NEWS BRIEFING

PREPARED FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE OF PUBLIC AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS – WWW.BULLETINNEWS.COM/VA

TO: THE SECRETARY AND SENIOR STAFF

DATE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2013 5:30 AM EST

TODAY’S EDITION

Editor’s Note................................................................................... 3

The Secretary In The News Department Of Veterans Affairs Grants Burial Rights For Same-

Sex Oregon Couple. ............................................................. 3 Casey Wants VA Assurances For Public After Legionnaires’

Cases. ................................................................................... 3 Shimkus Asks Secretary To Visit Danville VA Campus. ............... 3 Veterans Need Government’s Help At Home. .............................. 4

Iraq/Afghanistan Vets Wife Praises Medal Of Honor Winner. .......................................... 4 Veterans: Todd Love And His New Home. ................................... 4 Gary Sinise Plans 12 Smart Homes For Disabled Veterans. ....... 4 Beneficiaries Claim VA’s Processing Of GI Bill Benefits Still

Lackluster.............................................................................. 4

Veterans Employment Postal Union Millions To Democrats Roils Saturday Cuts. ........... 4 Veteran-Based Job Fair Set For Rio Rancho. .............................. 5 Col. Oliver North Encourages Veterans At World Ag Expo. ......... 5

Women Veterans 1 In 5 Women Experience Military Sexual Trauma. ...................... 5

Vets of other Eras Last WWII Veteran In Senate Will Not Seek A New Term. .......... 5 Alexandria Man, 94, Who Was Found Dead In His Home Is

Identified. .............................................................................. 5

Mental Health VA Denies Punishing Whistleblowing Psychologist. ..................... 5 PTSD Vets Get Special Valentines From Youngstown Kids. ....... 5 Miles City Native Tapped To Lead VA Montana. .......................... 6 Miller: Budget Increases Aren’t Improving VA Mental Health

Services. ............................................................................... 6 PTSD Risk Linked To Genetics. .................................................... 6 Depression May Lower Response To Shingles Vax. .................... 6 VA BHHCS Welcomes New Suicide Prevention Coordinator. ..... 6

Healthcare (Local) MO Motel Death Suspect Convicted In Similar Case. .................. 6 Work Of Art. ................................................................................... 6 Applications Available For Veterans Creative Arts Fest. .............. 7 Students Send Valentines To Veterans. ....................................... 7

Bellerose Students Warm Vets Hearts. ......................................... 7 Wildcats Visit VA Medical Center. ................................................. 7

Disability Pay As VA Struggles, Delays And Errors Greet Returning Warriors. .. 7 SEAL Who Killed Bin Laden Met With Lawmakers To Talk

Veteran Care. ....................................................................... 7 VFW Helping Veterans Collect VA Benefits. ................................. 8 Making America’s Heroes Wait: Claims Backlog Grows Despite

Parade Of VA “Solutions.” .................................................... 8

VA News VA Academy Not Coming To Palm Coast. ................................... 8 VA Stand Downs To Provide Free Services To Veterans In

Pablo, Plains, Missoula. ....................................................... 8

State VA News Schmitt Enlists State Help On Homeless Issues. ......................... 9

News of Interest Charred Remains Positively Identified As Dorner’s. ..................... 9 New High-Tech Warfare Medal Draws Backlash. ......................... 9

Congressional VA News Bill Lowers Burden Of Proof For Military Sexual Assault Victims

To Get VA Disability. ............................................................ 9

Editorial Roundup Lone Wolf Fights His Party’s Effort To Extend Freeze On Pay

Of Federal Workers. ........................................................... 10 Impulsive Traveler: Douglas MacArthur And Joyce Kilmer,

Brothers In Arms. ................................................................ 10 Kudos To Chávez For Seeking To Help Veterans. ..................... 10 “Pro-Family” Group Angry That Gay Couples Might Be Buried

