Shinseki still incompetent

The Stars and Stripes reports this morning that weeks after the Department of Veterans Affairs authorized “emergency payments” for their education benefits, more than 30,000 of the 82,000 veterans who’ve applied are still without checks (that’s about 36% of applicants), some probably won’t get their checks until 2010. So much for “emergency” payments.

But fear not – DVA’s boss says it’s “unacceptable” Whew! Don’t you feel better? I know that veterans and their families will be able to live on that “unacceptable”. It puts food on the table, it makes it easier to study, it even makes rent payments. What we need here is for Brandon Friedman to have another conference call so he can get dicksmith’s opinion and then leap into action like last time.

“[VA Secretary Eric Shinseki] has made it clear to everyone that any delay in payments is unacceptable,” [Keith Wilson, director of the VA’s education services] said. “I know what it’s like to stand in line for food stamps after defending this country. I take this very personally, and we’re going to fix it.”

Yeah, drag out your own victim card to deflect criticism. The fact remains that this bill passed 12 months before the first check was to be cut – DVA had time to fix this. It’s not like a hurricane struck or anything.

Worse? DVA’s computer system for this process won’t be running for more than a year;

A new automated computer system is expected to simplify that process, but the system won’t be fully operational until December 2010, Wilson said. That drew criticism from lawmakers, who worry that students enrolling in classes next spring and fall could face similar delays.

But don’t worry, I’m sure these problems won’t surface when the government takes over all of our health care.

Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Military issues, Veteran Health Care