Deadly denial: Government fails to help sick nuclear workers
By Laura Frank, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Javier Manzano © The Rocky
Charlie Wolf lies on a hospital bed, as he gets a fiber-glass mask molded to his face. The grid mask will help doctors precisely target radiation to the areas of his brain that contain his tumors.
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The Americans who built the nation's nuclear weapons are still fighting a cold war.
Tens of thousands of sick nuclear arms workers — or their survivors — from every state in the nation have applied for compensation that Congress established for them in 2000. But most have never seen a dime.
Congress promised these Cold War patriots an efficient, compassionate path to atonement. But a Rocky Mountain News investigation found that the government has derailed aid to workers by keeping reports secret from them, constantly changing rules and delaying cases until sick workers died.
Many ill workers have become mired in a process so adversarial that top program officials at one point considered putting some of them under government surveillance — spying on them.
"These are heroes from the Cold War who risked their lives to build nuclear weapons," said Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico who oversaw the nation's weapons complex as U.S. energy secretary and helped create the compensation program. "The bureaucracy has placed so many barriers, it's almost criminal that workers and their families are not being compensated."
Thousands of nuclear arms workers became sick or died building atomic weapons to defend America. They did top-secret work that exposed them to radiation, chemicals, heavy metals and other poisons. For half a century, the federal government's official policy was to fight any workers who claimed job-related illness, often spending tens of millions in tax dollars annually to do so. The government at times absolutely denied that the workers faced undue danger. It was a flat-out lie.
All of that was supposed to have changed at the start of this decade, when the Clinton administration reversed the government's stonewalling and a Republican Congress decided to pay sick workers' medical bills and offer them $150,000 in compensation.
Congress passed the landmark Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act in 2000, saying that the nuclear weapons workers had been on the front lines of the Cold War and deserved compensation for the illness and death their jobs caused.
The workers were to be compensated if evidence linked their radiation or chemical exposures to their illnesses. Congress realized that the secrecy surrounding their jobs could make finding proof particularly difficult, and instructed government agencies to help the workers through the process.
The compensation program got off to a wasteful start when the Department of Energy ran up a $90 million administrative bill in four years but compensated only 32 people.
Congress thought it had fixed the program when it fired the energy department from the job in 2004 and transferred the entire responsibility to the U.S. Department of Labor, which had explicit instructions to make the compensation "timely, uniform and adequate."
Since then, sick nuclear workers have protested bitterly about the program's failure to meet their needs. In 2006, congressional hearings uncovered White House attempts to cut costs by denying compensation to more workers.
Congress was reassured when labor department officials repeatedly testified that the cost reduction plans had been jettisoned, and that they were compensating many more people than officials originally thought would even apply.
But the Rocky's investigation found that the labor department has delayed the cases of sick nuclear weapons workers or their survivors across the nation by giving misleading information, withholding records essential to their cases, failing to inform them of alternative paths to aid, repeatedly claiming to have lost evidence sent by ill workers and making requirements for compensation impossibly high.
"It's denial by design," said Janine Anderson, a sick worker who has spent seven years fighting for compensation while the government alternated between losing her file and denying her case. "I'll go to my deathbed believing this was set up to deny claims."
Thwarting the will of Congress
Only one in four sick workers or their survivors has been compensated, according to the labor department's own statistics. Some 165,000 claims have been filed, but fewer than 43,000 have been paid — and even then, it has taken an average three years to qualify.
While the law says that the government is supposed to help sick workers with their claims, the people running the compensation program instead have at times ignored the law and thwarted the will of Congress.
"There is no question that when it comes to this program, this administration has been more than willing to ignore the law when it disagrees with Congress' intent," said Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who repeatedly has tried to intervene on behalf of sick workers in his home state of Illinois. "It must be remembered that these laws were passed by a Republican majority in Congress.
"While many workers or their families have been compensated, there is no doubt that what Congress intended when it created this program simply has not materialized and as a result, many deserving workers have been left out by the current legislation."
A spokesman for U.S. Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, said, "The intent of the legislation should be fulfilled — these workers should be adequately compensated and treated for their injuries and illnesses. The health problems of these individuals are tragic and this program should administer benefits and compensation in an effective and timely manner."
The Rocky first requested an interview for this series with the labor department's Shelby Hallmark, director of compensation programs, on May 13. After receiving no response to repeated requests, the newspaper sent Hallmark a 3-page letter on June 10 outlining the findings of its investigation. Hallmark sent an e-mail saying the department would respond.
But it has not.
On July 7, the Rocky sent its findings to the White House. A spokesman there said DOL would speak for the administration. Since then, a DOL spokesman has promised on three separate occasions to deliver a written response. That didn't happen by deadline for this report.
