Veterans Affairs Wasting Dollars

While some lawmakers, such as Sen. Patty Murray, have been pounding on doors and rattling cages to get more money for veterans' health care, it's alarming to learn that employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs are living it up.

According to an investigation by The Associated Press, VA employees "last year racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in government credit-card bills at casino and luxury hotels, movie theaters and high-end retailers." VA Secretary James Peake will be defending the department's 2009 budget before Murray on Thursday, and the senator, we're told, will be demanding answers.

Auditors are investigating one of the government's largest departments, as they did in 2004 (when they found the VA wasted $1.1 million). While some of the 3.1 million purchases made in 2007 reflect frugality, investigators will be looking at the $21,000 in movie tickets, the nearly $8,500 spent at Sharper Image and stays at fancy hotels.

We sincerely hope the VA can explain each and every one of these expenses, because they're coming to light at a time when thousands of veterans wait weeks or months before seeing a doctor. Referring to $3.8 million in bonuses paid out by former VA Secretary Jim Nicholson, Rep. Harry Mitchell, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs subcommittee on oversight, told the AP that he worried about "a growing culture of wasteful spending at the VA." No kidding.

Those bonuses were given shortly after the VA budget experienced a $1.3 billion shortfall. Clearly, major changes need to be made there. Our veterans ought to be top priority.

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