1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Tutor Dixon Podcast. I am so excited 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: because we have the United States Secretary of Veteran Affairs, 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:11,120 Speaker 1: Doug Collins with us. Thank you so much, mister Secretary, 4 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: for joining me today. 5 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 2: Dude, it was good to see you today. 6 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: I want I want to start off with what you did. 7 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: I think it was last week with Caitlyn Collins because 8 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 1: she was going after you. I can't even remember what 9 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: she was going after you about, because you were so 10 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: good at handling this leftist, nasty media that will not 11 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: talk about our veterans. 12 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 2: No, they didn't want to. 13 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 3: And look, we had discussed, it came up and that's 14 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 3: the signal issues at the messages, that's right. Yeah, and 15 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 3: so and look I'll tell my story here. That is 16 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:44,519 Speaker 3: a sense that we had agreed to come on and 17 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 3: talk by veterans. And I don't mind tough questions, hard questions. 18 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 3: I mean, I've been doing this for twenty years in politics. 19 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 3: I get it, and that's fine. But what we want 20 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 3: to do is talk about the veterans. And so she 21 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 3: came on actually before the interview and was you know, 22 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 3: small child, like you know you've done on interviews before. 23 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 3: And she said, well, we're going to ask you about 24 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:06,400 Speaker 3: the signal stuff, I said, and I told her, I said, Kaylyn, 25 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 3: that's fine, I said, but I'll answer it once. And 26 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 3: I don't want to dwell here. I said, we got 27 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 3: issues with veterans. I want to talk about that, and 28 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 3: she and she made it. I said, oh, no problem. 29 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 3: I got plenty of questions for about the about the 30 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:19,759 Speaker 3: VA and veterans. I said, okay, so we got off, 31 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 3: so we get on the interview. Their first question was 32 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 3: about the signal is messaging issue. 33 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 2: I answered it. 34 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 3: She came back with another question about the exact basically 35 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 3: the same thing, and I said, I said, Kaitlyn, I said, 36 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 3: I've already answered that question. I'm not going to have 37 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 3: anything else to expand on. I wasn't a part of it, 38 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 3: not going to do it. And then she went the 39 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 3: third time and this is baseball season, and that was 40 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 3: if she wasn't going to talk about it, talk about veterans, 41 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 3: then I wanted to talk about veterers on y CNN 42 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 3: has disrespected veterans into fane veterans and lost a court 43 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 3: case on defamation for five million dollars to a veteran 44 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 3: in Florida and the person who made one of the 45 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 3: comments when they're you said we're going to nail him. 46 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 3: They're still employed at. 47 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 2: Say and Him. 48 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 1: I thought that was genius. I mean, I've never seen 49 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:12,359 Speaker 1: it done so well and so deserved that she would 50 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: be asked that question because and I didn't even know 51 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: that you had had the conversation ahead of time. I 52 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: think that's the beauty of being able to talk on 53 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: a podcast is to say, look, the background is that 54 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: we said, we'll answer it, but we want to talk 55 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: about veterans. And there's a lot of people right now 56 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,959 Speaker 1: who feel like the leftist media is coming after you 57 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 1: saying you're getting rid of people, you're firing veterans, this 58 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 1: is not good for them. And I've heard you talk 59 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: about this a few times about how look to be 60 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: able to take care of veterans, we need that money 61 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 1: spent the right way. So I wanted you to be 62 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: able to answer it to that too, because I think 63 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: it's great that you were able to go after Caitlyn 64 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,079 Speaker 1: Collins and point out the fact that she was being well, 65 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:56,359 Speaker 1: she was being disrespectful to our veterans, but also she 66 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 1: never she never cared to find out what is actually 67 00:02:59,320 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: going on. 68 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 3: Well, I think that's the big problem here, Tootor. And 69 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 3: it's not Look, I hate it. I don't like to 70 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 3: have interviews that just go like that. But also I'm 71 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 3: not going to let anybody, not going to anybody talk 72 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:10,799 Speaker 3: about about my Vesteran'm not gonna talk about about the 73 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 3: VA employees. But also at the same point in time, 74 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 3: you know, when you have a narrative, you know, we're 75 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 3: not going to just play along with your narrative. 