WASHINGTON (CNN) - While hundreds of thousands of disability claims lay backlogged at the Department of Veterans Affairs, thousands of technology employees at the department received $24 million in bonuses, a new report says.
A report issued by the VA's Office of Inspector General said the department issued millions of dollars in awards over a two-year period in 2007 and 2008.
"The frequent and large dollar amount awards given to employees were unusual and often absurd," the report stated.
The reports also called the payments "not fiscally responsible."
Four high-level employees received about $60,000, $73,000, $58,000, and $59,000, respectively, according to the report, without sufficient justification. Another employee received a $4,500 performance award within the first 90 days of her employment from a manager who said that she did not even remember her.
The annual average award per employee was about $2,500 for both years, according to the report. About 4,700 awards and bonuses were issued in 2007, and about 5,000 in 2008.
From CNN Politics
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Shame, shame, shame on the VA.
This isn't unexpected. Let's see the VA's Death Book. Are the VA employees being compensated for not-refusing-but-backlogging claims to limit the Federal Gvt's long-term liability? Talk about "mission creep?" In the meantime, we're giving $50 billion per year to Egypt for using their prisons to torture people who haven't really yielded good intelligence–EVER! Blame Democrats–blame Republicans, but mostly blame the American People for continuing to elect greed-hungry boobs who have never been above reproach to serve as our elected "leaders."
I'm for performance bonuses for ideas that save the Gvt money, but the amounts should be limited to $2500 per award. This drastically limits the tragic incentive to take away what Veterans have earned and, in most cases, the Gvt has caused in terms of disabilities.
The shame, southern hottie, lies with those who authorized such bonuses, which have been going on for years. Many, many VA employees are hard-working slugs who toil for merely the bread and butter of their sustenance.
Perhaps all bonuses should be suspended, both in the public and private sectors, until straighter heads can figure out just whom is truly deserving.
We do such a shabby job of taking care of our vets and they have the nerve to give bonuses to high level employees. SHAME ON THE VA! The vets served to protect these greedy people!
This is just plain disgusting. Something needs to be done and done fast.
Well... aint that a kick in the nuts. Who said Public Option insurance don't pay.
I would hope someone would investigate this and put a stop to it.
2007, 2008 you say? Wasn't that during W's time??? How much did he love and respect our troops?
ALL of the pathetic, fake patriots who are screaming that we are becoming a "socialist" Country (never mind farm aide, medicare, social security etc...) should be as outraged as I am. But, alas, they are not. Why? Becasue they are so consummed with hate and fear they can't read the real news. Unless Rush gives this to them and blames President Obama (some how he will connect it to him) they will all be silent. HYPOCRITES lousy, un-american HYPOCRITES.
Another abomination by the failed "Cheney/Bush" administration who will go down in history as the worst two to ever to have, unfortunately, been given the reins of power. .
technology employees if you HAVE ONE OUNCE OF SHAME you will give the money back
I don't think you do, so I will not be surprised or saddened
Our country is going down the toilet
The VA worker are civil servants and union why would they not be taken care of before those that wore the uniform of this great nation. Civil Service has always been treated better by the democrats than the military has from my 20 years of active duty, being a military brat all my youth, and retired from the Navy which is my life experience.
Veterans first! Period!
1999 to 2008 the claims got backlogged,under whos watch could that have been?So be so quick to jump poor George,we all knew how special the troops were to him.He did another fine job with body armor and special needs of our troops in action during his watch.
What is this country coming to? Where are the morals?. . . . long gone I'm afraid. Sad day in America.
One more reason to reject a government run (some would say screwed up) public option.
A disabled vet myself, I also worked in information technology. It is a very competitive feild to work in, those bonuses are not all that large. As for the $4500 performance award within the first 90 days. I myself have received such a bonus. Its why they hired that person, what was so important that needed to be done, and because that person could do the job and had the skills to do the job no one else had, they were paid. Also it is not unusual to work way more than 40 hours a week, since you cannot work on live systems during the day, you work all day, and then odd hours at night, weekends, and holidays to do maintenance on systems. What is pathetic is getting payed as much as a union auto worker does to stick a bolt in a hole and screw a nut on it as a car moves down the line. thats a story.
Looks and sounds like we have a Bush hold over.
Obama's buraucrats, wait until the "Health Care Reform" with all the money wasted for... workers??
WOW is this how the VA is ran ,and when the veterans are treated do you think the VA health plan is ran any better. Wake up America we need health care improvments ,but don't let the goverment run it please.
Who is in charge of the veterans affairs? Lets condem big business but the VA is a exception.
Yet we're suppose to trust our Government to run our Healthcare system? Have the Democrats lost their collective minds?
Another prime example of the ineptitide of a Government managed program! Let's be sure to hand over our healthcare system too! Allowing the Democrats total control of both Houses and Presidency is like leaving little chicks in c/o wolves!
Your government in action. Just wait until they run all health care.
This is one of the most pathetic stories I've heard in recent days. As a liberal leaning moderate it's stories like this that make me realize why fiscal conservatives are so critical of the U.S. government. If the government can force corporations to give back bonuses, we should do the same with the VA and if they won't give them back LOCK THE CROOKS UP AND THROW AWAY THE KEY !
Oooooooooo!