VA won’t outsource GI Bill management.
By on Oct 14th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
VA won’t outsource GI Bill management.
Last month, Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake said that administrating the new GI Bill will “tax VA’s resources” and announced that “the decision has been made to seek private-sector support to implement this new program.” However, the Army Times reports today that the VA has scuttled the controversial plan after it could not find a contractor. “Instead, VA officials will rely on its own employees to create and implement” the bill’s provisions. Veterans groups had slammed the plan to hire an outside contractor, saying the “level of service [wouldn't] be the same.”
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How does paying an outside contractor to do a job at a profit save the taxpayers any money? I’ve never understood this obsession the Republicans have with privatizing government services. If they’re privatized, they’re no longer government services.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:02 pmWasn’t it “outsourcing” at Walter Reed that screwed everything
October 14th, 2008 at 7:03 pmup there?
Wayne, two thoughts on this. First, it is easier to kill a program if it is outsourced. Second, taxpayer money goes to cronies.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:04 pm“… the “level of service [wouldn’t] be the same.”
And the level of incompetence would be even greater.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:05 pmSupporting the troops….when the marketplace forces you to.
It’s the Rethuglican free market solution to everything!
October 14th, 2008 at 7:13 pm“Outsourcing shares blame for Walter Reed problems”
October 14th, 2008 at 7:20 pmMarin suggested that opponents of competitive sourcing are exploiting the Walker Reed example as a way to rally opposition to the administration’s competitive sourcing agenda. “There were members [at the hearing] who couldn’t resist saying the word ‘privatization’ and screaming ‘Halliburton,’ he said. Some Democrats, including Waxman, noted that the chief executive officer of IAP Worldwide Services, Al Neffgen, had previously been a senior Halliburton official.
http://federaltimes.com/index.php?S=2600919
OT, and I apologize, but I just heard Chris Matthews say that comparing Sarah Palin to Hillary Clinton is like comparing an igloo to the Empire State Building.
LMAO!
PEACE
October 14th, 2008 at 7:21 pmThe difference is two-fold: (1) The Republican view of “Big” Government does not include the number of “Employees” included in the contracts, therefore, even if it is more expensive to the Government it is actually a “Smaller” Government; and (2) it is virtually impossible for a senior Government Executive to make more than his salary if he has no way to “Contract” out funds because Civil Servants don’t make enough and are not prone to bribing the a$$-hole they have for a boss. This view is simplistic but true in the arena in which I functioned for thirty years at all levels on both sides: from a GS-3 in 1953 up to a Corporate CEO of a DOD Contracting firm in 1990.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:23 pm“after [the VA] could not find a contractor.”
What? Bechtel wasn’t up to it? KBR? Aegis? They can “support the troops” when they have no oversight and complete immunity and unlimited budgets on which they can slap cost-plus riders, but when it comes to supporting the troops domestically and within a specific budget with the possibility of oversight suddenly the contractors are nowhere to be found!
Well what do you know!
October 14th, 2008 at 7:26 pmThis is the best news for Veterans Education benefits. VA does an excellent job at processing education benefits, this I do know to be true.
“Incompetence” is definitely not a word that describes the VA Education Employees.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:28 pmO/T but I couldn’r resist.
McPunchdrunk says he is going to kick Obama’s ass tomorrow at the debate. I would suggest that he take a step-ladder and his lunch bucket as he will have to get up pretty high and it will take him a long time.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:31 pmThey will have plenty of young, eager amputees coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan looking for desk jobs.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:36 pmDamn it.
Hi, SKdeA. Long time, no see. How are you? Have you taken a moment to visit TheZoo yet? I think you’ll like it. Good people blogging there.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:48 pmDang, another blow against free market capitalism by socialists who have infiltrated the armed services.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:34 pmHire a Vet!
October 14th, 2008 at 8:59 pmNaomi Klein’s “The Shock Doctrine” should be required reading for all incoming democratic administrators just like Milton Friedman’s Capitalism and Freedom was for the repugs making a New World Order
October 15th, 2008 at 6:25 amThe same way tax cuts stimulate the economy and bring more revenue into government. Republicans are geniuses.
October 15th, 2008 at 8:29 amThank goodness. Can you imagine what would have happened if they had of out sourced this. Because they didn’t there will now be more resources available not only to the Vets of the new bill, but will also help existing vets as well.
October 15th, 2008 at 8:39 amBedava Porno izle,
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March 31st, 2009 at 10:21 am