At Arlington National Cemetery. ......................................... 10 TaylorMade Honors Military Veterans At Northern Trust Open. . 10 Bringing The Troops Home, But Not Soon Enough. ................... 10 Valentine’s Day At The VA. ......................................................... 10 Veterans Services: Disability Compensation For MST. .............. 10 PTSD Affects More Than Service Member. ................................ 10 A Forest Park Vet Struggles To Keep Others Out Of

Homelessness. ................................................................... 10 PTSD Victims Aren’t Ticking Time Bombs. ................................. 10 City, VA Must Act Together On Point. ......................................... 10 Help For Troubled Veterans. ....................................................... 10

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Briefly Noted Q&A With VA’s “Mobile Guy” DJ Kachman On BYOD,

Cybersecurity, & ACT-IAC. ................................................. 10 Bullet Signed By Slain “American Sniper” Author Chris Kyle

Sells At Texas Auction For $24,000. .................................. 10 Tuskegee Airmen Share Their Story With Temecula Students. . 10 Lawmakers Send Valentines To Vets. ........................................ 10 Widow Of Delaware Courthouse Gunman Denies Any

Involvement By Her Or Her Son. ........................................ 11 Honor Guard Dedicated To Seeing Military Veterans Laid To

Rest With Proper Respect. ................................................. 11 Golf Outing To Help Out Disabled Veterans Is Wildly

Successful. ......................................................................... 11 Veterans Employment Bill Amended, Challenged In Committee.11 Making Life Easier For Disabled Veterans. ................................. 11 Vietnam Vets Alarmed At Prospect Of Being Run Off Their

Road. .................................................................................. 11 Halting Unsafe Injection Practices Still A Challenge. .................. 11 Chase Bank Program Helps Collier Wounded Soldier Own First

Home Mortgage-Free. ........................................................ 11 State Rep. Office Helping Veterans With Claims. ....................... 11 Emeritus Senior Living Says It Will Hire 1,000 Vets, Spouses. .. 11 Local Lawmakers Want Veterans To Get In-State Tuition.......... 11 Yoga Program Benefits Veterans And First Responders. .......... 11 Mineola Vets Honor Wounded Warrior. ...................................... 11 Sun Valley Becomes Hub For Healing Vets Through Sports. .... 11 Valentine’s For Veterans. ............................................................ 11 Football Legend Encourages Soldiers To Get Help For PTSD. . 11 Ski Instructor With Crippling Disease Teaches Perseverance. .. 11 Patriot Guard Riders Return From Chris Kyle Funeral To Help

Texoma Family. .................................................................. 11 Monument To Be Dedicated In Kinder In Honor Of Medal Of

Honor Recipient. ................................................................. 11 At Medical Marijuana “Listening Session,” State Hears Pleas,

Fears. .................................................................................. 11 Veterans Advocate J.D. Kennedy Named A Santa Clarita

Unsung Hero....................................................................... 11 PSU Football Players Visit Altoona Veterans Hospital. .............. 11 Unique Wheelchair Holds Promise For Veterans And Others,

But Lacks Support. ............................................................. 11

National News Obama Takes Universal Preschool Message To Atlanta

Suburb. ............................................................................... 11 RCP Average Has Obama Job Approval At 50.7%. ................... 13 Senate Democrats Offer Plan To Avert Sequester. .................... 14 Sequester Could Bring Layoffs, Furloughs On Capitol Hill. ........ 15 Budget Dispute Endangers Thousands Of Shipbuilding Jobs. ... 15 Interior Department Says Cuts Will Impact National Parks,

Wildlife Refuges. ................................................................. 15 Group Urges Lawmakers To Let Sequester Take Effect. ........... 15 Pelosi Opposes Congressional Pay Cut. .................................... 15 Wolf Bucks House GOP Effort To Extend Federal Pay Freeze. 15 Astrue: Policymakers Use Social Security As A Political Tool. ... 16

Bowles, Simpson Say Bipartisan Effort Needed To Address Fiscal Problems. ................................................................. 16

Sebelius Urges Healthcare Workers To Spread Word About ACA. .................................................................................... 16

