March 19, 2009
Highlights from VA News Briefing for March 19,
2009
Fox News Channel's Fox Report With Shepard Smith (3/18, 7:23 p.m. ET) broadcast, "The proposal was intended to save more than $500 million a year" for the VA, but veterans groups "were among those outraged by the idea, saying it would break faith with wounded troops and use up the vets' benefits."
On Fox News' O'Reilly Factor (3/18, Ingraham) Fox News Washington Managing Editor Bill Sammon said Obama's plan "has to rank right up there near the top" of "all the dumb political ideas." It "was an insane idea." Sammon went on to say that "there's growing evidence that there's a bit of a political tin ear...in the Obama White House." Numerous local TV stations in various parts of the country, including WTVD-TV Raleigh, NC (3/18, 11:05 p.m. ET), KRBC-TV Abilene, TX (3/18, 6:00 p.m. CT), and KAPP-TV Yakima, WA (3/18, 5:01 p.m. PT), also noted that private insurers will not be billed for combat or service-related injuries.
Meanwhile, in a story headlined "White House Caves On Veterans Plan, But What Was It Thinking?", McClatchy (3/19, Goldstein) says, "What was most puzzling to experienced activists and others was that the White House floated" the private insurance "idea in the first place. Several said that the administration came off as politically tone deaf to the importance of the issue." McClatchy adds, "The VA has had little to say about the plan. The only comments came a week ago when, under questioning before" the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Shinseki "said that the plan was 'a consideration.'"
The AP (3/19) reports, "Presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs said the idea was on the table as the administration sought 'to maximize the resources available for veterans.'" But veterans groups "complained that the proposal would reverse government policy of taking responsibility for caring for the war wounded and said it could cause difficulties for veterans in getting future insurance or even jobs. Members of Congress leapt in to join the criticism." Gibbs, however, "has noted that the administration is seeking an 11 percent increase in discretionary funds for the VA for this year."
The Politico (3/19, Dimascio) notes Gibbs "issued a statement confirming the reversal, saying the president had listened closely to the veterans' concerns and ordered the proposal 'dropped.' Now, Gibbs said, the president was eager to 'continue a constructive partnership'" with the veterans groups "as they work through other budget issues."
The New York Times (3/19, A19, Pear) reports Gibbs "said Mr. Obama had heeded the concerns of veterans' organizations that feared the proposal could make it more difficult for some of their members to obtain care." In turn, veterans "groups thanked the president." The Times adds that Shinseki, "said Mr. Obama was requesting $113 billion for the department in 2010, an increase of 16 percent over this year's amount."
Impact: VA Budget, Private Insurance Proposal
Impact: VA/DoD partnership
McClatchy (3/19, Youssef) reports during the announcement Gates said, "I felt particularly in these numbers that it was breaking faith. To hold them against their will is just not the right thing to do." Gates also indicated that "he expected the Defense Department to determine how to allow family members to view fallen soldiers returning to Dover Air Base, and if the families allow, to invite the news media to photograph their return." He also revealed that he had "recommended to President Barack Obama that he renew the terms of Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Marine Gen. James Cartwright, the vice chief of staff of the Army."
The New York Times (3/19, A20, Shanker, 1.12M) reports Gates indicated the Army was "able to take the step now because of plans to reduce troop levels in Iraq more quickly than they are increased in Afghanistan and because of an enlargement that has increased the size of the active-duty Army to more than 547,000 troops, a level it had not been projected to reach until 2012." Jon Soltz, an Iraq war veteran and chairman of VoteVets.org, was pleased with Gates announcement and said, "If we had to point to one policy that has placed the most strain on our troops and their families, and adversely affected the morale and readiness of our forces, it would be stop-loss."
The Washington Post (3/19, A2, Tyson, 696K) reports Gates indicated that the changes in policy "'do carry some risk,' and that the Army retains the authority to use stop-loss under 'extraordinary' circumstances. But he said that should happen only in an 'emergency situation where we absolutely had to have somebody's skills for a specific, limited period of time.' Such decisions would be made by the secretary of the Army."
