News - Jan. 09

News items of interest to Veterans and DFlers from a variety of sources.

• Q&A for Gen. Shinseki
• VA Watchdog: CBO Report
• NPR: Army Recruiter Suicides
• VA Watchdog: Rep. Buyer's Change of Heart?

Q&A for Gen. Shinseki Saturday, January 17, 2009, 10:05 PM                     General Shinseki nomination The U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held General Eric Shinseki's nomination hearing on Wednesday, January 14, for United States Veterans Affairs Secretary.  The documents below are question and answer sheets from the members of the US Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and the responses from General Shinseki.     * Senator Akaka     * Senator Burr     * Senator Isakson     * Senator Murray     * Senator Sanders US Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and General Shinseki - Questions and Answers

VA Watchdog: CBO Report 2 January, 2009 CBO BUDGET OPTIONS REPORT: HAVE MORE VETERANS PAY FOR VA HEALTHCARE Congressional Budget Office targets Group 5 vets who now use one-third of VA healthcare resources. CBO BUDGET OPTIONS REPORT: HAVE MORE VETERANS PAY FOR VA HEALTHCARE

NPR: Army Recruiter Suicides 2 January, 2009 The Army is investigating a cluster of suicides in the Houston Recruiting Battalion, where five soldiers have taken their own lives since 2001. Nationally, 17 recruiters have committed suicide during the same period. NPR: Army Recruiter Suicides Prompt Investigations

VA Watchdog: Rep. Buyer's Change of Heart? 31 December, 2008 CHANGE OF HEART?: BUYER WANTS STIMULUS MONEY TO COVER VA BUDGET SHORTFALL -- Instead of helping pass an adequate VA budget, Rep. Steve Buyer suddenly becomes a friend of veterans and seeks stimulus package money for the agency. Rep. Buyer's Change of Heart