However, labor department officials previously have said that the compensation program is a success.
More than 42,000 sick workers or their survivors have been paid $3.95 billion, an average of about $94,000 each. In a news release issued last month, on the day that ill workers were picketing DOL's district offices across the country, officials said that compensation for this year alone is expected to reach $1 billion.
For perspective, that is less than the $1.4 billion that the federal government pays each year to maintain the stockpile of weapons that the sick workers built.
In reviewing hundreds of documents, analyzing compensation program data and statistics, and interviewing more than 100 sick workers and their survivors across the United States, the Rocky found:
The labor department delayed awards to some claimants until they died. One in 17 sick workers or survivors with valid claims — more than 1,200 people nationwide — died before they received their benefits. Even some of the claims that by law should be compensated automatically are being inexplicably delayed or denied.
Millions of dollars have been spent redoing technical work that was faulty, while top labor department officials directing the program have collected tens of thousands of dollars each in bonus money. Officials refused to explain why the bonuses have been paid. Meanwhile, two out of every three claims sent for scientific analysis — at the National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health — have had to be re-examined or redone.
Program officials ignored the law and their own rules. They changed rules midstream so claimants who had been told they would receive compensation were instead denied.
For example, some claimants from the former Rocky Flats nuclear weapons complex northwest of Denver were formally notified last November that they would be compensated. Then DOL changed the way it calculated eligibility for those claimants and rescinded the approval. In another example, DOL issued instructions undermining claims for some illnesses despite known links to workplace exposures — including prostate cancer, the cancer for which workers have filed claims most frequently.
Claimants who publicly criticized the program experienced perplexing delays, with evidence suggesting that their activism was held against them.
Claims were manipulated and claims examiners were encouraged to deny claims.
Attorney Anne Block, a former claims examiner in the compensation program's Seattle office, said that the program's problems stem from an anti-claimant attitude that trickles down from the highest levels.
Block said she was wrongly fired for being too helpful to claimants and is filing a lawsuit. She told of managers purposely delaying claims, notes attached to sick workers' files labeling them "known troublemaker" and pressure from above to deny claims.
Block said that in September 2007, assistant district director Tracy Johnson called a meeting of claims examiners to push them to make decisions on claims that had been languishing for more than 300 days at the Seattle office, which has the lowest rate of claim approval among the four district offices.
"She said, 'I know 99.9 percent of these are denials. I want five or six recommended decisions to deny out the door for each of you,'" Block said. "How could you accept a claim when you'd just been told by the boss you were supposed to deny them?"
Labor department spokesman Loren Smith said earlier this year that officials would not respond to Block's allegations.
'It all started falling apart'
Block said she believes that the anti-claimant attitude comes from top labor department officials Hallmark, director of the Office of Worker Compensation Programs, Peter Turcic, program director, and deputy director Roberta Mosier.
An internal e-mail from Mosier to other program officials, including Turcic, obtained by the Rocky shows that she considered in 2006 asking the labor department's inspector general to put a sick claimant under surveillance to see if the claimant was as ill as his doctor said.
Mosier was responding to a report called in to one of DOL's district offices by another claimant who accused the man of going fishing when he was supposedly sick enough to require home health care.
While thousands of claims languish for years, the alleged fisherman quickly rose to the attention of the program's top administrators. The home health agency involved said recently that DOL is still paying for his care.
In another e-mail, Mosier discusses whether the department's inspector general could send someone "undercover" to a meeting between claimants and the health care provider.
That move was part of an ongoing attempt to decertify a Denver home health care company that was holding public meetings across the country to let claimants know they are eligible for home health care if their doctors order it.
In seven years, the labor department has never announced a verified case of fraud in the program.
"It is deeply troubling that this administration would assume that these workers are lying about their work conditions and their illnesses," Obama said. "The great irony of the situation is that this program was created because the government misled these workers for so many years."
David Harris, a former claims examiner in the Denver DOL office, said he was never pressured to deny cases, but he and other examiners faced "killer" pressure to move claims through the office quickly. And he agreed with Block about who was driving that pressure.
"It comes from up above," said Harris, who left the office two years ago for a job in another federal agency. "You can get quality or you can get quantity, but you can't get both. But (claims examiners) can't score highly (on job evaluations) if they're not doing the quantity of work."
Harris said the intense deadlines started after Congress gave DOL responsibility for the entire program in 2004. Until then, half of it had been administered by the energy department. Officials were under pressure to quickly move thousands of complex cases that had stalled.
"That's when it all started falling apart," he said.
