VA psychic didn’t see this coming

| June 3, 2015

The Associated Press reports that two VA employees, Lucy Filipov, the assistant director of the Philadelphia regional office, and Gary Hodge, director of the Pension Management Center, have been suspended. Their crime? They forced other VA employees to donate $30 per head for psychic readings in the Filipov and Hodges homes.

In comments included in last week’s report, Filipov said she considered the party a gathering of friends, rather than one involving subordinates. Hodge said his wife’s business was separate from his work and didn’t know what his wife’s income was.

Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., on Monday applauded the VA’s action, saying he hoped it was a sign the department will now hold officials strictly accountable for “reckless and harmful actions.”

So, ripping off VA employees is behavior worthy of suspension, but ripping off taxpayers and veterans isn’t. Nice. I don’t know what went through these two people’s heads, but I’m pretty sure their paperboy could have told them that this scheme was unethical.

Category: Veterans' Affairs Department

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DeskJockey

That Hodge guy was the advisor to a business frat I was in back in my college days. Wierd…

GDContractor

I had a vision last night that code monkey hippie chick (hot) removed the “Recent Comments” section.

GDContractor

Is it gone forever? Being held hostage? Sorry, my psychic powers are not that strong right now. My main concern is that zombie threads could be popping back to life and The Cadre wouldn’t know about it.

ChipNASA

I have unnamed sources saying that either the DRG or ISIS/L are holding the comments for ransom….that or someone kidnapped them and wants a 7 lb block of cheese and a big bag of grapes for their return.

R.I. P. RECENT COMMENTS.

/Oh and Elaine Ricci too.

GDContractor

Sounds like a NDTBF move.

A Proud Infidel®™

I wonder how soon a certain member of The Dutch Rudder Gang will be crowing to take credit for it?

FasterThanFastjack

We have code monkey hippie chicks here? That’s news to me

Silentium Est Aureum

I’d love to ask what would have happened to the subordinates who didn’t “contribute” to this little scam.

Then again, psychics, Combined Federal Campaign…you see me working.

Green Thumb

I am surprised they have not been promoted and moved onto Vermont Street.

Dr. Clancy would approve, I am sure.

Thunderstixx

How come you never hear about a psychic winning the lottery?

GDContractor

You know there will be a new powerpoint training module to specifically address “not compelling your subordinates to pay for psychic readings” now. When completed, you will receive a certificate. #winning

IMHO a Hitler downfall parody would be more effective, but that’s why I’m just a GDContractor (has been).

Sparks

So let me see if I can get this shit straight. If you’re a VA worker fucking over veterans EVERY DAY, as fast as you can stamp, “Rescheduled For Later Appointment”, it’s all cool and you’re good to go. No matter the vet may have spent far more than $30 in travel expenses to get there. But…fuck over another VA employee for $30 a pop to get their fortune read, which is pretty much the same for all and as follows, “Your fortune says: As far as the veterans go, you guys can kick Obama in the balls and not loose your phony baloney fucking jobs”, and they are all of a sudden upset and you get suspended. Now they’re just suspended mind you. No one has lost their jobs yet and I’m giving ten to one odds neither one will. They’ll be retread into a different facility or the same one in a different department. Sons of bitches anyway!

Eric

Correction there Sparks:

If you kick Obama in the balls or do anything less than blind loyalty to the Administration, your job is forfeit. (i.e., the west wing twitter guy)

If you kiss his ass and tow the party line, you will survive (i.e., lois lerner)

Shalom

I remember hearing an interview once with an undercover NYPD vice cop whose job it was to bust these phony psychics. She said “I’ve heard lots of wonderful things from these psychics, but never yet have I heard one say, “You’re an undercover cop and you’re here to arrest me…’ “

Pinto Nag

Being forced to give my money to anybody is robbery, I don’t give a damn if they work with me or not. I have very little patience with robbers, of any stripe, and my $30 would have stayed in my pocket, if I had to call a cop to come explain why.

Ex-PH2

This belongs somewhere in the gigglesnort category, doesn’t it?

Silentium Est Aureum

It’s all for shits and giggles until someone giggles and shits.

Eric

So, “persuading” others to give you 30 bucks for a psychic is a federal offense…

…but causing veterans to die by purposely cancelling their appointments gets you a full retirement and pension package.

I’m guessing the psychics were republicans and the VA administrators have Obama stickers on their cars. Just a guess…

2/17 Air Cav

“Hodge said his wife’s business was separate from his work and didn’t know what his wife’s income was.” Yeah, that’s credible. Sure. I buy that.

Hondo

Agreed. At their level, I’m guessing both should have been required to fill out one of two types of financial disclosure forms. Both types of form require listing spousal financial information – including income.

BOILING MAD CPO

Who does her taxes – joint return or single return?

Also, shouldn’t a psychic see into the future and know this was going to bite them in the rear end.