Now here's a congressman who speaks on our behalf. I found this article and thought you'd find it interesting.
Jun 14, 2006
VA takes a cussin' from a congressman
By JAMES W. CRAWLEY
Media General News Service
WASHINGTON ? A top Democratic congressman cussed out Veterans Affairs Department officials Tuesday during a news conference staged in front of the VA headquarters.
Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., a senior Democrat on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, criticized the VA?s handling of the theft of personal information of 26.5 million veterans and military personnel.
He started swearing when a VA spokesman questioned whether the congressman had served the country and accused Filner of ?political grandstanding.?
?You guys have f----- it up. Get back to work,? said Filner. ?And, don?t cover your a-- with these things,? referring to VA notification letters to veterans.
Filner and Reps. John Salazar, D-Colo., and Darlene Hooley, D-Ore., lambasted the agency?s handling of the May 3 theft of a laptop computer, loaded with names, Social Security numbers and other information about veterans and military personnel.
The theft was announced publicly May 22 and, so far, the stolen data have not been found. No confirmed cases of identity theft connected to the stolen computer have been reported.
Yesterday, VA officials said the agency has finished sending notification letters to affected veterans.
Only 16.5 million notices were mailed out, said VA spokesman Matthew Burns. Another 8 million names without addresses or other information also were on the computer, but VA officials cannot determine where they live. And, Burns added, another 2 million names were duplicates.
The VA has no plans for further mailings.
Tuesday?s news conference started out in typical Washington fashion -- three congressmen, surrounded by a few reporters. They brought two boxes of envelopes as a prop for their news briefing.
The VA?s Burns, Assistant Veterans Affairs Secretary Lisette Mondello and several others hovered nearby.
?This is the Katrina of the VA,? said Filner, who is serving as the senior Democrat on the veterans? panel because Rep. Lane Evans, D-Ill., is incapacitated by Parkinson?s disease.
Salazar and Hooley touted legislation requiring free fraud alerts and freezes on veterans? credit reports and additional free credit monitoring.
?We have to do everything we can to protect our veterans; they?ve protected us,? Hooley said.
After the House members finished, Burns answered questions as Filner listened.
The spokesman accused Filner of political grandstanding and impugning VA Secretary Jim Nicholson?s military service. Burns also questioned the congressman?s service.
?I?ve served this country,? said Filner, a seven-term congressman who is not a veteran. ?Don?t question my service to this country.?
That?s when the profanity started.
Filner used the F-word once and variations of ?cover your a--? at least three times.
The VA?s Mondello said Filner?s comments and demeanor embarrassed her.
It is unusual for a congressman to use profanity in public. It?s also rare for agency officials to openly criticize a senior member of a congressional committee that oversees their department.
The verbal battle may just be starting. VA officials are scheduled to appear five times before the House VA committee during the next two weeks.
James W. Crawley is a national correspondent in Media General's Washington Bureau. E-mail Crawley at
jcrawley@mediageneral.com