But increases in both claims and complexity cannot explain all of the problems that the program faces, said some of its most vocal critics.
Former Rocky Flats worker George Barrie, whose wife, Terrie, is a leading advocate for ill workers nationwide, has fought seven years to prove he qualifies.
Just before his case was denied, he requested a copy of the entire case file. In it were letters from his wife's organization, completely unrelated to his case.
Former Los Alamos worker Ben Ortiz was one of the first workers to call for a compensation program and one of the first to file for it after it was created. Despite showing links between his job and his brain damage, he is still waiting for full compensation seven years after first applying. He said a government official told him every time his senator or congressman inquires on his behalf about the delay, it only delays his case further.
Janine Anderson, the former worker at the Oak Ridge nuclear weapons complex in Tennessee, helped found the Alliance of Nuclear Workers Advocacy Groups. So far, she has helped fellow workers receive $2.5 million in compensation. But the government denied most of her claim for seven years, citing her advocacy work as evidence that she must not be too sick.
DOL recently reversed its stance toward Anderson and approved more than 30 of her ailments that it previously had denied were work-related, but it might be too late. Anderson has been told that her severe liver condition is inoperable.
Vina Colley, of Portsmouth, Ohio, helped found National Nuclear Workers for Justice, and was active in calling for help for ill workers since before the compensation program was formed. She has letters from multiple doctors stating that they believe her ailments are linked to toxic exposures. But officials shelved her claim for years, for reasons she still hasn't figured out. Despite the fact that Ohio workers' compensation officials agreed that she has work-related illnesses, the federal government denied parts of her claim multiple times and has yet to fully compensate her.
Advocates are not the only ones whose cases have been derailed or delayed. Many other claimants have been stalled by a bewildering array of obstacles.
Douglas DelForge died in February at age 46 after battling brain tumors for 15 years. His claim had been approved, but DOL officials acknowledged that they had delayed his payment for lost wages. His parents are still waiting for the labor department to explain why. If an explanation comes, it likely will be all they get from DOL. The law prevents parents from being compensated for a child's death.
Sue Yourishin and her brother, Steve Bock, lost their mother to lung, brain and bone cancer after she worked 20 years at Rocky Flats. They received a letter from DOL last November saying that they would be compensated. Three months later, they received another letter saying they wouldn't be, because DOL had changed its own rules for deciding who receives compensation.
A "claimant friendly" estimation of their mother's radiation dose had included exposure to neutron radiation, a particularly dangerous form. But when it became clear that exposure to neutron radiation would garner automatic compensation because it had gone unmonitored for years, program officials withdrew that assumption for their mother's case and others.
University of Iowa researcher Marek Mikulski studies sick workers. He has tried to help some get compensation. If they qualify for the first part of the program that covers cancer and lung disease, they are supposed to be covered automatically under the second part, which offers lost wages and impairment payments for any health problems related to any toxic exposure.
But Mikulski said that some workers he helped never were told about the second part of the program despite being approved for the first.
Kay Barker, whose late husband worked at Rocky Flats, and Sherrie Neff, who worked at a uranium plant in Fernald, Ohio, both tried to obtain information that the government had concerning workplace exposures at the sites. Although the law requires the government to help claimants, Barker was told that her request would cost more than $1,500 and Neff was told that hers would be $35,000.
All of these hurdles may save the government money, said U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., whose district includes the former Rocky Flats site.
"That's legitimate in some cases," Udall said. "But not in this, when it come down to people's lives — people who really worked on behalf of all of us."
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July 20, 2008
4:52 a.m.
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smidgen writes:
After the government gets what you have to offer for it,you are as thow you don't exist.How well I know!!
July 20, 2008
6:16 a.m.
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vudumom writes:
Why do these people waste their time and energy on getting government money? I feel for them and would gladly like to see tax money given to them and alot more than what than $150,000. In reality that amount is a paltry sum when you consider all the pain and suffering they have been through health wise and the years and years of stress fighting the government. Sometimes in the scheme of things you have to walk away and concentrate on the remaining time you have left, on this earth with your loved ones.
The lawyers take 1/3 of the money. I would rather not get the money than see a scumbag attorney get the money.
The government has a long history of not paying people money owed to them. Is this really worth it?
My thought and prayers are with these brave people. I don't know the kind of pain and suffering they go through daily. Our government will never do right by them.
July 20, 2008
9:09 a.m.
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Dhakala writes:
At the heart of this fiasco is an Executive Branch that thinks it can ignore Congress. Our representatives voted for timely compensation but the bureaucrats, led by Bush people, choose to stonewall claims. Yet bonuses are paid to key people in this shadow government. We need to tie compensation to how well laws are executed, less to how much money is wrongly saved.