76 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 2: I think we I think. 77 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 3: Many times many of our side has sort of just 78 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 3: played the narrative and tried to defend I just am 79 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 3: not going to play the narrative that they want to have, 80 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 3: especially when that narrative is, you know, directly opposed to 81 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 3: what I'm trying to do is be a secretary. And look, 82 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 3: I've been here about two months now, We're going on 83 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 3: two months. In fact, I'm pretty much today close to 84 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 3: today of Mars two months and you know, all I'm 85 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 3: doing is fighting an you indo and rumor. And it's 86 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 3: out there that you know, depending on who you want 87 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 3: to listen to, which senator wants to tell, you know, stories, today, 88 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 3: you know, we've done everything from you know, shut down 89 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 3: the VA system and privatized it to you know, firing 90 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 3: eighty thousand people to you know, going back and forth, 91 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 3: and you name it. 92 00:03:57,440 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 2: You know, we've done it. 93 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 3: The truth of the matter is is that at this 94 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 3: point in time, due to some coret case and everything else, 95 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 3: basically there are staffing levels are the same except for 96 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 3: those who chose early retirement. But the bigger problem here too, 97 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 3: it is what people have got to understand. The VA 98 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 3: is bigger than the active duty Army. Let's just start 99 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 3: off here. We're bigger than the active duty Army. 100 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: Okay, what do you mean, like employee wise, employee wise, 101 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 1: that's crazy I have right now. 102 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 2: Pete could act. 103 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 3: Pete could mobilize the entire active duty Army for US, 104 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 3: and I could. I could best him by about twenty thousand. 105 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: It's actually terrifying. 106 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 2: It is because it's grown many times. 107 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 3: And I've always said, I think you know, the hill 108 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 3: is when it comes to issues, and this has been 109 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 3: very true for a number of years when it's the 110 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 3: Congress and also your state legislation as well. It's very 111 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 3: true there too that if it's dealing with children or 112 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:51,840 Speaker 3: dealing with veterans, nobody wants to be perceived as not 113 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 3: giving something to them. 114 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 2: Okay. 115 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 3: The issue is, though, is what are you giving? And 116 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 3: I think this is true for any issue that you have. 117 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,159 Speaker 3: Is it giving just to appease your own conscience or 118 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 3: is it giving to make sure that we're actually, from 119 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:08,040 Speaker 3: my perspective, putting VA services to veterans who've earned that 120 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 3: health benefit or that disability or other benefit. You know, 121 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 3: it could be housing, it could be educational, it could 122 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 3: be other things. You know, are we making that the 123 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 3: most appropriate way? So when I tell you that we have, 124 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 3: you know, four hundred and seventy raised thousand employees, you 125 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 3: know how big we are. We also have a budget 126 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 3: of three hundred and fifty billion. What is unknown to 127 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 3: most people, though, is over the last four years, we 128 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 3: added over one hundred billion, almost one hundred and fifty billion, 129 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 3: and I've averaged over eighty thousand employees, fifty full time, 130 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 3: about thirty part time. Ten years ago, we were less 131 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 3: than half of that. 132 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:45,280 Speaker 1: Okay, what have you seen an improvement in veteran services? 133 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 2: That's your problem. 134 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:49,919 Speaker 3: If that had worked, we should be the happiest department 135 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 3: on you know, we you know, we should be the 136 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 3: happiest department on earth. 