Shinseki To Take Part In "Fiscal Responsibility" Summit. On its "44" blog, the Washington Post (2/21, Connolly, Montgomery) reported, "President Obama and Vice President Biden plan to convene a White House 'fiscal responsibility' summit Monday afternoon to launch a national conversation on how to put the nation on sounder financial footing." The "three-hour, high-level gabfest, which will be open to press, begins in the State Dining Room with remarks by Obama and Biden. Participants will then be divided into five breakout sessions, before a wrap-up by the president." The Post said Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and "White House domestic policy adviser Melody Barnes...will handle" the breakout session on healthcare.
Impact: VA Budget

VA Said To Be Waiting For GPO To Release Portraits Of Obama, Shinseki. The second story in the Grand Junction (CO) Free Press' (2/23) "Briefly News" column reports, "According to Paul Sweeney over" at Veterans Affairs, "he's fielded several complaints from patients and visitors because President Obama's picture is not hanging in the VA's lobby yet. So here's what" DC "is saying: The Government Printing Office has not yet released the official portrait of the president." The "current expectation is that the president's and the new Veterans Affairs secretary's portraits will be mailed sometime in March."veterans."
Impact: Official Photos

Iraq Vet Part Of "New Breed" Of VA Counselors. The Hartford (CT) Courant (2/23, Buck) profiles 37-year-old Iraq veteran Jay White, a "member of a new breed of counselors hired" by the US Department of Veterans Affairs "in an attempt to avoid the Vietnam-era mistake of ignoring" post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) "and other readjustment problems experienced by soldiers returning from war zones." White, "an outreach counselor at the Hartford Vet Center," was "hired in 2004, one of about 50 counselors recruited because they had served in Iraq. In addition to counseling sessions, White has inspired the formation of a unique group of veterans. These men tour the state addressing police departments, college administrators and social service agencies on the hazards" of PTSD, "and what can happen when society fails to recognize the symptoms of soldiers returning from combat with hair-trigger emotions and an inability to cope with the everyday challenges of civilian life." UPI (2/23) publishes a similar story.
Impact: VA employees, Mental Health