July 20, 2008
9:49 a.m.
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hikingartist writes:
I suspect our "heroes" in Iraq will get nothing less. John Kerry brought this up in the 2004 Presidential debate and Bush, I believe, said "Our veterans are getting the care they deserve."
July 20, 2008
10:54 a.m.
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The_Punnisher writes:
The irony of this report is that the NIST accident has a new crop of this type of poisoning and they don't even know it yet...
Bush is the TOP LEO in the county, and the LEGISLATURE ( IE Congresscritters ) make the laws AND BUSH IS SUPPOSED TO ENFORCE THOSE LAWS!!! NOTHING MORE...( except he has SECRET powers, look them up )
We have plenty of evidence for MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE, and this example just adds another piece to the whole case.
Fish stink from the head down, and Bush REEKS from the stench he created..
So yeah, I blame Bush because he isn't doing his job...
July 20, 2008
11:27 a.m.
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Darwin writes:
This is what we have to look forward to with universal health care folks. The Democants and the Republicants continue their petty bickering while the American ship continues to sink. The Republicants did nothing when they were in power in Congress and now the Democants who are in power in Congress continue down the same aimless path. What ever happened to bipartisanship? Bill Clinton is astute enough to recognize this problem, if only the rest of the politicians would also see it as the problem. Those holding up the process at any level should be immediately fired, but just try to fire a government worker. The union will tie it up in court for years and the person responsible will either a)not get fired, b)get a large settlement, or c)both.
BTW, those of you think your party is the savior of the political system, look at all the facts and you will see that neither party has the best interests of ALL the American citizens (if indeed any) at its center. Start thinking for yourself rather than pounding your parties' mantra, and hold all politicians accountable. Of course most of you are so brainwashed by your parties' chant that thinking for yourself will never occur. Whether is is McSame or Obam(c)arter (as many like to reference) at the end of the day, it will be the same old, same old.
July 20, 2008
12:01 p.m.
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davis_x_machina writes:
Another wingnut complaining about the democratic majority in Congress, seemingly without knowing that the obstructionist Repub minority has so far invoked more filibusters than any minority part in the history of our legislature.I'm betting this same wingnut would be one of the first to howl long and loud about bipatisanship.
I like Darwin advocating independent thinking in the most right wing republican terms it can call up( I'd have said think of, but that, thinking, is obviously not the case). It seems that for the repubs in their zeal to continue the redistribution of wealth from everybody else to their large donating buddies that for veterans and defense workers, nothing is too good and bu golly nothing is what they'll get.
July 20, 2008
12:28 p.m.
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fatheromalley writes:
It's the Democrats fault! It's the Republican's fault!
Maybe it's OUR fault.. how about that?
I loved the comment about "universal healthcare". This same government mishandling of healthcare is seen every day in Canada, France and England where people have to wait for emergency care for 8 hours!
Ironically enough those that argue for more government like Templeton does, are the first ones to complain about how "unfair" government is.
There is no doubt in my mind, if we serfs were freed enough to keep all of our paychecks, and use government as an information conduit to help those in need instead of redistributing wealth, these people suffering would get the help they need from the private sector. Every study shows, the more people get to keep, the more they give.
It's harder to "give" to anything if you have 40% of your paycheck taken out by FICA, Income Tax and the hidden taxes we pay at the retail counter that retailers must pass on to us.. Go on "Tax those corporations and "Stick it to the man!". Err.. But YOU are the man. It's so emotionally satisfying to say that though, although YOU are the one you're sticking it to.. wow.. that's smart, nuanced and so sophisticate. .Vote Obama! Vote Clinton! For me it'll be Bob Barr.. some would call it a throw away vote, I call it a shot across the bow.. You really want change? Vote libertarian for President! Otherwise shut up about wanting "change".. because your lying..
After reading Mr. Templeton's article the first thing that occurred to me was that, most likely without knowing it , he has given the perfect reason to take back the responsibilities we must share and NOT leave it to government...
John asks, what is to be done? Errr... not depend on government John.. Hello? Anyone home?
Go to www.fatheromalley.com for some straight talk about the issues that confront us today..
May God Bless,
Father O'Malley
July 20, 2008
4 p.m.
Suggest removal
Brix57 writes:
Quite interesting how either major party tries to lay the blame upon the other. Neither political party, Republican OR Democrat can claim any progress on this issue because it is all tied up in the government workers, those 9-5 daily workers. They have no responsibility to get anything accomplished in their daily working lives, yet their paycheck comes.
Perhaps the bloggers here could set aside their incessant bickering on which major party is to blame for this. Doubt it. They only want to see themselves in print.