137 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 2: The problem is is it's not. 138 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:56,799 Speaker 3: For the last ten years GAO, the Government Accounting Office 139 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 3: has said that we're on the high risk list for 140 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 3: fraudways to abuse, patient care, patient quality. So for ten years, 141 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 3: the VA has increased its budget, you know, close to 142 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 3: two hundred thousand, you know, dollars two hundred billion dollars 143 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 3: I followed US two hundred billion, and you know, probably 144 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 3: somewhere close to one hundred and fifty or one thousand 145 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 3: more employees depending on you know, thseay ZACCHT numbers, spend 146 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 3: on when you want to look at it. But we've 147 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 3: increased money in size. But yet the metrics in our 148 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 3: healthcare system. You know, some systems, you know, some of 149 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 3: our medical centers are better, some or not. We have 150 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 3: you know, our case load has been very relatively flat 151 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 3: across this timeframe as well disability benefits that went up 152 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 3: because of Packpack and some other things. But what we're 153 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 3: looking at here is a system that for ten years 154 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 3: has been said, you know, look, it's not where it 155 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 3: needs to be. And yet all we do is put 156 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 3: money and people toward it without saying is it making 157 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 3: a difference. And I can tell you from a health 158 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 3: perspective sort of flat on metrics on a backlog perspective 159 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 3: for a benefit, we've actually got worse. So under Trump 160 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 3: it was under sixty thousand when I took up, excuse me, 161 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 3: when I took over, it was about two hundred and 162 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 3: thirty thousand backlog on disability benefits. 163 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 2: So with all that money and. 164 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 3: People, we actually you know, went from under sixty to 165 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 3: over two hundred thousand in backlaw. 166 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: And we hear a lot about veteran suicides, and I 167 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: think that that's been kind of the talking point of 168 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: I guess the people who want to continue to grow 169 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 1: government is while you have this hanging over your head, 170 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: has that reduced it all in this period? 171 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 2: No, it's not, And that's a really concern. 172 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 3: You look at from two thousand and eight to two thousand, 173 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 3: you know, twenty four, twenty two, the last three numbers, 174 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 3: we stayed about between sixty four hundred and about in 175 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 3: the highs of almost close to seven thousand veterans death 176 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 3: by suicide each year. 177 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 2: And that's that's. 178 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 3: The ones that we calculate the way our formulate process does. 179 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 3: There's some who out there who say it's actually more. 180 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 3: But the real issue you have up here, and this 181 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 3: is something for your listeners to be aware of is 182 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 3: that we've also have a budget about five hundred and 183 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 3: eighty eight million in prevention what has tagged as suicide prevention, 184 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 3: and also about two point three billion that is used 185 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 3: for treatment and uh, you know, counseling, the things that 186 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 3: are done to help people get out of that state. 187 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 3: So you're looking at about three billion dollars that has 188 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 3: been pretty consistent for about the last four to five years. 189 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 3: So if you add those numbers up, you're looking at, 190 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 3: you know, well over ten billion dollars that have been 191 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 3: spent in some form or fashional on suicide, and yet 192 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 3: our numbers haven't moved. So I've came in and started 193 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 3: asking different, you know, questions, why is it when I moved, 194 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 3: why are we not you know? And then I found 195 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 3: out even further. We spend a lot of our time 196 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 3: on our crisis line, which is you know a lot 197 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 3: of our resources go there. But then I started seeing that, 198 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 3: you know, we spend less than you know, right at 199 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 3: one percent to community outreach, uh and to organizations that 200 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 3: are that are doing stuff less than one percent, and 201 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 3: yet we've got we found out that that seventeen number 202 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 3: if we use that seventeen number. Fifty percent of those 203 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 3: have never been touched by the VA. I mean, we're 204 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 3: going at a model. 205 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 2: It's a lot. 206 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 3: We're using a model from from thirty forty years ago 207 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 3: that we that is, we just can't get out of 208 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,319 Speaker 3: the car, so to speak. So my question is, and 209 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 3: I ask all these all the time and said, if 210 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 3: it's not working and we're not getting good results, then 211 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 3: quit expecting different results. 212 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: Well, is there an opportunity for private public partnership here 213 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 1: because we do have a lot of organizations that where 214 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 1: veterans are kind of like a buddy system where they 215 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 1: keep somebody on track. 