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Phoenix vets relay anger with VA to Sen. McCain

By WTOP Staff

TERRY TANG
Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — Several veterans voiced their anger and frustration to Sen. John McCain on Friday over what they call a broken Veterans Affairs system as the Republican said that reported lapses in care in Phoenix are part of a nationwide problem that needs to be fixed.

“Friends, this is not a unique situation as far as Arizona is concerned,” McCain said. “I emphasize everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but this appears to be a problem of nationwide implications.”

The VA has been under fire in recent weeks, ever since critics contended that administrators in Phoenix kept an off-the-books list to conceal long wait times as 40 veterans died waiting to get an appointment. Similar problems have since been reported in other states. McCain hinted at possible prosecution in the Phoenix cases.

“If these allegations are true, there a violation of law. It’s not a matter of resignations, it’s a matter whether somebody goes to jail or not,” said McCain, evoking thunderous applause from the crowd of more than 100 people.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki said this week he has ordered an audit of access to care at all VA medical centers. Three executives of the veterans hospital in Phoenix have been placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into allegations of corruption and unnecessary deaths at the facility.

The McCain event came as the Veterans of Foreign Wars announced that it has established a hotline to field calls about care at VA facilities around the country. The organization has taken a less forceful tone than the American Legion, which this week demanded a major shake-up of VA ranks, including calling for Shinseki’s ouster.

“We just want to hear it ourselves and not through a filter” of media coverage, said Joe Davis, director of public affairs for the VFW. “We want to hear it from the veterans directly.”

He added: “There is nothing out there except allegations and conjecture until we have the IG report in hand.”

While several officials have called for Shinseki to resign, McCain did not.

“I would like to see Secretary Shinseki in his capacity appearing before Congress and the American people saying what went on,” said McCain, a veteran who served in Vietnam.

The chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee has similar questions, and he announced a hearing next week on care across the VA. Shinseki will appear before the committee.

McCain invited four women onto the stage inside the Phoenix Public Library to share how a husband or father died while seeking care at the Phoenix VA. He then took questions from the crowd. Several veterans stood up to wait for a turn at the microphone. Most appeared skeptical that any solutions would be implemented.

“I have been in the VA system as well as outside of it. I have many friends that are still suffering. Are you really going to do something?” asked Marc Justin Owens, who served in the U.S. Marine Corp.

Chuck Burns, a veteran living in Gilbert, said it’s taking too long for vets to get help and even for widows to get benefits.

“The VA health care system is broken,” Burns said.

McCain said veterans should be allowed to pick other health care providers outside the VA. However, he said that the VA serves a crucial role in treating things such as post-traumatic stress disorder and war wounds.

“I’m advocating that we give our veterans a choice,” McCain said. “I think it would be terrible if we did away with the VA.”

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Associated Press Writer Pauline Jelinek contributed to this report from Washington, D.C.

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Follow Terry Tang on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/ttangAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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