Ex-TSA nominee Harding got Army deal after claiming sleep apnea as disability

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Washington Post

Ex-TSA nominee Harding got Army deal after claiming sleep apnea as disability
By Robert O'Harrow Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, March 27, 2010; 3:40 PM

The decorated general who withrew his nomination to lead the Transportation Security Administration had received a consulting contract worth almost $100 million from the Army after certifying he was a "service disabled veteran," according to documents and interviews with government officials.

The disability he claimed was sleep apnea, a sometimes chronic breathing disorder that disrupts sleep.

Army Maj. Gen. Robert A. Harding, who became a federal contractor in 2001 after serving at the highest levels of military intelligence, withdrew his name late Friday at the end of a week in which he had been repeatedly questioned about his contracting activities. His withdrawal also came after The Washington Post raised questions with the White House on Friday about his disabilities status.

It was not clear what effect the questions about his disabilities had on Harding's decision to withdraw. The White House declined to comment about the $100 million contract, awarded in July 2008, or about Harding's disability, including its cause, diagnosis or impact on his work.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/27/AR2010032701951.html?nav=rss_email/components

[Judi Lynn]

1. Second Nominee For TSA Chief Backs Out

Second Nominee For TSA Chief Backs Out
March 27, 2010 8:54 a.m. EST

Windsor Genova - AHN News News Writer

Washington, DC, United States (AHN) - Retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert A. Harding withdrew his nomination to be head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Friday, saying the distraction from his past work as a defense contractor would be detrimental to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Harding’s withdrawal follows his admission in Wednesday’s confirmation hearing that his company overbilled the government in 2004, according to the White House.

His Harding Security Associates (HSA), which he sold last year, signed that year a contract with the Defense Department to provide 40 interrogators and debriefers for the conflict in Iraq. The contract was cancelled four months later, prompting HSA to seek severance pay for its workers.

In the hearing, Sen. Susan Collins, (R-ME), said the government settled the contract dispute with HSA for $6 million but $2.4 million of the amount was questionable. The HSA eventually returned $1.8 million to the government.

More:
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7018231117

[lazarus]

2. sleep apnea is a disability?

funny, I had surgery to correct 80% of mine, and wear a CPAP for the rest. No disability for that for me.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Its treated as such my the military at all levels. It was not a special consideration based on his

rank or position

[Duckhunter935]

4. Yes

That allows the VA to treat this and supply the CPAP machines. I have mild case of it but never claimed it for the VA.

[lazarus]

5. ah, okay

Thanks for the clarification. I'm on Social Security disability, so that's the framework I use when I hear "disability".

[jorgebob28]

8. Individual Results May Vary

I have a really bad case of sleep apnea. My doctor advised against surgery as he thought the best it would do is give me a 10% improvement. Exercise helps, but for some people, it's the way they are built. You just have to live with it. We should all be careful passing judgement on others' ailments without any real knowledge of the case.

[truthisfreedom]

6. I was tested for sleep apnea last fall and was diagnosed with it... but it's gone now. How?

It was easy.

I lost 45 lbs.

My chiropractor looked at me and told me I had too much fat in my neck. She said she saw it all the time.

I dropped from 205 to 160, got a personal trainer who I see twice a week, and I'm turning 50 in June.

Anybody who is overweight and has developed apnea should think about losing some. I did it by simply cutting out all sugar (no soft drinks, no tonic with booze, no candy) and cutting my portions in half, changing lunch to fruit having a light veggie/fruit/nut snack as my last meal of the day, and completely cutting out late-night meals.

[Alcibiades]

7. Some folks have it for other reasons

I've had it since I was a teenager and weighed 165. I have lost 30 pounds since beginning the CPAP, but weight gain can be a side effect, as well as a cause, of apnea.