216 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, very much so is to it? I think this 217 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 2: is and this is why I'm opening up. 218 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 3: I mean, I'm open to any You know, we have 219 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:38,679 Speaker 3: a lot of veteran service organizations out there. Many are 220 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 3: familiar with the old with the what I call the 221 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 3: mainline you know veterans. You know the paralyzed veationis DVA, 222 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:47,439 Speaker 3: American Legion BFW. 223 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 2: I mean, most people know those, but they're they're they're. 224 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 3: Sort of organizations that has been around a long time 225 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 3: and they do some good stuff with what they try 226 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 3: to do. But then you've got a lot of newer 227 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 3: groups in over the last twenty years, a lot of 228 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 3: them g Watt, my generation of veterans that are coming out, 229 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 3: Wounded Warrior Project, and you know, there's a lot of 230 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 3: things Tunnel's Towers, there's a lot of other agencies out there, 231 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 3: and I don't want to name them all or name 232 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 3: checking because there's just a lot. But they're using their 233 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 3: resources and have very little overhead in comparison to what 234 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 3: they actually spend their money on, and they're seeing some 235 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 3: good results in how we deal with post traumatic stress 236 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 3: syndrome TBI, traumatic brain injury, those kind of things. So yes, 237 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 3: I'm open to anybody that's willing to come to the 238 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,719 Speaker 3: table and help me lower that seventeen number. And I'll 239 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 3: be very frank if five hundred and eighty eight million 240 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 3: is not enough, then I'm happy to go fight for 241 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 3: more money. 242 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 2: If I'm seeing then that seventeen number go down. 243 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 3: But if that number is not going down, then we 244 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 3: got to figure out what we're not doing right, And 245 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 3: if it's not with us, then I just want them 246 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:50,839 Speaker 3: to get help somewhere well. 247 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: And that's I think that's the point that people don't 248 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: get that there is not a slashing of it's not 249 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 1: just looking for money to get rid of, you really 250 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:02,679 Speaker 1: want to results. And that is where that narrative is 251 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: getting lost lost in the leftist media is that what 252 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: is happening in Washington, d C. Right now is because 253 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 1: there is money being spent and the results are not there. 254 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: Whether it's education, whether it's veterans, whether it's homelessness, we 255 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: continue to have either worsening numbers or stagnant numbers, and 256 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 1: that should not be acceptable. We should not be okay 257 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: with that. Let me ask you, if there were not 258 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 1: a president Donald Trump, would you ever be able to 259 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:28,319 Speaker 1: do this? 260 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 2: No? 261 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 3: No, And I think what we've seen in the last 262 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:35,559 Speaker 3: little bit is is even Trump one actually did a 263 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 3: lot of great things. 264 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 2: But we had the Mission Act out. 265 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:39,840 Speaker 3: I was in Congress when we did that, which gives 266 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 3: much more choice to our veterans to go into the 267 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 3: community and get care. If the wait times or their 268 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 3: distances to facilities are over certain mileage. That helps us out. 269 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 3: That keeps the care local. It still be a care 270 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 3: we pay for it, but yet it helps us make 271 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 3: sure that our veterans are getting the care in a 272 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 3: timely fashion, in the way they need it. He was 273 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 3: very I mean, every time I talk to the President 274 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 3: about it, one of the things he talks about is 275 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 3: community care, and so it's something that we've had the 276 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 3: ability to do, but also his willingness to come in 277 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 3: and reimagine government. 278 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 2: He ran on it. 279 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 3: He talked about it. This is the you know, the 280 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 3: whole essence of why we're here. Gives us the ability 281 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 3: to now to put more you know, from my military background, 282 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 3: it puts us, you know, a soord more lead on 283 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 3: the target. We're going after, helping veterans, We're going after 284 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 3: making sure they get their benefits and the VA itself. 285 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 3: So I love my VA employees, but are we staffed 286 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 3: in the proper ways? And I think that's the issue 287 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 3: that we're having to deal with now and funded in 288 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 3: ways that are actually putting money toward the areas of 289 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 3: health care and actually toward benefits. 