My job in the military as an Atomic Demolition Munitions Specialist depended upon these workers to produce the finest weapons, yet they are ignored as are all veterans of any war or police action. We are only there to provide a sound bite or as an occasional human interest story to those that never served and will be forgotten soon.
July 20, 2008
7:37 p.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
There are skin-flint conservative cheaters in both parties. It's just that the Republicans tend to be out of the closet about their eagerness to punish the American people.
Programs like this are administrated by the administration, folks. Bush's people are notorious for ignoring the law. The 90 million administration cost for delivering benefits to less than 40 injured workers is typical of a private insurance company. There's no excuse for it. It's incompetence that comes from the executive layer.
Naturally, this story provides an opening for conservative posters to lie about other nations' health care plans. The people of those countries voted for their national health plans, so they can vote to go back to private health insurance. The survey says:
Number of countries with national health plans returning to private insurance = ZERO.
So, they're extremely happy with not having to put up with convoluted processes that waste money and deny them medical treatments while enriching big corporate thieves. American health care is a pathetic laughingstock in the modern world. Other nations point to it as proof of our stupidity.
That these nuclear workers are being kicked out into the cold and left to slowly and painfully die with no support is proof of malfeasance.
I propose this agenda: high treason is not a casual crime. It is a cruel and deadly crime committed by high executives and officers.
Do we have the courage to apply brave enough punishments that will answer the devastating cruelty of their treason?
You decide.
July 21, 2008
1:05 a.m.
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TheBigKlosowski writes:
I've been in that same style mask for radiation. I can tell you that it is no fun. For the government to turn their back on these people is a disgrace.
July 21, 2008
6:38 a.m.
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KnoWhatYoureTalkinAbout writes:
The MEDIA putting a HUGE spin on another story blown WAY out of proportion. From what I understand, the Energy program has dished an average of 4 million dollars a week to compensate these workers and that's just in the Denver region alone. The workers and their survivors, I'm sure are getting their money. It's almost apauling that the RMN has spent so much time and effort to discredit a national compensation program that for the most part done a fairly decent job considering it's only in it's 7th year of existance, when in fact they fail to address the failures of our local government agencies, the ones who have failed the children in the community and let them die. That is where RMN's focus should be. TSK TSK Laura Frank. Get your priorities straight.
July 21, 2008
8:33 a.m.
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CDee writes:
Having been through this very system with my grandfather, I can assure you all that this is NOT a republican or democrat thing. As usual, everyone is so busy pointing fingers and laying blame that no one will take the time to figure out how to fix it, just run around saying "it's not my fault." In the meantime people like my grandfather are dying from all sorts of cancers and beryllium disease and other lung diseases. I wish you people would get over yourselves. Any opportunity to throw out nasty political remarks. It's always about who's right, not what's right. Since the beginning of the "Cold War" we have had 4 Democratic and 4 Republican presidents. BOTH PARTIES ARE EQUALLY AS GUILTY. They both made them sick and neither wants to help.
July 21, 2008
8:41 a.m.
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T1anda writes:
" Millions of dollars have been spent doing technical work that was faulty,(Faulty????)while TOP LABOR OFFICIALS directing the program HAVE COLLECTED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS E A C H IN BONUS MONEY." "Officials REFUSED to explain why the bonuses have been paid."
Republicans fault??Democrats fault?? It doesn't matter anymore. What is quite obvious here is that money is the bottom line.
These former workers are suffering and dying, because our government wants to continue with discraceful,and wasteful govermental spending elsewhere! Government could care less about about these people!!
Who is next on the Government neglect list?? It could be YOU or ME!!
July 21, 2008
8:45 a.m.
Suggest removal
Cowboy63 writes:
Well it is a democrat controlled congress NOW and we'll see what "His Obamaness" does with his own fan club controlling the majority. This should all be cleared up in a month or two after he's elected. Right?
Don't get your hopes up. You're going to find that Obama and McCain are little different from each other or any other politician.
These people will still get nothing a year from now while democrat politicians and their hysterical minions flail on and on about how "it's all Bush's fault!" and nothing happens.
Obama is already warming up his "blame George Bush!!" mantra for his own failures now (isn't he part of the congress with a 9% positive rating?) and those to come.
Prepare for the same old, same old (only with higher taxes).
July 21, 2008
8:50 a.m.
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Existentalism writes:
This is so very typical of our crooked government system, especially the crooked congress and the crooked senate.
Kudos to the lard butted blow bags that sit on their very large butts and do nothing about this.
July 21, 2008
9:01 a.m.
