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WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, whose work as a subcommittee chairman has resulted in more than $3 billion in savings to taxpayers through better management of the federal real estate portfolio, last week examined what further efficiencies are possible.

Barletta scrutinized two reports from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), which highlighted shortcomings in the federal leasing process that have led to taxpayers overpaying for federal office space.

Barletta has spearheaded efforts to save taxpayers billions by reforming the way the General Services Administration (GSA) handles office space, but the two GAO reports investigated federal agencies that have leasing authority outside the GSA.

The reports were requested by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders. One of the GAO reports examined agencies that have their own leasing authority, independent of the GSA. The Committee asked GAO to examine how agencies are using their independent authority, if they are acting within their legal authority, whether they are getting good deals for the taxpayer and whether those agencies are reducing their costs and space footprint. The second GAO report reviewed the use and potential benefits of purchase options in GSA lease agreements.

While the GSA functions as the landlord for the federal government, the number of federal agencies with their own authority to lease space has grown over time. In recent years, there have been cases in which agencies with independent leasing authority have signed costly, wasteful leases.

For example, the committee’s investigation of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) use of its leasing authority in 2011 revealed the pitfalls into which agencies can fall. The SEC exceeded its leasing authority and wound up committing the taxpayers to a $500 million lease it did not need and, ultimately, had to be bailed out with help from GSA.

Auditor General DePasquale says audit raises

concerns about waiting lists at veterans’ homes

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said last week the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) needs to fix problems with admissions, its waiting lists and grievance tracking at the commonwealth’s six veterans’ homes.

There are approximately 463,400 veterans age 65 and older living in Pennsylvania as of 2014, including 9,434 in Lackawanna County and 14, 054 in Luzerne County, according to the U.S. Census.

To qualify for admission to a state veterans’ home, an individual must be an eligible veteran or the spouse of an eligible veteran who is a current resident of Pennsylvania or was a resident upon entry into the Armed Forces.

The audit, which covered July 2014 through March 2016, has three findings and 13 recommendations for improvement.

DePasquale said DMVA’s outdated and inflexible policy has led to state veterans’ homes not administering waiting lists consistently at all six homes.

Auditors noted 11 of those on the waiting lists should have been higher on the lists and three should have been in lower positions.

DMVA officials attributed these deficiencies to typographical errors, such as entering the wrong date, and a system error.

The audit also notes DMVA does not adequately monitor waiting lists at state veterans’ homes. DMVA said it is taking steps to implement audit recommendations.

In addition to errors in the waiting lists, the department found certain admissions procedures to be contrary to the best interests of veterans and their spouses.

Auditors also questioned policies that forced eligible Pennsylvanians to remain on a waiting list despite dozens of open beds.

DMVA officials agreed the current waiting list policy lacks flexibility and said they will revise it and provide additional staff training.

Auditors found the DMVA’s new grievance policy and tracking system instituted during the audit fails to ensure grievances are properly addressed. Grievances can include concerns related to a resident’s care, abuse or neglect; treatment; a violation of a resident’s rights; misappropriation of personal property; or mismanagement of personal funds.

PA Department of Aging receives

legal assistance development grant

Pennsylvania Department of Aging Secretary Teresa Osborne announced the department has received a federal grant to enhance and strengthen Pennsylvania’s senior legal service delivery systems.

The grant will enable the department to further protect the rights, health and safety of older Pennsylvanians with a focus on victims of elder abuse and exploitation.

The purpose of the grant is to implement a well-integrated and cost-effective legal service delivery system that maximizes the impact of limited legal resources for older Pennsylvanians with the greatest need. This entails assessing the capacity of the current legal service delivery system, developing and implementing legal service delivery standards and guidelines as well as data collection and reporting systems, creating and strengthening no-cost and low-cost legal service delivery mechanisms and establishing new guardianship and court-based initiatives.

The department will fulfill the grant requirements through a partnership with the SeniorLAW Center, a non-profit organization which improves the lives of older Pennsylvanians and protects their rights through legal representation, education and advocacy.

The department will be granted $178,500 per year for a three-year project period. There were 28 states eligible for funding and six awards selected for funding.

Third Saturday of July designated

Anthracite Heritage Day in PA

The State Senate has adopted a resolution sponsored by five senators from Northeastern Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal country, officially designating July 16 as Anthracite Heritage Day in the state.

Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, introduced the resolution at the suggestion of constituent Robert Alper, a Korean War veteran from Kingston. Seeking to honor the men and women who worked in the hard coal mines throughout Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northumberland and Schuylkill counties over the past 225 years, the senators who represent those counties joined together to ensure King Coal’s importance in the region’s history is recognized and remembered.

Pennsylvania still ranks as the fourth largest anthracite producing state in the country and the industry contributes more than $200 million annually to the state’s economy.

Sen. John Blake, D-Archbald, said, with the recognition of Anthracite Heritage Day in Pennsylvania, tribute will be paid to the tens of thousands of coal miners from across NEPA who sacrificed so much in order for our region and our country to flourish both economically and industrially.

The coal mines of Northeast Pennsylvania were a dangerous place and some of the nation’s labor laws were crafted in response to the conditions in which miners worked. The grueling work resulted in high levels of employment for the region. At one point, coal miners accounted for half of the nation’s male industrial workforce.

Anthracite coal accounts for more than two million tons annually.

DePasquale
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_DePasquale-1-.jpg.optimal.jpgDePasquale

Osborne
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_Osborne.jpg.optimal.jpgOsborne

Baker
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_LISABAKERNEW.jpg.optimal.jpgBaker

Blake
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_Blake_John.jpg.optimal.jpgBlake

Yudichak
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_Yudichak-John-1.jpg.optimal.jpgYudichak

U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, speaks during a hearing examining cost-saving possibilities in real estate management across the federal government.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_BarlettaHearing.jpg.optimal.jpgU.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, speaks during a hearing examining cost-saving possibilities in real estate management across the federal government. Submitted Photo

By Bill O’Boyle

[email protected]

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.