Cohen: Health Exchanges Will Be Ready To Go October 1. ..... 16 Obama’s Proposed Medicare Changes Could Save $160

Billion. ................................................................................. 16 Obama Plan To Cut Government Drug Costs Seen As Unlikely

To Pass. .............................................................................. 16 Study: One In Nine Younger Women Have Used Morning-After

Pill. ...................................................................................... 16 Fewer US Troops Being Killed In Afghanistan. ........................... 16 Lawmakers Press Incoming Commander On Afghanistan Troop

Withdrawal. ......................................................................... 17 Withdrawal Prompts Concerns For Declining Aid To

Afghanistan. ........................................................................ 17 US To Face Logistical Challenges In Withdrawal From

Afghanistan. ........................................................................ 17 Afghan Women Being Trained For Night Raids. ......................... 17 Pakistani Parties Agree To Pursue Peace With Taliban. ............ 17 Swat Valley Residents Feel Taliban Has Diminished Tourism

Prospects. ........................................................................... 17 Hearing For 9/11 Defendants Features Legal Clashes. ............. 17 Businesses Increasingly Worried About Cyberattacks. .............. 18 Obama Addresses Drones, Guns, Other Issues In Google+

Hangout. ............................................................................. 18 Obamas Have Valentine’s Day Dinner Date. .............................. 19 Jobless Claims Down Sharply Last Week................................... 19 Mortgage Rates Steady Last Week............................................. 19 Foreclosure Crisis Waning. ......................................................... 19 Consumer Confidence Improved Last Week. ............................. 19 GM Notches Profit, But Down From 2011 On European Decline.20 Proposed Airline Merger Faces Hurdles. .................................... 20 Major Stock Indexes Little Changed On Thursday. .................... 21 Warren Leading Fight To Confirm Cordray, Keep Big Banks In

Check. ................................................................................. 21 Boxer Backs Climate Bill That Would Tax Carbon Emissions. ... 21 Menendez Further Scrutinized For Donor Ties. .......................... 21 Cruz’s Aggressive Start Underscores GOP Challenge. .............. 22 LaPierre Says Obama Has Abandoned School Safety Cause. .. 22 Immigration Officials Sought To Boost Deportations Last Year. 23 Boehner Says House May Take Up Senate Version Of VAWA. 23 McCarthy Critics Say GOP Whip Must Be Bolder....................... 24 Capitol Hill Reformers Opt For Less Experienced Staff. ............. 24 FAA Seeks Proposals For Six Drone Test Sites In US. .............. 24 Pew Poll: Public Supports Five-Day Mail Delivery. ..................... 24 Many Sandy Flood Insurance Claims Are Still Unresolved. ....... 24 Governments Seek Alternatives As Gasoline Tax Revenues

Fall. ..................................................................................... 24 Computer Experts Warn Of Internet Voting Risks. ..................... 25 Commission Finds Widening Racial Gap In Sentencing. ........... 25 Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passes Illinois Senate, Moves To

House. ................................................................................. 25 Cohen Reveals Young Woman He Tweeted To Is His Daughter.25 “Paws For Love” Pet Adoption Event Held On Capitol Hill. ........ 25

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Lautenberg Will Not Seek Reelection In 2014. ........................... 25 Illinois LG Simon Will Not Run With Quinn In 2014. ................... 26 WPost Supports Obama’s Natural Gas Strategy. ....................... 27 WPost Calls On District Of Columbia Officials To Approve

Charter Network. ................................................................ 27 NYTimes Backs Bloomberg’s Proposed Plastic Foam Container

Ban. ..................................................................................... 27 Columnists Continue To Weigh In On State Of The Union

Address. .............................................................................. 27 Lazarus Argues Against Deregulation. ........................................ 27 Writer: STEM Education Depends On Humanities Foundation. . 27 Law Professor: Campaign Finance Cases Before Supreme

Court Will Chart Free Speech Protection. .......................... 28 Cloture Vote On Hagel Nomination Fails, 58-40. ........................ 28 DOJ: Brennan Did Not Officially Disclose CIA Drone Program. . 29 Three Southeastern Governors Ask Jewell To Permit Atlantic