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Frontranger writes:
the govt has been denying claims for decades, this has nothing to with Bush.
Cowboy, there is plenty a difference between McCain and Obama. Obama actually knows how to use a computer!
July 21, 2008
9:17 a.m.
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CDee writes:
Actually Forward,
The people holding up payment to my grandfather and others from the payments they are due is NIOSH which must sign off on all "dose reconstructions". So should I spend my energy blaming on the doctors? Again, we have to spin it back to blaming someone. Why don't we blame God, or mother nature, or whoever for making plutonium and beryllium? Why don't we blame the Russian government because they were who we were concerned about? Why don't we blame DOW Chemical and Rockwell International who covered up the mess out there and hid the fact that people were wrongly exposed? Why don't we blame the FBI for raiding Rocky Flats and destroying documents? Would that change anything? Again, it's all about who's right and not what's right.
July 21, 2008
9:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
FlyfishDude52 writes:
fatheromalley - Yes, how about it's our fault! You got it bro! It's back to "We the People." If we don't like it or what, all we have to do is vote that scumbag out. Looks to me like we the people aren't doing too well on that account. Remember we are the ones who have elected the unconscionable 9% congress. I think that we should concentrate on getting rid of every single one of them and maybe the next generation congress after that to make all of them listen to us, "We the People."
July 21, 2008
9:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
KelcyCo writes:
I'm betting that the government folks aren't ignoring the law. I bet that Bush did a signing statement that once again nullified the law. For the RMN writers, why aren't you doing a request for a copy of the signing order(s) to see what was written. It could very well be that it gives a completely different set of directions.
The question then becomes can these people who were injured by the work they did for the government and are failing to get adequate and timely compensation sue the President specific to the signing order. If he does something illegal, which I firmly believe modifying a law sent to him is, does that nullify his protection from a lawsuit?
Instead of just talking about RMN why don't you pursue better information.
For those on this blog that think these workers are whiners, why don't you give it a rest. You're not the one dying due to the work you did.
July 21, 2008
10:14 a.m.
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Grim_Reefer writes:
How about that $90 million in 'administrative costs' alone...?
the system has failed...
vote out ALL incumbants!
July 21, 2008
10:17 a.m.
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FlyfishDude52 writes:
KelcyCo
Check the previous posts and pay attention..
July 21, 2008
10:20 a.m.
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The_Punnisher writes:
KelcyCo, you picked up on the point I made and connected the dots...
There may just be a presidential " finding " in this case...
And another " finding " to keep it secret...then EVERYBODY loses....
That is REALITY, folks!
We often get the bad news later after the media spotlight ( and interest ) dies down...along with the people that have valid claims...Check out the Freedom of Information archives for proof.
This is how the top LEO does business and has done business for DECADES.....So Bush is just the latest in a long stream of top LEOs that have thwarted the will of the people..
July 21, 2008
10:33 a.m.
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CDee writes:
Thank Goodness we seem to be getting back to the point. These people are sick. There is supposed to be some relief for them. No matter who is on office.
The problem is, to get to the end of this thing, you have to deal with
The Department of Labor
The Department of Energy
The Department of Health and Human Services
NIOSH
OSHA
And the doctors on top of that.
And my grandfather’s doctor has been good, but she is an employee of the Department of Energy.
Anybody else see a conflict of interest here?
July 21, 2008
12:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
jackwoehr writes:
Hey Editors:
Great Article, great series of articles. There's some life in the classic newsroom yet. Good job.
July 21, 2008
12:23 p.m.
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dilligaf writes:
This is no difference then how we treat vets that come home from fighting for the great industrial war machine. Fend for yourself. I
July 21, 2008
12:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
purplewolf writes:
I guess they are not high enough security risk.
Google
Ex-Area 51 Workers Eligible for Aid
http://www.military.com/news/article/...
July 21, 2008
12:46 p.m.
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freedomfighter1 writes:
Everyone's trying to take the parties out of this, but I wonder which party favored nuclear weapons.
July 21, 2008
12:53 p.m.
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CDee writes:
Freedom:
The Manhattan Project was started under the watch of Franklin Roosevelt.
Democrat.
July 21, 2008
12:59 p.m.
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KnoWhatYoureTalkinAbout writes:
Froward69 writes:
KnoWhatYoureTalkinAbout, you got that info from FAUX news I bet. the masters of spin. your "move along, nothing to see here" has fallen upon deaf ears.
This behavior is downright shameful, It proves retardlicans will use you and turn their back on you, faster than you realize.
