Bill proposes VA executive bonus caps

Bill proposes VA executive bonus caps

By Thursday, September 13th, 2012 12:23 am
Posted in Policy

The total amount of money available as bonuses for senior executives at the Department of Veterans Affairs would be capped under legislation passed on Tuesday by the House of Representatives.

Frustrated lawmakers decided to limit the overall amount of bonuses after hearing testimony that nearly $4 million worth of bonuses had gone out to a few hundred VA execs in recent years.

“Any monies spent by VA on bonuses need to take into account both today’s economic and fiscal climate, as well as the extraordinary performance that must be documented for award of money in excess of a base salary,” said House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., in July.


The Congressional Budget Office, in its summary of the House bill, estimated bonuses to VA senior executive service employees came to about $4 million annually in the last few years.

For that reason, the CBO estimates that a $1 million cap on SES bonuses would produce a savings $13 million between 2013 and 2017.

Congress’ concern over bonuses is not only tied to the poor economy, but to a history of VA delays in getting veterans in for mental health assessments, a backlog of disability claims and allegations that some executives fudged the numbers on patient appointments to meet goals and reap bonuses.

After allegations that some “gamed” the system, the VA cancelled 43 of 78 bonuses previously available to SES employees. Others are still under review.

In total in 2011, the VA paid out nearly $400 million in bonuses. The measure passed by the House on Tuesday targets only the senior executive service. Compensation for SES employees begins at about $120,000, according to the Office of Management and Budget.

The $1 million cap on bonuses passed by the House appears to be a compromise with a bill submitted in July by Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla. Stearns’ bill would have barred all SES bonuses at the VA.

“I want to ensure the best care for our veterans, but the VA continues to have an unmanageable backlog, extremely long wait lists, and a poor record on oversight. Given this troubling record, the VA should discontinue paying bonuses to its top executives,” he said at the time.

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Eskimo Macinoid September 13th, 2012 at 2:23 am

That’s rich coming from Congress

torquewrench September 13th, 2012 at 3:04 am

All you need to know about the VA in one story.

Ever had the indelicate, undignified procedure known as a colonoscopy? That’s where they take a flexible probe with optics and a light and, well, shove it where the sun don’t shine. A nasty procedure, but one that helps prevent early deaths from even more nasty colon cancer.

The VA took a bunch of vets returning from the sandbox, who had survived a horrible gauntlet of snipers and IEDs and reflective belts, and managed to infect those brave worthies with AIDS and hepatitis C not long after their return home.

Because the brilliant VA hadn’t figured out that after the colonoscopy probe has been shoved up one patient’s tuchis, it’s a good idea to CLEAN IT OFF and STERILIZE IT before it gets shoved up the next patient’s tuchis. The VA instead reused the probe in its unclean state. Ick. Mega ick.

There is an increasingly common saying to the effect that the unionized public school system in America amounts to institutionalized child abuse. By that light, the VA is institutionalized veterans’ abuse.

Hank September 13th, 2012 at 8:52 am

Now you learned the hard way what the Vietnam Vets were trying to tell you!

It’s what the Vietnam Vets have been fighting their own government about for over 40 plus years. We had PTSD and our fellow countrymen (that were never in the Military) called us CRY BABIES. We had cancers from AGENT ORANGE and they said that’s impossible, while a town named Times Beach was take over by the EPA because of DIOXN sprayed on the roads killed people.

It really hurts when the American people that you defend turn their backs on the Veterans that gave up so much to help so many get pushed aside while other that sacrificed so little get so much!

Jarhead September 13th, 2012 at 9:41 am

Bonuses for taking 18 months to resolve a disability claim? I don’t think so.

TanksAway September 13th, 2012 at 10:21 am

When there was a debate on the goodness of ObamaCare, the VA Health system was used as example of how good a national/government run health system would be like. It was obvious to me that those politicians had never served in the military to be rewarded by healthcare provided by the VA. If they had experience with the VA, they would have been sure not to draw attention to it. It is a failed program and should be disbanded. All veterans that qualify for VA disability should be provided an insurance program based on the DA civilian menu of healthcare options depending on their percentage of disability.

Chief Walksalot September 13th, 2012 at 10:47 am

These are civil servants; they should not be entitled to a bonus! They are supposed to do their job and draw their pay. I’m going to write my Congressman and see if we can put a stop to these bonuses.

blight_ September 13th, 2012 at 11:07 am

It’s okay, Congressmen can vote on their own raises, be entitled to lifetime healthcare and be wined and dined at every opportunity and retire to a cushy life of K street lobbying.

