m sure there are plenty of artist vets out there that would do it for free and it would be much more of a WOW statement.


21 posted on 07/27/2016 7:11:54 AM PDT by sheana
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To: Gaffer
Yes. Color of money and all that = Understood....and it is entirely possible if that rule still exists this could happen. I don’t say it does but I do know at one time that was a requirement.

It does still exist. They track money by Treasury Symbols for each agency. It is very difficult to re-assign money between different types of Treasury Symbols, but it is not impossible. Also, there is a way to petition Congress to re-allot/re-allocate already assigned funds to a different Treasury Symbol.

I used to audit federal agencies, and a huge concern amongst the financial folks is the Anti-Deficiency Act. No official wanted to "go ADA" as it's called. The ADA tracks funds at a set level (most agencies, it's at the Treasury Symbol level). So, even if the agency has overall funds to cover overall liabilities, if liabilities in a Treasury Symbol area exceed available funds in that Treasury Symbol, someone is in trouble, and yes, I've seen people lose jobs over it.

22 posted on 07/27/2016 7:16:05 AM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Warning: This post has little to do with reality, and nothing to do with polite society.)
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To: IYAS9YAS

The “does or doesn’t still exist” part I was talking about is the “set aside requirement for art”. Not the overall classification system.


23 posted on 07/27/2016 7:20:28 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: sheana
I’m sure there are plenty of artist vets out there that would do it for free and it would be much more of a WOW statement.

See this: U.S. GAO - Gifts of Goods and Services to the Government

There are actually laws against it, unless there are specific statutes that allow it.

24 posted on 07/27/2016 7:22:08 AM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Warning: This post has little to do with reality, and nothing to do with polite society.)
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To: Gaffer
The “does or doesn’t still exist” part I was talking about is the “set aside requirement for art”.

There should be a way to determine that in the appropriations bill that funds the agency. If there's not a specific line-item for it, there's no reason for it to be funded. If it's there, then it has to be spent that way. The allocation of funds for agencies is done at the Office of Management and Budget, and handed down to the individual agency for implementation based on a set budget. If the line item isn't in the bill, it may have been the Office of Management and Budget that set the guidelines, or it may be at the agency level. If it's at OMB, that can be petitioned for change more easily than petitioning congress on a line item. If it's at the agency level, and doesn't have to be that way, then someone's head should roll if that money could have been moved to assist vets.

It's been a while, but IIRC, that's the way it worked.

25 posted on 07/27/2016 7:28:40 AM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Warning: This post has little to do with reality, and nothing to do with polite society.)
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To: IYAS9YAS

I agree. This ‘art’ thing was a Democrat tribute to the NEA and support of liberal artists IMO.


26 posted on 07/27/2016 7:32:52 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: IYAS9YAS

Well of course there is. Sheesh! For something like that there should be an exception.
I’m sure vets would rather see art created by vets vs. some unknown person or expensive piece.


27 posted on 07/27/2016 7:41:31 AM PDT by sheana
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To: tired&retired

Exactly why the VA must be eliminated, not only to save billions, but to make certain the veteran is adequately served by competent medical facilities and physicians.

The central communist government gives cards to welfare whores so why not to vets?


28 posted on 07/27/2016 7:45:10 AM PDT by HomerBohn (Liberals and Slinkys: Good for nothing but make you smile as you shove them down the stairs.)
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To: Gaffer
I agree. This ‘art’ thing was a Democrat tribute to the NEA and support of liberal artists IMO.

Probably.

29 posted on 07/27/2016 8:22:02 AM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Warning: This post has little to do with reality, and nothing to do with polite society.)
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To: sheana
Well of course there is. Sheesh! For something like that there should be an exception.

Well, one way to do it would be to have a showcase (not permanent) for art by vets where ownership is retained by the vets, and the art is simply displayed.

I'm sure there's some stupid little liberal-created law regarding it, but it could work that way.

I’m sure vets would rather see art created by vets vs. some unknown person or expensive piece.

I know I would.

30 posted on 07/27/2016 8:24:07 AM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Warning: This post has little to do with reality, and nothing to do with polite society.)
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To: IYAS9YAS

Well, one way to do it would be to have a showcase (not permanent) for art by vets where ownership is retained by the vets, and the art is simply displayed.

Perfect idea. Like at most museums art is ‘on loan’. They could even rotate the small stuff.


31 posted on 07/27/2016 8:51:47 AM PDT by sheana
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To: ScaniaBoy

Thanks...I will take a look at it.


32 posted on 07/27/2016 9:25:14 AM PDT by rlmorel (Orwell described Liberals when he wrote of those who "repudiate morality while laying claim to it.")
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