Actually my source of information is fairly credible, much more than I can say for Laura Frank. This isn't a move along type attitude, it's an exhaustion to Denver readers. Think about this, there have been more denials of disability benefits for Veterans than the Department of Labor has issued, and try this one on for size. There have been more Disability denials under the Social Security Adminsitration in two months than the Department of Labor has issued in the last year. If that doesn't work for you how about this. There has been more fraud under the Social Security Administration programs losing more money in lost or incorrectly paid benefits in the last year than the Department of Labor has issued in the 7 years of existance. For the Denver region alone it's been said that aproximately 4 million a week is being paid, that means the $208,000,000.00 that is being paid by the Department of Labor is dwarfed by the fraudulent cases being paid by Social Security. So you tell me where the deficiency is. This is a new program and it's likely to have it's problems just like Social Security did in the 30's and just like the VA did. No government is perfect but this is apparently personal for Ms. Frank, and using her status and the media outlet is a bit much. I feel greatly for those who have run into the problems they are facing, but it's nothing new. Take a look at the amount of people who are indigent, and on the streets due to physical and mental disabilities that our Gov't has failed yet here we have one agency that is being sought out. Waste of her time and mine as a reader. All her antics have done thus far, has probably just made the process more difficult for those who are deserving.
July 21, 2008
1:10 p.m.
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Dan2 writes:
What is the main theme to this story (and for those of you that believe history is the last 5 minutes, this problem has gone on for DECADES, not years)? Government's inability to accomplish anything, other than a dependence on the Government itself.
We can walk through history and discover that what ails us most, is brought forth in our dependence on the Government to "do something."
-Social Security in crisis (Government program)
-Medicaid/Care insolvent (Government program)
-Climate in "crisis" (EPA is a Government entity, and Dr. Hanson first spoke about the "global warming" in 1985 - although all his predictions on his models have been completely inaccurate)
-Energy "crisis" (Government has not addressed energy since 1982)
-Education (Government program)
and on and on and on...
Only in America do we profess the "American Dream" and then tax the crap out of you for achieving it, all to pay your "fair share" (which means that the top 5% pay 60% of the income taxes, yet only earn 37% of income share, while the bottom 50% pay 2.9% of income taxes, yet earn 12% of income share - according to IRS, Statistics of Income 2008)
Only in America do we have limits on the term a President can serve, yet none on our Senators or Representatives. How can a career politician even remotely connect with those they represent, if the focus is on "keeping my job?"
This problem with all these sick people, starts and ends with Government, not with party affiliation, but a system so corrupt, that it no longer resembles the nobility of "serving one's country," and that is why I will never again vote an incumbent to another term, and encourage these folks that are ill, to forget about seeing a dime from the Government, and to live the rest of their lives, no matter how long that may be, to the fullest they can.
July 21, 2008
1:53 p.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
Voting for a conservative is like hiring someone who says that your business is doomed to failure.
July 21, 2008
1:54 p.m.
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YLG writes:
Wow, this suject brings out all kinds. This process is currently what my mother and I are dealing with for my deceased father. On his deathbed he told us not to give up, that he knew his cancer came from Rocky Flats. He said that all they want us to do is to die and go away. I know that the compensation is nothing, but it's out of principle that we continue the fight. If the government could give me back what I really want, my father, then they are more then welcome to keep the compensation. Just to give any who question the time line of how long the process takes, my father started his claim June 2001 and through many of the ups and downs that Laura Frank has explained in the article, we are currently going through this living nightmare, continuing re-opening of wounds that at this point that can never heal, because this nighmare won't end for us.
So please continue to dicuss this and not offer a way to fix the situtation. Please continue to think that all of this will go away if you keep your eyes and ears closed. Don't believe all the people who gave their lives so that you and yours could sleep at night and know that you were safe. Next time get involved before you spout about what you know nothing about. It would really be helpful if you get informed about the subject before coming up with hurtful things to say.
I am very familiar with those who are currently sick and dying and I don't appreciate all the negativity that you are throwing their way, don't you think they already have enough to deal with as it is? If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
July 21, 2008
2:34 p.m.
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CDee writes:
YLG,
What stage are you at? Has your father's file gone to NIOSH yet?
July 21, 2008
2:36 p.m.
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The_Punnisher writes:
I just pointed out the ONE PERSON who is able to resolve these issues NOW...BUT ONLY IF HE/SHE or IT WANTS TO!!! I point out to Jack Kennedy and the race to the moon as an answer....
Boulder has the next crop of victims, let us see how far THEY get..
There are other means to get results ( but they border on illegality ) from a bunch of chairwarmers. ( the B word that I refuse to use anymore ) Unfortunately, SHAME is not one of the ways; people who feed at the government trough DON'T CARE about the CITIZEN they are supposed to serve. This way of doing business with a Government has gone on for CENTURIES..