290 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,079 Speaker 1: As we're supposted, this isn't a new concept though. It's 291 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: not as though we haven't heard Democrats say this. Democrats 292 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 1: who have run for president, Democrats who have been president, 293 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: Democrat senators, people have consistently said we want to get 294 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 1: rid of the waste and actually see results. So why 295 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 1: is it that now you are having Democrat senators just 296 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: attack you over this. 297 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 3: Well, I think it's a constituency served in many of 298 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 3: the the my colleagues in the Democrat side, and you know, 299 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,679 Speaker 3: I respect you know their opinions, but the opinions is 300 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 3: is you've seen the same thing the same way for 301 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 3: a long time. You're not getting a better result. I 302 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 3: think it's because that they're more concerned with the structure 303 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 3: of government than they are the results of government. And 304 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 3: let that one sink in for a minute. They're more 305 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 3: concerned about how government fits in size at times, it 306 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 3: appears then they do what does it mean for that 307 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 3: government agent to do exist? I mean you mentioned education, 308 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,560 Speaker 3: you know, of course with the VA and others, you know, 309 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 3: are they doing what they're supposed to be doing. Are 310 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 3: we simply building up a union workforce or a labor 311 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 3: workforce or a jobs program in many of these government 312 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 3: agencies that are not actually effectuating the change that we 313 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:53,079 Speaker 3: need to see. 314 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 2: And I think that's the problem. 315 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 1: I think people need to understand there's no celebration of 316 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,839 Speaker 1: getting rid of people when you know, I keep hearing 317 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 1: people on the left that are like, oh, they're just 318 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 1: they want to just get rid of all these jobs 319 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,720 Speaker 1: and these poor people and I And to be honest, 320 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 1: I've heard some people on the right side of the 321 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 1: aisle that have been like, good, go get another job. 322 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: I on that now. I agree. We've all experienced either 323 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: having delay people off or being laid off ourselves. There's 324 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: no joy in that. There are other jobs out there, 325 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: but there's no joy in that. What do you say 326 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: to those people that say, oh, this is just about 327 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: cutting people. I mean, there's really a calculated decision there 328 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 1: with every person. 329 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 2: Well it is. 330 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 3: You know, the question comes is is are the jobs 331 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 3: that we have in the in the manpower that we have, 332 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 3: in the money being spent, is it in profitable jobs 333 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 3: that actually help our veterans. And it may not be. 334 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 3: It may be in areas that they may actually have 335 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 3: more fulfillment, and others in a different career line. You know, 336 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 3: you and I both in winning business. We've actually hired people, 337 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 3: we've and I've been fired as well, so I know 338 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 3: both ends of the spectrum. But you know, I don't 339 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 3: take any joy in it at all, because you know, 340 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 3: I wish that we were able to use the I 341 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 3: wish that we'd have built the structure to fit the 342 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 3: veteran instead of having the structure built to fit built 343 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 3: to fit the VA. 344 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 2: And that's a big difference in perspective. 345 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 3: And if the structure is built to facilitate the VA, 346 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 3: then we're not able to in turn give. 347 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 2: The proper needs to the veteran. 348 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 3: So I think that's what we're turning this model on 349 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 3: its head a little bit, because if you have people 350 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 3: out there who are doing jobs are there that are 351 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 3: not fulfilling or they're not able to accomplish that mission, 352 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 3: then we're we're not being good stewers of not only 353 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 3: the tax player's money, but remember veterans pay taxes too, 354 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 3: and so we're not spending the money on which is supposed. 355 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 2: To be done. 356 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: Stay tuned. We have more with VA Secretary Doug Collins, 357 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: but first let me tell you more about my partners 358 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: at IFCJ. After more than a year of war, terror 359 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 1: and pain in Israel, the need for security essentials and 360 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 1: support for first responders is still critical. Israel must be 361 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: for the next attack, wherever it may come from, because 362 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: they're surrounded on all sides by enemies. 