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Bad Start: New Vet Affairs House Chair: Look at VA Cost, Efficiencies and Privatization
Rep. Jeff Miller (Rep-Fla), new Chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee
U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (Rep-Fla) is a former real estate broker and deputy sheriff who is now the new chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.
Update: Dan Cedusky reports: The DAV Cap Wiz site indicates that Rep Miller has voted against veterans on nine key votes. “Not a good record … we better watch him closely,” said Cedusky.
If you think the Dept of Veterans Affairs (DVA or VA) and Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) have problems delivering benefits, Miller says that’s because ”unfortunately, the bureaucracy within VA has grown immune to having someone check their work.” (Carlton Proctor, PNJ.com)
Miller’s statement reflects a sentiment held by most veterans and advocates.
Another widespread belief is that Congress is bought and paid for; and many veterans are skeptical that change is coming at the VA, irrespective of significant gains in revised regulations that were garnered the last two years regarding Agent Orange presumptives and PTSD-related ailments and associated benefits.
Congress is not where change at the VA will begin, but Congress can make things worse.
Miller says he is concerned about the “cost” of newly appropriated tens of billions of dollars into the VA for improved benefits and health care.
“This is a huge government agency and there is a mindset within the agency that is hard to change. But I think we need to focus not only on delivery of services but the cost at which those services are being delivered to the veteran,” said Miller. (Philpott)
One thing we do know is that Miller is a member in good standing of the J. Randy Forbes-Mike McIntyre Congressional Prayer Caucus. So, maybe a Hail Mary pass is doable if pray hard enough.
Miller will be overseeing and not appropriating money and he says he is “more focused on helping to increase resources through efficiencies.” (Philpott)
Is this Congress-speak for watch out veterans: We can fund war but not the people who fight them?
Miller, like almost all of Congress, is heavily financed by military-industrial and health-care interests. See Open Secrets.
—-
Top 5 Contributors, 2009-2010, Campaign Cmte
| Contributor | Total | Indivs | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indyne Inc | $16,500 | $16,500 | $0 |
| BAE Systems | $12,000 | $2,000 | $10,000 |
| European Aeronautic Defence & Space | $10,000 | $0 | $10,000 |
| General Atomics | $10,000 | $0 | $10,000 |
| General Dynamics | $10,000 | $0 | $10,000 |
| Industry | Total | Indivs | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Professionals | $45,300 | $29,300 | $16,000 |
| Defense Electronics | $43,900 | $2,900 | $41,000 |
| Defense Aerospace | $39,000 | $2,000 | $37,000 |
| Misc Defense | $30,550 | $5,050 | $25,500 |
| Computers/Internet | $28,500 | $21,500 | $7,000 |
—
So, the question arises will a new VA oversight chair ignore the Health industry and military-industrial money and wage a campaign f0r more money for veterans when Rep. Miller’s first published words are about costs and efficiencies?
In an interview with journalist Carlton Proctor, PNJ.com, the following question and answer is published.
Q: The VA is the second-largest federal agency, with 300,000 employees and a $120 billion budget. Is that a sustainable cost going forward for the American taxpayer?
A: We have to find better ways to provide service and health care to the veteran community. I’m asking veteran service organizations to help me find ways to solve some of problems that exist financially in Washington. And I want to be an honest broker in this process, because, as a fiscal conservative, I have not been one who has voted to raise the amount of money to the extent that has been done.
Q: With growth of military population in the Panhandle, do you think there is a need to build a full-fledged VA hospital in the 1st Congressional
District?
…
Q: Are you suggesting a kind of “voucher system” that would allow veterans to use private health care systems?A: Yes. With three hospitals we have in Pensacola, and the many others we have in the district, there is excellent health care that could be afforded to the veteran community if there was a way to allow them to have private health care in their home community.
Q: What is this 112th Congress doing, or going to do, to deal with spiraling health care costs?
A: One of the largest problems that exists today is that nobody is confronting the actual cost of providing the care. Some will say that they have
tried to make it more affordable, and that may be true, but that is with the federal government subsidizing the cost of that care. Again, the issues like tort reform, negotiating prices, all of these things have to be looked at to solve the issue.
Confronting costs and vouchers. Sounds French for privatization, underfunding veterans and pumping money into the health-care industry which funds Miller’s campaign committees.
Let’s hope I’m wrong.
Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=73898
Posted by Yanira Farray on Jan 18 2011, With 0 Reads, Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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Yes, let’s hope you are wrong. I am very skeptical about the new congress. Others have said before me, “follow the money”. Those that pay the most get the most attention. Follow the money folks and see where it leads back to. Look for “reviews” of award levels. Hope Vets do have their benefits reduced. I do hope the President’s job initiatives take off in a big way. America may need more bridges for Vets to live under. I for one have no confidence in politicians (progressive or conservative) to look out for the furture of Vets and their families. Cost cutting often means kicking people to the curb who have a weak voice. Wonder how many governement fat cat contracts are going to be cut?
Best wishes
Dale R. Suiter
This blowhard never served a day. He’s not a ‘vet’. Yet he pontificates. What hubris!
Hello:
Rep. Miller never served in the military? Please update us.
Thanks
Dale R. Suiter
Miller’s a neocon.
Anyone thinking he’s on veterans’ side is kidding himself.
He don’t care about you or your service.
Some of the former leaders of the VA, four star generals, didn’t do squat for the veterans, give this guy a chance.
I have contacted this Congressmans Office regarding his statements to ” follow the money ” and find out whats going on really at V.A. I informed said Congressman of the $50-70 BILLION being ripped off from V.A. via stolen identity and SPN, SDN, or SPD codes. Thats why the backlog of cases, moreover, informed him of the NEW computer system at VAIG to examine the ” historical payments of veterans VA CLAIM NUMBER. If you didn’t know, that claim number is a U.S. Treasury CODE, given by DOD to track HOW much a war costs, how much a combat veteran is receiving from V.A. Since this Congressman was former SHERIFF, WE ALL expect this legal hound to find out WHO has been ripping of the V.A. GET THE MONEY BACK, and JAIL those responsible. RIGHT MR. CONGRESSMAN/SHERIFF ?
I am sure this guy is full for empathy for…the insurance industry.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Further OPTIONS. Further OPTIONS said: RT @NewsForVets: New Vet Affairs House Chair Says: Look at VA Cost, Efficiencies and Privatization http://bit.ly/exEFdI [...]
Cong. Jeff Miller, hrumpf! Privatization of our health care? Who will be the beneficiaries? Not us. A global management company in South Florida is a potential beneficiary. There is a list of corporations on the watch list. Privatization IS NOT COST-EFFECTIVE. Look at the past election and Sen. McCain’s vet med card which is MedicareAdvantage under a new name. If Congress doesn’t want to fund the DVA because veterans cost too much, then stop giving wars that create more veterans. No, we are not welfare cases. Yes, try this on. Benefits are payment for uncompensated hours of overtime.
Privitization adds PROFIT to the expense and it creates an adversary relationship between those being treated and those providing care. This guy is a dope.
MK
I bet you money this guy didn’t harp his crap when they were building two big new
VA hospitals near Tampa. He is a typical congressional bull-shitter from the word
“go”.
[...] Veterans are also concerned about the choice of Committee chair, U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Florida. The conservative Floridian is a former sheriff and realtor who is concerned about the recent bump up in the VA budget intended to be used to fight homelessness among veterans and increase healthcare benefits (Val, link to prev. stories). [...]