Drilling. ................................................................................ 29 McCarthy Likely To Be Tapped To Head EPA............................ 29 Acting Labor Secretary Making “Push For Visibility.” .................. 29 White House Releases New Details On Benghazi Attack. ......... 29 Kerry Says Syrian Death Toll Reaches 90,000 As Rebels Claim

Control Of Province. ........................................................... 30

UN Chief Warns Iran Could Use Talks To Stall As Latest Round Fails. ................................................................................... 30

US Not Planning Combat, Armed Drone Presence In Mali. ....... 31 Threats Forcing Administration To Shift Focus To Africa. .......... 31 Report: North Korea Upgrading Launch Site. ............................. 31 Kerry Marks Anniversary Of Hariri’s Assassination. ................... 32 Questions Linger About Suspected Spy’s Death In Israeli Jail. .. 32 During Private Talks With Officials, Xi Stresses Commitment To

Communist Ideals. .............................................................. 32 Global Economy Still Struggling Despite Cash Infusions. .......... 32 Malaysian Police In Standoff With Militiamen From Philippines. 32 Russia Issues Arrest Warrant For Georgian Politician. ............... 32 Berlusconi’s Hopes Hindered By Italian Media’s Focus On

Papal Retirement. ............................................................... 33 WSJournal: Administration Right To Oppose Europe’s Tax

Plans. .................................................................................. 33 Cohen Sees Fayyad As Being On Margins Of Peace Process. . 33

Online Version Visit www.bulletinnews.com/va for searchable archive, interactive story index, and links to complete stories where appropriate.

Editor’s Note. The Veterans Affairs News Briefing will not

be published on Monday, February 18th in observance of Washington’s Birthday. Publication will resume on Tuesday, February 19th.

THE SECRETARY IN THE NEWS

Department Of Veterans Affairs Grants Burial Rights For Same-Sex Oregon Couple. VA Says

Shinseki Granted A Waiver Of Department Policy. According to an AP (2/15, Dubois) story appearing in at least 25 publications, Veterans Affairs “has decided to allow the same-sex spouse of a member of the military to be buried in a US national cemetery. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki granted a waiver of department policy to allow the burial of Nancy Lynchild’s ashes, the agency said” in a Thursday statement. The AP notes that the waiver “only applies to retired Lt. Col. Linda Campbell and her spouse, Lynchild, and does not signal a formal change of policy.”

According to a blog for the Portland-based Oregonian (2/15, Francis, 237K), the burial of Lynchild’s ashes at Willamette National Cemetery “will be the nation’s first of a veteran’s same-sex spouse.” Shinseki “personally approved a waiver of VA policy to permit the burial.” The Oregonian says the approval is the “latest signal that the military — and the nation — is changing the way it views same-sex relationships.” The Oregonian quotes US Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), who offer a “huge thank you” to Shinseki. Merkley

added, “It’s a huge stride for the Secretary to come to this conclusion.” KPTV-TV Portland, OR (2/14, 5:11 p.m. PT, 27K) aired a similarly positive report on this story. The CNN (2/15) website also has positive coverage of this story.

Casey Wants VA Assurances For Public After Legionnaires’ Cases. Lawmaker Has Written To

Shinseki About Matter. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (2/15, Fábregas, Smeltz, 194K) notes that on Thursday, US Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA) “urged the Department of Veterans Affairs...to explain how it will alert the public to health hazards like the Legionnaires’ outbreak at the VA hospital in Oakland and at the H.J. Heinz campus in O’Hara.” In a letter to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, Casey “also asked the department to make public a complete” Federal report on the outbreak from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Tribune-Review adds, “A VA spokesman did not immediately respond Thursday to calls for comment.”

