This does not compute for vets

[unhappycamper]

This does not compute for vets
September 15, 2008

CONGRESS ACTED wisely this year when it pushed through - over the objections of President Bush - a major expansion of the GI Bill's education benefits for veterans. At long last, benefits will be more in line with the cost of public and private higher education.

But the Department of Veterans Affairs has set off alarm bells in Congress and among veterans' organizations by proposing to privatize the administration of the new GI Bill. Congress should block any move by the department that will give an outsourced computer program any voice in determining the eligibility and benefits of veterans.

Currently, VA offices in the states administer the education benefits, a system that veterans' organizations say has worked well. VA employees call veterans to fill in gaps in the applications and, if necessary, help applicants by tracking down information from the Defense Department.

The American Legion veterans organization says it is not against an update in the VA's information technology, but that the 250,000-employee department has the capability already. In particular, the legion says, the VA should draw on the skills of younger veterans who have both IT training and an awareness of the problems veterans face in resuming their lives and pursuing careers and education.

At a congressional hearing Thursday on the VA proposal, the national commander of the American Legion, David K. Rehbein, said the "VA was created to fulfill obligations like this, not to hire someone else to do it."


Rest of article at: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2008/09/15/this_does_not_compute_for_vets/