KCFR: New Government Accountability Office report accuses VA of “errors” and using “unrealistic assumptions” in budgets

GAOaccountabilityveterans
Written By Matt Laslo
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Suggested host intro: The Government Accountability Office released a report today (WEDNESDAY) accusing the Department of Veterans Affairs of using “unrealistic assumptions” and having “errors in estimation” in their 2005 and 2006 budget projections. Matt Laslo reports on one Colorado lawmaker’s reaction to the findings.

NARR: Democratic Colorado Senator Salazar was one of the original three Senators who requested the GAO report on the Veterans Department. He says he was amazed by what was found. 

SALAZAR4-STUNNING “GAO’s report is stunning.”

Salazar blames the Bush Administration for the VA’s mistakes. He said Colorado Veterans already have it hard. 

SALAZAR-2-SEEk-MED-CARE “There is one place out in WEST CO where VETS have to travel 300 miles to get med care and then have to wait 6 – 8 weeks to get it.”

 He and other Democrats want to have Congressional hearings on the report. Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs committee, Republican Idaho Senator Larry Craig, could not be reached for comment. 

For KCFR News, I'm Matt Laslo in Washington.

Matt Laslo

The LCB’s founder, veteran political correspondent Matt Laslo, has brought Washington, DC to life for millions (73+ million on last count) of listeners, viewers and readers. He’s reported for five Pulitzer Prize-winning news outlets, 60+ award-wining local NPR outlets, nonprofit newsrooms and national magazines. He also runs the popular interactive journalism startup Ask a Pol Politics — a Substack bestseller.

Laslo’s groundbreaking generative AI coverage has been cited in 13+ law reviews, think tanks and a fiery letter Sen. Elizabeth Warren letter penned to OpenAI founder Sam Altman. His data privacy reporting for WIRED is cited in 25+ law reviews — including Cornell, Duke and Harvard. His tech features are assigned reading at NYU, UNC Chapel Hill, Johns Hopkins and DePaul. Laslo’s also cited as a government reform expert in 20+ (mostly) books, while his “war on drugs,” opioid epidemic and criminal justice reform features are quoted in 25 law reviews and books.

https://mattlaslo.com
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