Shimkus Asks Secretary To Visit Danville VA Campus. Shimkus Is Concerned About Proposal To

Reduce Services. The Urbana/Champaign (IL) News-Gazette (2/14, Moss, 38K) noted that US Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) “has delivered a letter inviting Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to visit the department’s facility in Danville to tour and discuss services offered there, specifically a pending proposal to reduce services.” Doug Bugger, “spokesman for Shimkus, said the congressman personally delivered the letter to Shinseki at Tuesday night’s

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State of the Union address.” Bugger “said Shimkus, who represents Danville, does not want to see services reduced at the Danville campus, because it would hurt local veterans.”

Veterans Need Government’s Help At Home. Vet Notes Drive By Shinseki, VA To End Veteran Homelessness. In a letter to the editor of the Williston Park (NY) Island Now (2/15), formerly homeless veteran Frederick R. Bedell Jr. writes that “leaders of the American Legion economic division...say they are encouraged by the latest government report showing a continued decrease in the rate of homelessness among military veterans.” Bedell quotes Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, who said, “While this is encouraging news, we have more work to do and will not be satisfied until no veteran has a place to sleep on the street.” Bedell says he hopes that VA’s effort to end veteran homelessness works.

IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN VETS

Wife Praises Medal Of Honor Winner. In

continuing coverage, NBC’s Today Show (2/14, 7:42 a.m. ET, 4.65M) aired an interview with veteran Clinton Romesha, whose actions in a 2009 battle in Afghanistan earned him the Medal of Honor, and Romesha’s wife, Tammy. Tammy said that when President Obama presented the medal to her husband earlier this week, it was a very emotional experience. She added that her husband is her hero “every day, before, after and in the future.” This story is also covered on the website for NBC’s Today Show (2/14, Kim, 4.65M).

FOX News’ Fox & Friends (2/14, 7:14 a.m. ET, 1.3M), meanwhile, aired an interview with Clinton Romesha, who said that the Medal of Honor presentation ceremony was a “whirlwind of emotions and just a great experience.” He also said he is “so honored that so many people think” he deserves the medal. But, he added, “there are so many other heroes,” and “I just want to applaud those guys for being the everyday soldiers, they’re heroes. I really appreciate the American public and the families back home that support us every day.”

Romesha Was Inducted Into Pentagon’s Hall Of Heroes Earlier This Week. The Jamestown (ND) Sun (2/15, Taleb) reports that Romesha was “inducted into the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes at a Medal of Honor ceremony” held on Tuesday. When “Romesha took the stage, the entire room rose to honor him. ‘Some say I’m a hero, but it doesn’t make sense because I got to come home,’ Romesha said,” adding, “Eight of my friends did not have that fortune.”

Veterans: Todd Love And His New Home. Disabled Afghanistan Vet Will Get A “Smart Home” Later This Year. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (2/15, Torpy, 263K) notes that on Thursday, disabled Afghanistan veteran Todd Love “helped clear the land where his new home will

stand.” Later “this year, a new $500,000 ‘smart home’ should stand in the scrub pine forest near Douglasville, a gift from the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the Gary Sinise Foundation, a charity partnership that is building 19 homes for severely wounded veterans.” The websites for WAGA-TV Atlanta (2/15, Reynolds) and WGCL-TV Atlanta (2/15, Murphy) have similar coverage.

Gary Sinise Plans 12 Smart Homes For Disabled Veterans. Actor Played A Double Amputee

In Movie. In continuing coverage, the Tampa Bay Business Journal (2/14, Subscription Publication) “Wake-Up Call” blog noted, “Actor Gary Sinise appeared in Tampa Wednesday to announce the construction of new homes for 12 disabled soldiers. Joined by Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Frank Siller, chairman of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Sinise said each of the homes would be specially adapted to the needs of the wounded vets with amenities including automatic lighting, lowered cabinets and stoves, heating and cooling controlled by iPad and elevators.” Sinise “has championed veterans’ causes ever since playing the role of Lieutenant Dan, a double amputee, in the movie ‘Forrest Gump.’”