Impact: DoD Stop Loss, Enrollment
In a related story, CQ's (3/19) "Today at a Glance" column notes that at 1p.m. in 340 Cannon, the House Veterans Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee is scheduled to mark up "legislation on job security (HR 466), job training (HR 1088), employment rights (HR 1089)," HR 1171, and scholarships HR 228. Meanwhile, at 10 a.m. in 332 Cannon, the House Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee is scheduled to mark up HR 1377.
Impact: VA Congressional Issues
Following Criticism, Administration Drops Plan To Bill Vets' Private Insurers.
In continuing coverage, NBC Nightly News (3/18, story 7, 2:05, Gregory) broadcast, "A White House plan" to bill veterans' private insurance for war or service-related injuries "came under intense fire" Wednesday "in Washington and in American Legion halls across the country." Veteran "sources tell NBC News even the new head" of the Department of Veterans Affairs, General Eric Shinseki, "was strongly opposed. And late today, faced with another political firestorm, the White House put out this statement, saying the President had retreated and dropped the proposal."Fox News Channel's Fox Report With Shepard Smith (3/18, 7:23 p.m. ET) broadcast, "The proposal was intended to save more than $500 million a year" for the VA, but veterans groups "were among those outraged by the idea, saying it would break faith with wounded troops and use up the vets' benefits."
On Fox News' O'Reilly Factor (3/18, Ingraham) Fox News Washington Managing Editor Bill Sammon said Obama's plan "has to rank right up there near the top" of "all the dumb political ideas." It "was an insane idea." Sammon went on to say that "there's growing evidence that there's a bit of a political tin ear...in the Obama White House." Numerous local TV stations in various parts of the country, including WTVD-TV Raleigh, NC (3/18, 11:05 p.m. ET), KRBC-TV Abilene, TX (3/18, 6:00 p.m. CT), and KAPP-TV Yakima, WA (3/18, 5:01 p.m. PT), also noted that private insurers will not be billed for combat or service-related injuries.
Meanwhile, in a story headlined "White House Caves On Veterans Plan, But What Was It Thinking?", McClatchy (3/19, Goldstein) says, "What was most puzzling to experienced activists and others was that the White House floated" the private insurance "idea in the first place. Several said that the administration came off as politically tone deaf to the importance of the issue." McClatchy adds, "The VA has had little to say about the plan. The only comments came a week ago when, under questioning before" the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Shinseki "said that the plan was 'a consideration.'"
The AP (3/19) reports, "Presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs said the idea was on the table as the administration sought 'to maximize the resources available for veterans.'" But veterans groups "complained that the proposal would reverse government policy of taking responsibility for caring for the war wounded and said it could cause difficulties for veterans in getting future insurance or even jobs. Members of Congress leapt in to join the criticism." Gibbs, however, "has noted that the administration is seeking an 11 percent increase in discretionary funds for the VA for this year."
The Politico (3/19, Dimascio) notes Gibbs "issued a statement confirming the reversal, saying the president had listened closely to the veterans' concerns and ordered the proposal 'dropped.' Now, Gibbs said, the president was eager to 'continue a constructive partnership'" with the veterans groups "as they work through other budget issues."
The New York Times (3/19, A19, Pear) reports Gibbs "said Mr. Obama had heeded the concerns of veterans' organizations that feared the proposal could make it more difficult for some of their members to obtain care." In turn, veterans "groups thanked the president." The Times adds that Shinseki, "said Mr. Obama was requesting $113 billion for the department in 2010, an increase of 16 percent over this year's amount."
