Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country 3-17-09

1. During Speech At VA, Obama Stresses Need To Support Iraq Vets.  
2. Obama Submits Duckworth’s Nomination To US Senate.
3. Obama Budgets For Competing Medical Treatment Studies.  
4. Veterans’ Court Begins Operating In California.
5. Public Invited To Participate In VA Food Drive.  
6. Viewers Urged To Be Wary Of Some Pills.  
7. HHS Awards Research Grant To VAICHCS.  
8. Judge Refuses To Dismiss Vet’s Fraud Charges.  
9. Future Defense Budgets Seen As Being More Modest.  
10. Judge Refuses To Dismiss Vet’s Fraud Charges.

1.      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."
          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."
           Shinseki Pledges His Commitment To Vets.   In her "War Zone" blog for the New York Daily News (3/16), Stephanie Gaskell published an "open letter to veterans from newly appointed" VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, who wrote, "I am fully committed to fulfilling President Obama’s vision for transforming our department so that it will be well-positioned" to do an "even better" job for veterans "during the 21st Century. We welcome the assistance and advice of our Veterans Service Organizations, other government departments and agencies, Congress, and all VA stakeholders as we move forward, ethically and transparently, so that veterans and citizens can understand our efforts."

2.      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."

3.      Obama Budgets For Competing Medical Treatment Studies.   The Washington Post (3/17, A2, Connolly) reports President Barack Obama "has dedicated $1.1 billion in the economic stimulus package for federal agencies to oversee studies on the merits of competing medical treatments." The "idea of determining which treatment works best — and steering patients toward it — has been employed for years by…the Veterans Health Administration and many private health plans." Industry officials "say they welcome the scientific reviews, but they are less enthusiastic about programs in Europe" and at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) "that link quality and cost. ‘Used incorrectly, it allows government payers to literally ban and keep medicines from patients who need them,’" said "W. J. ‘Billy’ Tauzin, president of the trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America," who "noted that many veterans have purchased Medicare drug coverage because of the restrictions in the VHA plan."

4.       Veterans’ Court Begins Operating In California.   In continuing coverage, the Riverside (CA) Press-Enterprise (3/17, Ghori) reports US military veterans "facing criminal charges in San Bernardino County Superior Court can seek alternatives to jail through a new Veterans’ Court." The court, which "enrolls veterans facing criminal charges related to drug or alcohol abuse or psychological problems in state and federal programs offered to veterans," held "its first session Friday morning." All "participants will be required to take part in a program" at the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Affairs Medical Center "in Loma Linda that includes treatment for alcohol abuse, psychological counseling and job training. Other programs offered include residential treatment, help with housing and individual and group counseling."

5.      Public Invited To Participate In VA Food Drive.   The Salisbury (NC) Post (3/17, Chaffin) reports, "The community is invited to join employees" of the Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center "in their fourth annual food drive in celebration of National Nutrition Month. Started by the Hefner VA’s Nutrition and Food Services, the drive collects canned food and non-perishable goods for homeless veterans and others in the community in need." The "Charlotte, Hickory and Winston-Salem VA clinics are also participating in the food drive."

6.      Viewers Urged To Be Wary Of Some Pills.   On its website, WTMJ-TV Milwaukee, WI (3/17, Gerrish) reported, "It seems like there’s a pill for everything these days-including" a "’smart drug’" called Piracetam. WTMJ added, "We spoke to neurologist Piero Antuono," who works for a Veterans Affairs hospital. Dr. Antuono "says there’s no such thing as a ‘miracle’ brain drug," although he "admits there are some compounds like fish oils and Ginkgo biloba, which could give folks a temporary brain boost." Instead "of popping pills, Dr. Antuono suggests keeping it natural: Read a book, eat foods rich in anti-oxidants like leafy greens, and cut down on your stress."

7.      HHS Awards Research Grant To VAICHCS.   The Iowa City Press-Citizen (3/17) reports the US Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the Veterans Affairs Iowa City Health Care System "a $150,000 grant, Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, announced Monday." The money "will help fund a new research program that will study viral replication and injury that results from the Hepatitis C virus infection, a news release said. It will provide funding for project director Warren Schmidt, University of Iowa research scientist Zhaowen Xhu, technical assistance and at least one student research, the release said."

8.      Judge Refuses To Dismiss Vet’s Fraud Charges.   The Spokane (WA) Spokesman-Review (3/15, Morlin) reported, "A federal judge refused Friday to dismiss charges against" 58-year-old veteran James M. Sebero, "who is accused of pretending to be paralyzed and successfully collecting $1.5 million in monthly payments" from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The judge "ordered separate trials for…Sebero, who is charged" in Washington and Idaho "with federal crimes related to the alleged fraud." Sebero "is scheduled to stand trial in Spokane on April 6 on three counts of making false statements on documents he filled out to begin receiving VA disability payments. The judge set June 15 as the date for Sebero’s second trial, on 55 counts of wire fraud contained in an indictment returned last August by a federal grand jury in Idaho."

9.      Future Defense Budgets Seen As Being More Modest.   CQ Weekly (3/17, Broder, Donnelly, Johnson) reported, "Probably not this year, but at least by the next one, the Defense Department will have to start making do with less. Eight years of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, and six years of ever-larger emergency war budgets, will begin to give way to more modest defense budgets" as the US "climbs out of a credit crisis and a deep and worldwide recession." CQ adds, "With the United States boasting the largest all-volunteer military in its history, the cost of caring for veterans will be substantial in the coming decades." This "has not been lost in the White House." In "his first budget proposal," President Barack Obama "asked Congress to appropriate $55.9 billion in discretionary spending for the Veterans Affairs Department in fiscal 2010," according to a White House summary which "also indicates that Obama will seek a $25 billion increase for the VA over the next five fiscal years."

10.    Judge Refuses To Dismiss Vet’s Fraud Charges.   The Spokane (WA) Spokesman-Review (3/15, Morlin) reported, "A federal judge refused Friday to dismiss charges against" 58-year-old veteran James M. Sebero, "who is accused of pretending to be paralyzed and successfully collecting $1.5 million in monthly payments" from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. The judge "ordered separate trials for…Sebero, who is charged" in Washington and Idaho "with federal crimes related to the alleged fraud." Sebero "is scheduled to stand trial in Spokane on April 6 on three counts of making false statements on documents he filled out to begin receiving VA disability payments. The judge set June 15 as the date for Sebero’s second trial, on 55 counts of wire fraud contained in an indictment returned last August by a federal grand jury in Idaho."