Members of the Bush Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs raised their eyebrows in quiet support of their actions.

The reduction decision announced today, came after a internal review of cost-cutting measures, said our source in the VISN Network staff. The initial report concluded the VISN would save $357 million dollars by eliminating services at the Canandaigua facility and eliminating the current workforce.

We thought why stop there? Recently a local review of the impact of closing the Canandaigua VA showed that the counties surrounding the facility could expect a ripple effect through the community which would eliminate another two jobs for every job lost at the VA.

We believe in providing services to the veteran in the most cost-effective manner. So by extending the job cuts into the private sector we can achieve even bigger savings throughout the Finger Lakes Region.

VISN 2 plans to achieve the 100% internal reduction through layoffs, attrition and early retirements. To achieve the additional 200% in external reductions, the company plan to involuntarily downsize an additional 1600 non-VA employee who presently work in the local communities.

Among the businesses that VISN 2 has picked as “External Reduction Targets” are Wegman’s, Wal-Mart, Canandaigua National Bank and even Taco Bell to name but a few. VISN 2 ‘s Plan presents a win-win for the network and those businesses affected Any savings the businesses have would be a savings to the owners, that coupled with the decreased need for keeping available stock on hand would translate to twice the expected savings.

“We are hoping that, since we have over the years been really helpful to this community that, they’ll do this for us, as kind of a favor,” said our source in the network.

“This is ridiculous. I don’t even work for the government. They can’t fire me,” said a local checkout girl for Chase Pitkin.

“Reactions like that, replied the Network spokesperson are not Creating a Winning and Inclusive Culture.”

Inspiration for the VISN plan came from the many previous cutback initiatives at Canandaigua. Starting back in 1996 for instance the company announced it would trim 487 jobs in two years. However two years later fewer that 50 jobs had been cut. We were surprised at the number of employees that were willing to leave the facility in such a hurry without even being asked to go. We decided to build on that success.

Analysts credited the VISN’s short term vision, noting that the announcement had the desired effect in Washington increasing the value of the networks staff. However the long term ramifications for the local veteran could jeopardize the available healthcare in the area.

Network staffers were quick to allay those fears; Healthcare will go on uninterrupted by providing services through “privatization”. Through a shift of services to the private section our partners will be able to bill Medicare, Medicaid and the Veterans Administration shifting cost away from the network and the government.