Budget Delays Said To Be Hurting VA Hospitals In State Of Washington.  KIRO-TV Seattle, WA (10/7, 6:19 p.m. PT) broadcast, "Delayed budget talks in our nation's capital are putting the squeeze" on Veterans Affairs medical centers "here in western Washington. Congressional sources blame the delay, in part, on the hotly contested battle over healthcare reform. The House and Senate have yet to reach an agreement on the new VA budget. Meantime," the VA "says it'll lose a million dollars a month as long as the delay lasts." KIRO noted that the agency also "says it will have to delay hiring until a new budget is approved, and they warn this all comes as the number of vets continues to dramatically increase."
Impact: VA Budget

Organizations In Several States To Receive Homeless Vets Assistance Funds.  In continuing coverage, the Aurora (CO) Sentinel (10/8) reports, "Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki announced that the Aurora Comprehensive Community Mental Health Center will be one of a wide group of national organizations to receive about $17 million to fund about 1,155 beds for homeless veterans. The Aurora Comprehensive Community Mental Health Center will receive about $46,000 in grant funds awarded" by the US VA "to create housing and support services for veterans across the country. Local lawmakers praised the Aurora facility's recognition by the VA." The Sentinel notes that in a statement, US Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) said, "Providing more veterans with shelter this winter is another step in fulfilling our promise to those who bravely sacrificed for our nation."
      The Eugene (OR) Register-Guard (10/8) notes that as "part of more than $17 million in grants to community groups in 19 states to create 1,155 beds for homeless veterans this year," the US VA "has awarded a $506,527 grant to Sponsors Inc., the Eugene nonprofit agency that serves ex-offenders, to pay for 10 beds to serve homeless veterans." Sponsors, the only grant "recipient in Oregon," broke ground "last spring...on a new $5.5 million facility on Highway 99 that will house approximately 72 men and include a warehouse to store donations, food and sundry goods."
Impact: Homeless Vet funding
Vets Warned About Phone Scam.  In continuing coverage, the second item from the "Shaft Notes" section of the syndicated "Sgt. Shaft" column, appearing in the Washington Times (10/8, Fales), notes that officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs are "warning veterans not to give credit card numbers over the phone to callers claiming to be updating VA prescription information." The column quotes acting VA Undersecretary Gerald Cross, who called the scam "inexcusable."

Impact: Phone scam