In the meantime, it’s time to crack down on printing and porn at the GSA…

Steve September 13th, 2012 at 12:17 pm

Congress and all public servants should be paid hourly @ minumin wage. Bonus? No problem, just take a job in private sector where those opportunities are available. We will end up with people that really want to serve the public in government. Term limits and being forced to participate in Social Security would make things change in Congress! Waste, Fraud, and Greed need to be done away with.

Ron Ouellette September 13th, 2012 at 12:21 pm

FINALLY, FINALLY something is going to be done about these foolish BONUSES to VA Execs who on the
most part never served day one in uniform. How do I know this?? I worked for them for 10 years as a VA
Cop protecting these idiots from pissed off angry vets and now that I am retirement I am sorry that I put my
hide on the line protecting these buffoons, want details then just dmail me @Ronbocop55@comcast.net
I have been complaining about this for 13 years and the major media wanted little to do with this. I wrote
to Senators and Congressmen and I was told that they could not tell a Government Agency on how to do
their jobs?? What is that crap all about. Most of the VA Execs that I know and have met NEVER, I mean
NEVER had to guts to serve our country and now they are the ones who make decisions on how to take
care of we vets. Forty million (40) to 321 employees???? That’s a travesty and they sould be made to PAY
IT ALL BACK or lose their jobs, if you can live on $179,000. a year then there is something wrong?? Don’t
YA THINK?????

Sherri September 13th, 2012 at 2:07 pm

I work for the VA. Our providers are very oriented to helping the vets. A new, state of the art hospitaL was built and will be fully funtcioning hopefully by 5/2013. I have heard of some poorly run VA’s, but this hospital will not be one of them. We care for our vets.

Oldgrunt69 September 13th, 2012 at 2:46 pm

I don’t care where you work, public or private, there will always be jerk offs. I worked for the VA for five years and then with US Customs. I can tell you this from experience; the VA has one the lowest pay levels in the Fed govt; therefore, it’s difficult for them to compete for top quality managers; or anything for that matter. I was very fortunate to lateral to Customs; where I was able to get into a solid career ladder and eventually WORKED my way into management. Being a RVN combat vet with service connected disabilities did me no favors with the VA nor Customs. Vets preference is a joke; most managers have learned how to ignore and get around vet’s preference in hiring and promoting.

ForceRecon69 September 13th, 2012 at 3:26 pm

No Civil Service Employee should receive a bonus for doing work that they are being paid to do. Their compensation package is higher than average.
Of the two places that I worked that paid a bonus, production was manipulated, work hrs. were fudged, or some other nefarious scheme was used to manipulate numbers to to benifit those revieving said bonus.

blight_ September 13th, 2012 at 3:55 pm

Happens everywhere where people can get away with it; public or private.

J Fourquet September 13th, 2012 at 5:52 pm

VA management has consistently failed to manage and plan for the needs of war time veterans being separated from service. They failed to plan to implement the new GI bill, and now they are failing to plan for the RIF that will reduce Army and Marine strength by 100,000. It’s stupidity to keep these people in their positions and it is an insult to reward this demonstrated incompetence!

RunningBear September 13th, 2012 at 6:16 pm

Pull the plug on the VA, like they did to my Dad/ WWII Vet. REMFs don’t deserve benefits. Combat veterans should be given a Medical AmEx. credit card and allowed to go to any hospital or doctor for any treatment they require. Warehousing patients has not paid off for any public institution. Those elected representatives will not be going back in office after this election. Their benefits will be dissolved like most of the public that has suffered this last four years. God Bless America

Petermaxx1990 September 13th, 2012 at 8:17 pm

Scrfew bonuses for government officials. They are overpaid for the work they do already. The government is gushing red ink and they are giving bonuses. For what? If it is for saving money, give me the right to cut and terminate non-essential work, workers, and programs… give me a 35% contingency on everything that is reduced and I will make billions. Can we start with Michelle Obama’s staff, Barack Obama’s Csars, and then the staff of congress. Then lets look at …

JJMurray September 14th, 2012 at 7:28 am

When are you going to put some caps on Fannie and Freddie?

Neal September 14th, 2012 at 9:38 am

Why in the hell would the Government want to give a bonus to a person for doing his/her job? Were talking the VA here people not the automotive industry. Insanity is running our country and no one wants to stop it.

Matt September 14th, 2012 at 10:16 am

Bonuses? I can’t get an appointment and we reward the VA for this?

blight_ September 14th, 2012 at 10:17 am

Might as well go after dependents too.

If a REMF is killed in a mortar attack, what happens to the widow?

