Veterans affairs chief pleads ignorance of attempt to give him lifetime job

John Scocos says he's flattered that the state Board of Veterans Affairs thinks so highly of him that it is about to make him Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Life.

In a partisan power play, the Republican-appointed majority on the board wants to change the rules to make sure that if Democratic appointees ever get control of the board they still won't be able to get rid of Scocos, except with a unanimous vote of the seven members. (It now takes five votes to dismiss him.)

Although he suggested to Spivak and Bice that there was nothing unusual about the proposed change, it would make him the only department head in state government with that kind of protection.

Scocos talks as though he isn't even familiar with the proposed changes, which were introduced by board member Kathleen Marschman at the board's last meeting. Scocos tells the Spice Boys:

"I'm very flattered that the board would care that much about me . . . that the board would look to change the rules from five to whatever the number is (seven)," Scocos said, referring to the number of votes it would take to fire him.

As to why he needs all this extra body armor, he contended that there's nothing unusual about the special flak jacket he is set to receive.

"I'm not looking for any protection," Scocos said. He added, "I don't think it's any different than anybody else."

I'm sorry, but I refuse to believe that Scocos doesn't know that "whatever the number is" is seven, and hasn't reviewed all of the multiple changes Marschman wants the board to make.

And if he doesn't want any special protection, why doesn't he tell the board that? Scocos, who talks like the board operates in its own little world. actually runs a very tight ship. The board is at his beck and call. What Scocos wants, Scocos gets.

That could change, of course, if Democratic appointees ever get a majority. That's why Marschman, a Republican appointee whose term expired May 1, is maneuvering to make the change now. Her replacement, former State Sen. Rod Moen, has been nominated by Doyle, but the Republican-run State Senate hasn't confirmed Moen and Marschman has refused to resign so he can begin to serve.

Marschman was the board chair when Scocos, a former Republican staffer, was hired at a secret meeting, ignoring the governor's request to meet with the finalists before the board acted. Now she's leading the charge to make sure Scocos keeps the job as long as he wants, no matter who controls state government.

Scocos claims innocence of any involvement in coming up with the rule changes, and probably deserves the benefit of the doubt. But if Scocos wasn't involved, Marschman is probably doing the bidding of Scocos' patron, Speaker John Gard, who's always looking for another what to stick it to the Democrats.

With only two Doyle appointees on the current seven-member board, these changes seem to be wired. It only takes four votes to change the rules, and once the rules are changed Scocos, at age 49, will basically have a lifetime appointment to a job that now pays $118,000 a year.

The board will hold a teleconference on the proposed changes at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 28, on the 8th floor of the WDVA headquarters at 30 W. Mifflin St., Madison. It is a public meeting. The board could act that day or defer action to its December meeting. There has been no public hearing, but some veterans are beginning to express their opinions.

Earlier post: Veterans affairs secretary moves to give himself more job security.