" In a Mature society, the civil SERVANT becomes the ( UN ) civil MASTER "
-RAH
And to think anything else is wishful thinking at best and DANGEROUS thinking at it's worst. History backs me up on this point.
" Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results "
The classic definition; the one the PSHRINKS use...
The colonists back in 1776 knew this. They wanted something NEW along with the NEW WORLD.
Because when battling against that KING GEORGE, they knew their lives were on the line.
Well, we have another King George ( check his behavior lately ? ) and the situation is the same....
July 21, 2008
3:13 p.m.
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KnoWhatYoureTalkinAbout writes:
The solution doesn't lie with the MEDIA. No it lies with those who govern the program. Not the ones who work in but the governing officials. This program was a fly by night signing by Bill Clinton just before he left office. The entire mentality of the program has been fly by night. Fly by night Amendments, fly by night Congressionals. This program needs some serious help and it's not going to happen over night. This should have been looked over and scrutinized from the start and now there are major issues that need resolution. The MEDIA has done nothing more than cause more heartache and pain for family and claimants alike. Think about it, if you have problems with government agencies, you address them through your elected officials, and when you have problems with corporations you address them through the media. Addressing your issue with a government agency isn't going to speed the process up, instead it's going to cause new policies to get caught up in litigations and hearings. Going through the correct channels for change is ideal. Using Laura Frank has just delayed it even more. Who's Laura Frank? She's not an elected official, and I don't ever recall her addressing congress on the floor regarding these matters. They say the squeeky wheel gets the grease, eliminate the middle man (Laura Frank) and address it with your congressan. And if you get no where with him/her address to the Secretary of the program.
July 21, 2008
4:48 p.m.
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Big_D writes:
Father ‘O’ Liar should remember you can go to hell for lying just as easy as stealing.
July 21, 2008
5:02 p.m.
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saffron writes:
Knowwhatyouretalkingabout: Your transparency as a DOL employee is truly embarrassing.
Laura Frank is doing her job as a reporter -- informing us, her readers -- thankfully a few still exist. She is merely a mirror for the nasty work the DOL is doing, of which you must be connected. Remember, don't kill the messenger!
No one, without some vested interest, would ever publicly defend a government institution that is mired in red tape and ultimately, killing people.
When you got your lame pr job offer at the DOL, did they inform you of the horrible nature of your duties? That is, to fly clandestinely in public forums backing the DOL? And you agreed? For what? $50k a year?
Sad.
People need to stand up, and soon. All this backing down is killing our country.
July 21, 2008
9:07 p.m.
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Miss_Kitty_Kat_Girl writes:
It happened to the American Indians with the Dept. of Interior's lack of accounting. I'm not surprised by this at all, however, I do feel for these people.
July 21, 2008
10:01 p.m.
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reddog writes:
OK, point taken, can we take the story down now and just do the right thing for these people?
July 21, 2008
10:52 p.m.
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Rufus_Leakn writes:
Has anyone considered that maybe those denied do not have a job related sickness? Or, do we automatically assume all sick nuclear workers got sick from their work? Every aging population has their sick and dying and bomb builders are no different.
August 1, 2008
10:57 a.m.
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JodyBJodyBresch3 writes:
After Reading Laura Frank's article, "Deadly Denial", in the Rocky Mountain News, and listening to the Studio 12 Video Program, I am once again disturbed by the continuing failure of the previously passed legislation to actually help those people who proudly served this country and kept its secrets.
Regardless what Peter Turic, U.S. Department of Labor Head said during his television time, there has been nothing either humane or expedient about efforts to serve these serious ill people.
When Ann Block said there were directives above for four recommended denials a day in the Seattle Office, my inclination is to believe her.
When I hear that it takes 4,000 pages of documents to file a claim, and that those claims are simply lost, I am inclined to suspect they are conveniently lost in an effort to discourage claimants in hopes that they will simply give up.
I thank Laura Frank for her timely piece that exposes the serious problems in this program, and it's failure to serve the population it was designed to serve, and I appeal to the U.S. Congress to reconsider the problems built into the Dose Reconstruction Process, the Relational Data Base Hazmat Tables, the Niach Tables, and find a realistic and applicable fix.
Please contact your Congressmen and let them know of your concerns and that you are looking to them for leadership in solving them.
I've established an on-line petition at the following link:
]We support community health studies, medical financial assistance, and continued research of illnesses due to workplace toxic exposures in the U.S. Nuclear Weapons Industry.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/nucl...
Please continue to forward this link to concerned citizens in your address book so this petition doesn't simply sit and flounder.