Wrist Slapping: Crimes and Misdemeanors

Accountability is an issue that plagues every facet of the American workplace. People clearly responsible for public or private trust who abuse that trust – particularly when lying, manufacturing false data, looking the other way when violations become egregious and perhaps sending a clear message to subordinates (including ways of firing or making life miserable for “whistleblowers”) that rules and accountability are not theirs to review – need to be held accountable. For some missteps, such as government officials taking bribes, the criminal consequences are rather obvious.

But what about manipulating performance data, losing unpleasant statistics through obvious distortion, simply to enhance bonus pay and promotional opportunities? Add governmental responsibilities over human lives, pretty much the story of the recent debacle at the Veterans Administration, where there appears to be clear evidence that once-dedicated American soldiers have died from a failed system that, in too many cases, preferred hiding the truth rather than pointing out how budget cuts made delivering safe care to veterans much more difficult. Literally presenting false numbers, making false appointments (never intended to occur) for vets with serious illnesses needing immediate and necessary treatment. What’s the proper remedy/punishment for such officials?

We should be outraged and seeking serious retribution for such mendacious officials. That justifiable outrage is well expressed by Jeff Miller, the Republican chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, who correctly believes that recent federal legislation allowing the VA to remove offending executives more easily to be inadequate. While the new law shortened the civil service appeals process, the layers of remaining protection still seem to fail to address the issue of true accountability. “‘VA appears to be giving failing executives an opportunity to quit, retire or find new jobs without consequence,’ the lawmaker said [October 7^th].

“Miller’s concerns stem from two of the VA’s recent firing attempts: One for John Goldman, who ran a VA medical center in Georgia; and the other for Susan Taylor, who was the agency’s No. 2 contracting official… The VA decided to oust Goldman after confirming that his clinic manipulated scheduling data to hide treatment delays — part of a nationwide scandal that cost former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki his job.

“Goldman beat the VA to the punch, retiring late last month before the agency could begin the removal process. Nonetheless, the VA announced four days later that it would fire him… ‘Such semantic sleights of hand are insulting to the families struck by the VA scandal and only do more harm to the department’s badly damaged credibility,’ Miller said at the time.

“As for Taylor, the Department of Energy hired her as its contracting director [in late September], just days after the VA inspector general released a scathing report that she violated government ethics rules by improperly influencing procurement decisions… DOE officials said they were unaware of the findings against Taylor when they chose her for the job, according to a Washington Examiner article. The agency rescinded its offer after news of the inspector general’s report emerged… The inspector general recommended criminal charges against Taylor, but the Justice Department declined to prosecute. The VA on [October 6^th] announced plans to fire her...

“‘If Congress wants VA to implement a different law, it should pass one,’ VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the agency is using its new authority ‘fully and responsibly’ to make sound disciplinary decision.” Washington Post, October 8^th.

So let me see, you could go to prison, forfeit your government job (perhaps even your retirement benefits that were to be based on your false performance record) or you might instead retire with whatever benefits have then-vested and find another job… maybe even in another government agency. People have died from these selfish and unlawful manipulations. The DOJ has other priorities? Are you as outraged as I am? I’m sorry, but Jeff Miller, go for it! Maybe this is a piece of legislation that just might find bi-partisan support?

I’m Peter Dekom, and lying government officials implementing cover-ups that are shown to have resulted in cases of death need more than a slap on the wrist.