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It's one word, it's support IFCJ dot org. 372 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: Or you can call eight eight eight four eight eight 373 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: IFCJ that's eight eight eight four eight eight if CJ 374 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: again eight eight eight four eight eight four three two five. 375 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: Now stay tuned. We have more coming up after this. 376 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: What about some of the crazy things, I mean, we're 377 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 1: hearing that DOJE uncovered an agreement with the VA for 378 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: three hundred and eighty thousand dollars a month for minor 379 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 1: website modifications. Do you when you find that out, do 380 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: you think that this is nefarious or do you think 381 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 1: this is just incompetence. 382 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 3: I'm mnst say somewhere in the middle, I think it's 383 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 3: just we had the money and we got to spend it. 384 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 3: I mean, tutor, if someone who's been in government, and 385 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 3: I've been in the military for years, I mean, it 386 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 3: was a common thing in military circles. Okay, I'll take 387 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:33,920 Speaker 3: it out of the VA for a second. I remember 388 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:38,400 Speaker 3: many times that in August and September in the reserves, 389 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 3: we would get these frantic messages from our you know, supervisors, 390 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 3: stuff saying end of year's coming. You know, get these 391 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:49,080 Speaker 3: you know, send send us any purchasing request right now 392 00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 3: under ten thousand dollars. And I mean we would get 393 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:55,159 Speaker 3: two computers, we get stuff that you know, we have 394 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 3: because they had to spend the money before the end 395 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 3: of the year. So I'm going to be sort of 396 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 3: kind of the middle on this. I think some of 397 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:04,120 Speaker 3: it was probably not knowing what they're doing. I think 398 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 3: some of it was, you know, helping out you know, 399 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:08,359 Speaker 3: contracts that got awry. 400 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 2: But I think it's somewhere in the middle. I think 401 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:10,880 Speaker 2: it goes back to. 402 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 3: An understanding that government is being used for something government 403 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 3: was never intended to be, and that is an unlimited 404 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 3: trough of money that does an unlimited way to hire 405 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 3: and shape our attitudes. But I also have to remind people. 406 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:27,360 Speaker 3: And I was going to say this a minute ago. 407 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 3: You know, you talk about everybody talking about it, now, 408 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 3: this is not the original Doge. You know, everybody talks 409 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:35,639 Speaker 3: about Doge where the original Doge is Bill Clinton and 410 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 3: Al Gore. 411 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:36,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. 412 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 3: Yes, they cut fourteen percent out of the workforce for 413 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 3: almost two hundred, between two hundred and fifty and three 414 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:47,440 Speaker 3: hundred thousand people out of government slash regulations in the nineties. 415 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 3: The same press that thought that was the most amazing 416 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 3: thing in the world are now some of the same 417 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 3: press and members of Congress who believe that what we're 418 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,880 Speaker 3: doing is terrible. So I think we ought to get 419 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 3: I think, frankly, the President Trump ought to bring Bill 420 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 3: and Al back given an award in the Rose Garden 421 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:09,439 Speaker 3: for being the original Dose founders. 422 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,680 Speaker 1: That is clever. I like that idea. I think that's 423 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 1: very good. One thing I want to just touch on 424 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 1: before I let you go. You brought up earlier that 425 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 1: you have about two hundred and fifty thousand people that 426 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 1: are waiting for their benefits to be approved or. 427 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 3: Is that now A lot of that is disability side. 428 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 3: You know, some have been you know, they've given information 429 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 3: some of us not been finished. I mean, there's a 430 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 3: lot of reasons, but the problem is we're not moving 431 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 3: them quick enough. 432 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 2: And I think that's our problem. We are looking at doing. 433 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,159 Speaker 3: A lot of automation now to knock out some of 434 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 3: the ones that we can. But you would be amazed. 