2008 California Election Forum

The Department of Veterans Affairs conducted a nationwide study to examine the future use of its facilities.

One of the facilities in West Los Angeles has 387 acres and 91 buildings...of which over 21 are partially or wholly vacant.

Its recommendation was to reduce the wasted space and modernize the facility (and establish other important services for Vets) with the estimated 4 billion dollars it could raise.

The facility would keep 108 acres (huge!) and the remaining 200-plus acres could be leased out, raising money for better Vet care.

But the politicians and liberals in the area objected.

So Senator Feinstein slipped an earmark provision in the Vet bill to ban the VA from selling or leasing anything. What a waste of taxpayer money and an injustice to our Vets.