MaSSSoftech

THE inspector general of the Veterans Affairs
Department reports that thousands of employees of the agency's technology office received $24 million in bonuses over a two-year period.

The report said Jennifer Duncan, who was executive assistant to the former assistant secretary for information technology, acted "as if she was given a blank checkbook," giving employees bonuses and college tuition, some of which went to her friends and relatives.

Duncan gave herself $60,000 in bonuses. Three other high-level officials received bonuses of $58,000, $59,000 and $73,000.

In 2007 alone, 4,700 employees were awarded bonuses that averaged $2,500 each.

The technology office was under the gun to improve the agency's ability to process claims. All this took place as veterans waited months for disability checks.

The damage such stories do to public confidence in government management is profound.

Where's the nearest prosecutor?