If you’re burning trash with Agent Orange and nobody tells you that you shouldn’t, and you’re a REMF, what then?

If you drove a truck in GW1 through the Highway of Death and acquire GWS, no bennies either?

We are good at training and building armies and machines to kill our foes, but we’re not so great at protecting our human capital.

blight_ September 14th, 2012 at 10:18 am

…vouchers.

The I September 18th, 2012 at 3:49 am

I’ve OJT’d in a VA facility. I have seen bad and complacent attitudes. But that is not the major problem. Under staffing is a major issue and one of the concerns for all the back logs. I have personally seen veterans helping with veterans, who seem not to give a hoot as long as they have a job. But where I was at that was a small percentage. The people that were giving 110% were swamped, over run and exhausted. You can’t spread quality thin.

billmcclure September 19th, 2012 at 11:55 pm

the most incompetent folks in the medical field work for the VA–how can that be?—the Va hires anyone with a pulse–Why–because the people they look after are Veterans—and really who gives a RATs Butt about a Veteran except their families and other Vets–however even the top executives at the VA –some former military crosses over to the other side, once they get the job and the easy paycheck–like that sorry VA chairman–Shinkinkkkki–i misspelled his name on purpose–how he sleeps at night is beyond me , hopefully they will all get their reward in the next life—and make sure if you are a vet and you are in the system, check all the japanese and s korean cars that are in the parking lot of the VA–VETs driving that crap and those folks do not pay a dime toward the cost of giving a VET hospital coverage or a monthly check–no sir–they just sell in this country and continue to expect the taxpayers in the USA to fund their security–it is USA blood that protects those folks–and again who gives a RATs Butts, I can’ t believe Vets are that selfish—-the taxpayers fund those checks to the Vets and they spend it on countries that would not let them drive a ford or Gm in their country and don’t give me that line about ford or Gm made in other countries—we get to keep the cash here, so we can continue to send to VETs who spend it overseas–go figure–you just can’t fix STUPID

bocamoli September 20th, 2012 at 5:10 am

I hate to make such a base statement BUT !! Our gov’t has been soooo screwed up for soo long that they dont know the difference between right and wrong. Some may start out to clean the place up, but with everybody else taking whatever they can to fill their pockets. Its sad and its wrong but its human nature to eventually give up and give in and “Get some” for yourself.

Erich September 20th, 2012 at 9:28 am

I tried to get an early appt at my VA… this was supposed to have been in MAY 2012… but I gotta wait until NOVEMBER. Why, because the clinic is short staffed because everyone is going to the private sector!!!!!

Carl Joiner September 20th, 2012 at 9:59 am

The VA Administration is failing do to lack of good basic mangement. I’m a Viet Nam veteran and have been physical abused and mentally abused by the Minneapoliis VA Hospital and no one at that hospital would even listen to my complain. I used all the advocate systems the VA has to hear veterans complains and it failed and never gave any reason for not doing its job. I ask to for an appointment to see the director of the hospital and was told the director does not see veterans. When the VA claims it cares about veterans and no one will even take the time to listen I can’t believe there is a bonus proram in the first place. The senior management is not even earning their base salary. I’m not affair to back up my statements. If anyone cares I’m Carl Joiner 612 812‑2445 at 213 Jackson Avenue NW Watertown, Minnesota 55388.

Keith September 21st, 2012 at 9:12 am

Bonuses for top level public workers making large salaries? Do the rest have a chance for a bonus, I doubt it. Why do we waste tax payers money on bonuses?

Al September 23rd, 2012 at 11:52 pm

I work for the VA for 3 years. My appointment are always booked out 2 months in advance. Although we dental are consider a close clinic, but the growing number of service connected veteran’s be it 100%, homeless, or a medically connected are more then what we can handle. As far as infection goes it’s over kill!! You can catch MRSA at any hospital but you can rest your mind my clinic is clean and disinfected. As far as how VA are run it’s been known that VA are being micromanage by the federal government. We have many requirement we have to meet compare to private sector clinic we are over kill!
I’m a dentist at the VA, I see myself as a working bee and I take pride in my job by working as hard as I can. I enjoy helping our veteran to achieve better oral health. I can’t help what others do but I feel there are many providers like me who works for the VA, who are under appreciated and taken for granted. Due to the cut back already at the VA, as we speak we are loosing wonderful providers to outside private competitors.
There are many areas of money fraud in our system that are far more money involve that our government should investigate on and focus on. I won’t say it out but most people know what I’m talking about.

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Jim October 1st, 2012 at 6:40 pm

I think the bonuses should stay but that the VA needs to get the managers that deserve it!!!

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