During Speech At VA, Obama Stresses Need To Support Iraq Vets. The AP (3/17) reports, "President Barack Obama says the homecoming" for US troops returning from Iraq will be a "'true test' of the nation's commitment to its veterans," who he "says...will need support for the physical, mental and economic challenges they will face once they are home." Obama made his comments at the Department of Veterans Affairs "on the 20th anniversary of the decision to elevate" the VA "to Cabinet status."
VA Employees Excited To See President. In a story headlined "President's Visits Buoy Federal Employees," the Washington Post (3/17, A6, Rucker) says Obama's visit to the VA's "Vermont Avenue headquarters rallied many of the 280,000 workers at an agency bearing the brunt of two long, ongoing wars. Hundreds of workers filled a basement cafeteria to hear him," alongside VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki, as he "marked the 20th anniversary" of the VA's "elevation to Cabinet-level status by reaffirming the country's commitment to veterans and calling for an expansion of services as troops begin returning from the Iraq war."
In his "Federal Eye" blog for the Washington Post (3/16), Ed O'Keefe added that with Shinseki "by his side, Obama touted his administration's plans to serve an additional 500,000 veterans by 2013 by expanding access to VA health care facilities and providing additional care for mental health and injuries, 'to ease the transition from active duty.'"
On its website, CNN (3/16) reported, "Flanked by...Shinseki," Obama "promised that the VA would 'dramatically improve services' related to mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, and he said homeless veterans would be targeted for support."
Obama Expresses Confidence In Shinseki. The Air Force Times (3/17, Maze) reports that during his appearance at the VA, Obama "expressed confidence" in Shinseki's ability "to fix much of what ails the agency."
In TV coverage, Fox News Channel (3/16, 2:29 p.m. ET) and MSNBC (3/16, 2:21 p.m. ET) both noted Obama's visit to the VA, as did WWLP-TV Springfield, MA (3/16, 11:24 p.m. ET), WBRE-TV Wilkes Barre, PA (3/16, 11:19 p.m. ET), KSNT-TV Topeka, KS (3/16, 10:19 p.m. CT), KTVU-TV San Francisco, CA (3/16, 5:35 p.m. PT), and KTVB-TV Boise, ID (3/16, 12:09 p.m. MT).
Private Insurance Plan Said To Still Be Under Consideration. McClatchy (3/17) notes that "in a White House meeting Monday, veterans groups apparently failed to persuade President Obama to take" the private insurance "plan off the table. 'Veterans of all generations agree that this proposal is bad for the country and bad for veterans,' said Paul Rieckhoff," executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). The President spoke Monday at the VA "to commemorate its 20th anniversary and said he hopes to increase funding by $25 billion over the next five years. But he said nothing about the plan to bill private insurers for service-related medical care." Reaction "on Capitol Hill to the idea has been swift and harsh. 'Dead on arrival' is how Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington described the idea" last week during a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing last week. At that hearing, Shinseki told the committee that "a final decision hasn't been made yet" on the private insurance idea.
In his syndicated "Military Update" column, appearing in the Hampton Roads (VA) Daily Press (3/17) Tom Philpott says Obama "is drawing praise from veterans service groups for proposing" a VA budget "that would exceed by $1.3 billion what even the groups suggested be spent next year." But "a new - and unpopular - proposal" to bill private insurers for service-related medical care "created uncomfortable moments for...Shinseki on March 10," when he "made separate appearances before the House and Senate veterans affairs committees." Philpott notes that the American Legion "and 10 other veterans groups" have "sent a joint letter to Obama, criticizing the idea."
Veterans Group Leaders Speak Out Against Private Insurance Proposal. Rieckhoff also commented on the private insurance idea during an appearance on MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show (3/16, 9:48 p.m. ET), when he said his organization has been "joined by 11 other leading veterans organizations," who all oppose the idea. Rieckhoff added, "We feel this is a bad policy that hurts veterans," hurts "the VA, and I think ultimately is going to hurt the President's relationship with...veterans."
KXLY-TV Spokane, WA (3/16, 6:40 p.m. PT) broadcast that David Rehbein, the "leader of the nation's largest veterans group," said Monday that he is "disappointed and concerned" with the private insurance idea. The KAUZ-TV Wichita Falls, TX (3/16) website published a similar story.
Impact: VA Budget, Private Insurance Proposal

Shinseki Releases Open Letter To Veterans. The Navy Times (3/13, Maze) reports Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki "released an unusual open letter to all veterans Friday, saying he is committed to transforming his department into a 21st-century organization in which 'veterans are central to everything VA does.' Issued after two weeks of controversy swirling around VA for problems both inherited and caused by some preliminary decisions within the Obama administration, the letter is an unusual step. VA officials said that other than annual Veterans Day messages, they are unaware of any other such letter to veterans sent by a VA secretary for at least a decade, and probably longer. VA spokesman Phil Budahn said it would be wrong to read too much into the message. 'It is what it is,' Budahn said. 'He wanted to send a message to veterans that introduces him and lays out his priorities.' Veterans organizations - who so far appear to like Shinseki - seemed pleased. Joe Davis, public affairs director for Veterans of Foreign Wars, the nation's largest group for combat veterans, said VA 'is in the service industry, and its leader is communicating in simple language that his customers are his No. 1 priority and the reason his department exists.' 'Secretary Shinseki is one of us, and we look forward to working with him to ensure that VA fulfills a grateful nation's promise to her veterans,' Davis said." The Times notes that Shinseki "is a disabled veteran - twice wounded in Vietnam - who served a full career in the military, rising to Army chief of staff. In his letter, he says he views his new job as an 'opportunity to give back to those who served with and for me during my 38 years in uniform and those on whose shoulders we all stood as we grew up in the profession of arms.'"
Impact: From the Secretary

Obama Submits Duckworth's Nomination To US Senate. In continuing coverage, USA Today /AP (3/17) reports, "President Barack Obama has submitted Tammy Duckworth's nomination for a Veterans Affairs post" to the US Senate. Obama "announced the submission Monday. Duckworth has served as director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs since 2006. As assistant secretary of public and intergovernmental affairs at the VA," Duckworth's "duties would include directing the department's public affairs operations, as well as programs for homeless veterans. Duckworth was a major in the Illinois National Guard and served as a helicopter pilot in Iraq."
Impact: VA Appointees