Impact: VA Budget, Private Insurance Proposal
VA, DOD Criticized For Lack Of Progress On Vision Rehab Program.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (3/18, Daniels) reported, "A federal program designed to rehabilitate veterans blinded in combat is stuck in the starting gate. Federal officials in charge" of the "Vision Centers of Excellence" program, "pushed in Congress" by US Rep. John Boozman (R-AR), "have spent only a tiny fraction of the money available to them." During a "Tuesday hearing before the House Veterans' Affairs Oversight and Investigations subcommittee, members chastised officials from the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, who jointly run the program, for dragging their feet." Before "the panel of four defense and Veterans Affairs officials testified," investigators "heard from three veterans fully or partly blinded by injuries in Iraq or Afghanistan. Each testified that a lack of communication between the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs caused delays in treatment that led to a deterioration of their eyesight."Impact: VA/DoD partnership
Gates Announces Phase Out Of Stop Loss Policy.
USA Today (3/19, Brook, Zoroya, 2.28M) reports Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced the US Army "will phase out its controversial practice of forcing soldiers to remain on active duty past the end of their enlistment periods starting this summer and hopes to finish by March 2011." Gates indicated that "the withdrawal of troops from Iraq announced by President Obama and the increased size of the Army in recent years will help reduce the number of soldiers affected to 'scores not thousands.'" It was revealed that the "Army Reserve and Guard units plan to cease deploying soldiers affected by stop loss by August and September and the active duty will do it by January." Soldiers will also start receiving "the extra $500 a month in bonus pay Congress approved last year," and will "receive retroactive pay for the months they missed," according to Lt. Gen. Michael Rochelle, deputy chief of staff for Army personnel. Representative John Murtha said in a statement, "I have said repeatedly that stop loss is little more than a backdoor draft, disrupting the lives of our service members and their families."McClatchy (3/19, Youssef) reports during the announcement Gates said, "I felt particularly in these numbers that it was breaking faith. To hold them against their will is just not the right thing to do." Gates also indicated that "he expected the Defense Department to determine how to allow family members to view fallen soldiers returning to Dover Air Base, and if the families allow, to invite the news media to photograph their return." He also revealed that he had "recommended to President Barack Obama that he renew the terms of Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Marine Gen. James Cartwright, the vice chief of staff of the Army."
The New York Times (3/19, A20, Shanker, 1.12M) reports Gates indicated the Army was "able to take the step now because of plans to reduce troop levels in Iraq more quickly than they are increased in Afghanistan and because of an enlargement that has increased the size of the active-duty Army to more than 547,000 troops, a level it had not been projected to reach until 2012." Jon Soltz, an Iraq war veteran and chairman of VoteVets.org, was pleased with Gates announcement and said, "If we had to point to one policy that has placed the most strain on our troops and their families, and adversely affected the morale and readiness of our forces, it would be stop-loss."
The Washington Post (3/19, A2, Tyson, 696K) reports Gates indicated that the changes in policy "'do carry some risk,' and that the Army retains the authority to use stop-loss under 'extraordinary' circumstances. But he said that should happen only in an 'emergency situation where we absolutely had to have somebody's skills for a specific, limited period of time.' Such decisions would be made by the secretary of the Army."
Impact: DoD Stop Loss, Enrollment
Subcommittees Expected To Mark Up Several Veterans-Related Bills.
CQ (3/19, Johnson) reports a pair of House Veterans Affairs subcommittees "are expected to mark up several veterans' health care and welfare bills Thursday. The Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee will mark up a bill (HR 1377) that would expand veterans' eligibility to be reimbursed for care they receive in non-Veterans Affairs Department emergency rooms." The Veterans Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee "will meet later to mark up five additional measures," including a "bill (HR 1171) that would reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program." Another of the bills, HR 228, "would establish a scholarship" aimed at increasing "the number of blind rehabilitation specialists who serve at VA hospitals."In a related story, CQ's (3/19) "Today at a Glance" column notes that at 1p.m. in 340 Cannon, the House Veterans Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee is scheduled to mark up "legislation on job security (HR 466), job training (HR 1088), employment rights (HR 1089)," HR 1171, and scholarships HR 228. Meanwhile, at 10 a.m. in 332 Cannon, the House Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee is scheduled to mark up HR 1377.
Impact: VA Congressional Issues