In 30 seconds: What IndyStar found investigating Indiana veterans affairs agency
IndyStar reporters Tony Cook and Chris Sikich have published three stories in an investigation of the Indiana Department of Veterans' Affairs, revealing lax oversight of funds meant to help veterans in need.
Here's what you need to know:
The director was granting state relief funds to employees
An IndyStar investigation published Nov. 29 found middle-income IDVA employees with military backgrounds received at least $40,000 in grants through the Military Family Relief Fund. Paid for with revenue from specialty "Support Our Troops" and veteran license plates, that program is supposed to provide grants to financially struggling veterans.
A state audit confirmed that IDVA poorly managed funds
A state audit of the program confirmed IndyStar's reporting, documenting that the potential misuse of funds was part of a broader problem of poor management at the agency.
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Veteran agency's secretive deal:Ex-state senator possibly violated lobbying laws
The IDVA director resigned and new rules were deployed
IDVA Director James Brown, a decorated Vietnam veteran who had led the agency since 2013, resigned in December. Veterans affairs officials also worked to set up new rules to govern the grant program and lawmakers are considering legislation that would ban grants to IDVA employees.
IDVA employees also received federal welfare dollars
IndyStar published its second investigation Jan. 17, revealing that IDVA employees had received federally funded welfare benefits — more than $64,000 in all. The benefits included childcare and a couple’s retreat at French Lick Resort and Casino. The agency also used federal welfare dollars — known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF — to pay employees who worked on other IDVA programs.
New director is giving top-to-bottom review of agency
The State Board of Accounts is now conducting an audit of that TANF program. Gov. Eric Holcomb appointed Dennis Wimer as new director.
Wimer is giving the agency a top-to-bottom review, according to the governor's office.
He served eight years in the U.S. Air Force, where he rose to the rank of captain. He also worked at Butler University and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
There's also a potential lobbying violation
Former state Sen. Allen Paul received more than $150,000 as a contract IDVA employee. The secretive deal may have violated Indiana lobbying laws and it's unclear how much work Paul completed.
And even more fallout
IDVA terminated Paul's contract Monday, soon after IndyStar began asking questions about it.
Call IndyStar reporter Chris Sikich at 317-444-6036. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisSikich.
Contact IndyStar reporter Tony Cook at 317-444-6081 or tony.cook@indystar.com. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter: @IndyStarTony.