435 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 2: You know. 436 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 3: Everybody tells us, well, what have you learned, Well, I've 437 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 3: learned it. We're so bureaucratic that sometimes our bureaucracy actually 438 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 3: gets in the way of our bureaucracy. And you know 439 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 3: that's a pretty amazing statement, but it's just like, really, 440 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:53,640 Speaker 3: how we do this? 441 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 2: So I've cold everywhere. 442 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,000 Speaker 3: I was up in your wonderful part of the world 443 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 3: in Michigan just as fast week, and I went to 444 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:04,639 Speaker 3: the health Battle Creek and Arbor and Detroit, went to 445 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 3: all the medical our medical centers there. Also went to 446 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:11,399 Speaker 3: the customer cemetery there, which is a great place if you're. 447 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:14,400 Speaker 2: In central southern Michigan. Now the go by that cemetery. 448 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 3: So it's an amazing, humbling place to go to just 449 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 3: to see the beauty of it up near Battle right 450 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 3: next to the Battle Creek. 451 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:22,160 Speaker 2: VMA vancy up there. 452 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 3: But what you're seeing is is that there's a lot 453 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:28,920 Speaker 3: that we have that is beneficial. But I told them, 454 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:31,119 Speaker 3: you're letting the system get in the way of what 455 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 3: you're supposed to do. So I told them, I said, 456 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 3: if you have ten steps to get a benefit, then 457 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 3: can you do it in five? You know, if there's 458 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 3: ten steps to getting into the hospital and getting approved 459 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:41,680 Speaker 3: for your health care, can we do. 460 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 2: That in five. 461 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 3: I mean, start helping this veteran get in, because once 462 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 3: they get in, they tend to be okay with the 463 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,160 Speaker 3: care they're getting. But it's the getting in process that's 464 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 3: a hard. 465 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:53,880 Speaker 1: And that's what I think is so beautiful about what's 466 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: happening in all these agencies, and I think that should 467 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 1: come to the state level too. I mean, that's what 468 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 1: we see in automotive with six ske mine all of 469 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,840 Speaker 1: these different programs, is streamline the process. You know, in 470 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: the state of Michigan, we get beat out by every 471 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:09,400 Speaker 1: other state for a bid for a new business because 472 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 1: it takes us so long to re return the answer 473 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 1: to the company that's requesting. If you can cut out 474 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: those processes, bureaucracy can sometimes just crush the next step. 475 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: And that's what I think is so beautiful. You guys 476 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 1: are just removing the barriers to make sure the people 477 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 1: are getting what they need exactly. 478 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 3: And that's one of the things I've tried to bring 479 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 3: to the table up here is as I don't do 480 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 3: long meetings. We do meetings with a point. If you 481 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:34,879 Speaker 3: send ahead notes, so let me know what we're going 482 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:36,680 Speaker 3: to be at my level. I mean in the meetings 483 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:38,960 Speaker 3: I take, I need that I read all those in 484 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 3: the morning. I'm up at five point thirty, I'm in 485 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 3: the gym, and then I'm in my office and I 486 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 3: read those repurses. So when we get to meetings, I 487 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 3: don't just have a regurgitation of what's on the power point. 488 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 3: In fact, I won't let it. I say, okay, here's 489 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:51,680 Speaker 3: the questions I have. How do we make it better? 490 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 3: What decisions do you need? And we make decisions and 491 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 3: we move. I told our VA employees, I said, I 492 00:21:57,760 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 3: need you to fail faster. I need you to get 493 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:02,159 Speaker 3: out out there and start help trying to do stuff. 494 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 3: If it doesn't work, fine, You'll never get in trouble 495 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 3: with me on trying to help a veteran and that 496 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:09,639 Speaker 3: idea doesn't work, because you know what the next idea 497 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:10,160 Speaker 3: will work. 498 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:11,159 Speaker 1: And I love that. 499 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:12,879 Speaker 2: The next idea, that's what we got to be. 500 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 1: I love that. Thank you so much, Secretary Doug Collins. 501 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,199 Speaker 1: You guys are doing an amazing job and I'm so 502 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 1: glad you got to share it with us today. 503 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 2: To be here with you, dude, take care, Thank. 504 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:24,399 Speaker 1: You, and thank you all for listening to the Tutor 505 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: Dixon Podcast. Make sure you check out the more podcasts 506 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 1: on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 507 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 1: your podcasts, and join us next time. Have a blessed day.