Union Representing VA Workers Launch Nationwide Radio Campaign, Web Site and Viral Videos for Full VA Funding

This week, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) launched a nationwide radio ad campaign raising serious concerns about Senator McCain's commitment to veterans' health care. In addition to the radio ads, AFGE, which represents employees in the Department of Veterans Affairs, launched a Web site, Fund The VA, and a series of YouTube ads featuring union veterans voicing their concerns about McCain's controversial veterans health care platform.

Today the New York Times weighs in on Hillary Clinton continuing her campaign, saying that while she has the right to to do so:

...we believe just as strongly that Mrs. Clinton will be making a terrible mistake — for herself, her party and for the nation — if she continues to press her candidacy through negative campaigning with disturbing racial undertones. We believe it would also be a terrible mistake if she launches a fight over the disqualified delegations from Florida and Michigan.

The United States needs a clean break from eight catastrophic years of George W. Bush. And so far, Senator John McCain is shaping up as Bush the Sequel — neverending war in Iraq, tax cuts for the rich while the middle class struggles, courts packed with right-wing activists intent on undoing decades of progress in civil rights, civil liberties and other vital areas.  [...]

We endorsed Mrs. Clinton, and we know that she has a major contribution to make. But instead of discussing her strong ideas, Mrs. Clinton claimed in an interview with USA Today that she would be the better nominee because a recent poll showed that "Senator Obama’s support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again." She added: "There’s a pattern emerging here."

Yes, there is a pattern — a familiar and unpleasant one. It is up to Mrs. Clinton to change it if she hopes to have any shot at winning the nomination or preserving her integrity and her influence if she loses.

Meanwhile, Obama has picked up three more superdelegates and the endorsement of the American Federation of Government Employees union.

crossposted from unbossed

Breakin' Up is Hard to Do. Easy in - not so easy out. One of the hidden costs of privatization is ending even a bad relationship and moving the work back in-house. We're seeing this problem now with the privatized EEOC Call Centers.

crossposted from unbossed

This is an update on some events related to the situation at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital. There may not be daily news reports, but that does not mean nothing is being done.

Take the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act, now moving through the House, a bill that seeks to prevent the problems caused by privatization.

crossposted from unbossed

IAP is a private company that last year was awarded a contract to manage parts of Walter Reed last year - after some  . . . events discussed here. IAP Worldwide is apparently also a PAC.

Not exactly a company you see much about, so here's a start on getting to know these folks.

Oh, and by the way, this really does have KBR finger prints on it.

Among the 79 recommendations made by the Iraq Study Group is one that has gotten scant attention in the press -- Recommendation No. 74.

RECOMMENDATION 74: In the short term, if not enough
civilians volunteer to fill key positions in Iraq, civilian agen-
cies must fill those positions with directed assignments. Steps
should be taken to mitigate familial or financial hardships
posed by directed assignments, including tax exclusions simi-
lar to those authorized for U.S. military personnel serving in
Iraq.

crossposted from unbossed

Unnoticed by the MSM and by most of even politically aware people, one of the Bush administration's major pushes has been to privatize huge parts of the federal government. The lack of attention has let them proceed and succeed. Even when they have not contracted out work, it has come at an enormous price for public sector workers. One example is IRS mailroom workers. Many kept their jobs, but those who did saw fulltime jobs converted to parttime jobs and worse.

Now and then, runaway privatization is stopped.

But the main story has been contracting out, corruption,  destruction of the agency mission, and bad service for the public.

Haven't seen this mentioned here yet, and it's too important to miss:

Representatives for 10,000 scientists,  engineers, and other specialists with the Environmental Protection Agency have written a letter of protest, asking Congress to stop the administration from closing the EPA's technical research libraries... a process that already has begun.  

The letter complains the closures are "one more example of the Bush administration's effort to suppress information on environmental and public health-related topics."

Crossposted from unbossed

John Gage, President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to appoint a special counsel to launch a criminal investigation into the Veterans Affairs Department's alleged misuse of federal funds for deciding whether to contract out work. Rather than spend money allocated for health care on health care, the VA is using the money to privatize VA operations.

The claims are based on studies by the Government Accountability Office that have found wrongdoing. In a time of war, it is shocking that privatizing takes priority over the horrific injuries our soldiers have suffered. Details are below. It is not a pretty picture.