House to Act on Growing VA Scandals

Press Release

As a whistleblower recently revealed how the Phoenix VA used double bookkeeping to fraudulently report how long veterans have to wait for appointments, the VA Office of the Inspector General has released several reports linking tragedies to widespread mismanagement of facilities and programs under the responsibility of senior executive staff.

In many instances, senior VA execs received bonuses and exceptional performance reviews. For example, after the Legionnaire's Disease outbreak at the Pittsburgh VA, which claimed the lives of six veterans in 2012, senior director Michael Moreland received a $63,000 mega-bonus. Moreland has since resigned. Similar claims are coming out from around the country, including hospitals in Colorado, Texas, and Illinois.

Following his appearance before a Senate panel this week on the ongoing scandals plaguing the Veterans Administration, Secretary Eric Shinseki accepted Friday the "resignation" of Under Secretary for Health Affairs Robert Petzel amid a growing scandal about secret waiting lists and deadly wait times for veterans.

Congressman Murphy weighed with KDKA's Bill Rephkopf, calling it a "phony" move and said the systemic failures at the VA demand wholesale changes in management and leadership.

"When Petzel came to Pittsburgh last fall for a hearing during which and evaded questions about holding anyone accountable for the Legionaires outbreak that caused 4 deaths, he was already scheduled to retire. In fact, President Obama had already announced his intention to nominate Petzel's replacement, so characterizing this as a "resignation' is just another VA cover-up."

Murphy continued, "There's been a severe lack of accountability at the VA for years. If he's (Shinseki) incapable of making the systemic changes needed, then he must step aside in the interests of our nation's veterans. If he doesn't step aside, he should be fired."

Towards that end, Rep. Tim Murphy signed on as a cosponsor to the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act (H.R. 4031). The bill is designed to give veterans and their families the confidence that when entrusted to care for the nation's veterans commit negligent or criminal acts, they will be held accountable. The bill, which has over 125 bipartisan cosponsors, would give the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the authority to rapidly remove a senior executive from their positions based on their performance.

During the radio interviews, Murphy also expressed exasperation that the VA has yet to hold accountable those responsible for the Legionnaires' outbreak at Pittsburgh. Seven months ago, Murphy called on Secretary Shinseki to release details of disciplinary action taken against persons responsible for the Legionnaires' outbreak. In January, he was told by VA officials action was quickly forthcoming. Murphy has yet to receive a response from the VA.

"The people who endangered or sacrificed their health to protect this country are the ones who should be receiving the best medical treatment available. Not waiting for months to see a doctor or contracting preventable infections in the hospital, while senior staff are rewarded with massive bonuses," said Murphy.

Source