Beneficiaries Claim VA’s Processing Of GI Bill Benefits Still Lackluster. VA Says It Has Improved

In This Area. The Federal News Radio (2/15, Serbu) website reports, “The Department of Veterans Affairs says it’s made major strides toward implementing an IT system to handle the new, much more complicated version of the G.I. Bill. But members of Congress are hearing that student veterans and the schools they attend still are facing long delays in getting payments.” The “issue is the Post-9/11 G.I, bill, a generous educational benefit Congress approved in 2008 for Iraq and Afghanistan-era veterans.”

VETERANS EMPLOYMENT

Postal Union Millions To Democrats Roils Saturday Cuts. Cummings Worried About Veterans

Who Work For Postal Service. Bloomberg News (2/15, Keane, Salant) reports, “All but five of Congress’s 255 Democrats and independents received campaign donations from postal worker union groups in the past six years, raising the political risk of Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe’s move to end Saturday mail delivery.” Bloomberg News points out that US Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, “said 45 percent of Postal Service employees are minorities, 40 percent are women and 21 percent are veterans. Some might not be able to find other work if they lose their jobs, he said.”

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Veteran-Based Job Fair Set For Rio Rancho. VA To Co-Host Event Next Week. In its “morning Edition” blog, the Albuquerque (NM) Business First (2/15, Elliott) reports, “The ‘Hiring Our Heroes – Sandoval County’ job fair for veterans and military spouses is scheduled to take place in Rio Rancho Feb. 20.” The “event is being hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce’s National Chamber Foundation, the Sandoval County Chamber of Commerce, the Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment & Training Service, the New Mexico Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, the US Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Legion. The event is also a part of the ‘Hiring 500,000 Heroes,’ national campaign organized by the US Chamber, National Chamber Foundation and Capital One.”

Col. Oliver North Encourages Veterans At World Ag Expo. North Was Keynote Speaker For Ag

Warriors Benefit. The KSEE-TV Fresno, CA (2/14) website said it is “men like Steven McCartha that brought Colonel Oliver North to Tulare for the World Ag Expo, specifically as the keynote speaker for the Ag Warriors Benefit.” McCartha “is an a war veteran who’s adjusted back to his home life, thanks to the Ag Warriors program, which helps veterans returning from war find jobs in the ag industry. McCartha plans to open up a business consulting firm soon.”

WOMEN VETERANS

1 In 5 Women Experience Military Sexual Trauma. VA’s Murray, DaCosta Say Agency Is Focused

On Helping Such Vets. The Central Florida News 13 (2/15, Kavanagh) TV website notes, “Statistics from the Department of Veterans Affair claim that one in every five women said they’ve experienced some type of military sexual trauma.” Dr. Janet Murray, a VA clinical psychologist who deals with sexual assault victims in Central Florida, says, “This is an area that the military and the VA is really putting a lot of focus on in just making sure people have the safety and the opportunities to report or get care.” The website adds, ‘“The VA will continue to provide aggressive outreach to returning Veterans,’ Denise DaCosta, Orlando VA Medical Center Chief of Social Work Service said.”

VETS OF OTHER ERAS

Last WWII Veteran In Senate Will Not Seek A New Term. NBC Nightly News (2/14, story 8, 0:25,

Williams, 7.86M) broadcast, “Sen. Frank Lautenberg the senior Senator from New Jersey, a Democrat, announced today he will not run again.” The 89-year-old Lautenberg is the “oldest serving Senator and the last remaining World War II veteran currently in the US Senate.” Cory Booker, the

mayor of Newark, New Jersey, “has already filed papers to run for Lautenberg’s seat.”

MSNBC’s Hardball (2/14, 5:15 p.m. ET) broadcast that Lautenberg “says he’s going to retire next year and not seek a sixth term.” With “Lautenberg retiring, it’s an end of an era. He’s the last World War II veteran in the US Senate.” Fox News’ Studio B (2/14, 3:41 p.m. ET) aired a similar report. Lautenberg’s veteran status is also noted in stories by McClatchy (2/15, Mascaro) and Reuters (2/15, Ferraro, Russ, Honan) that are carried by at least two publications, respectively, and in a Washington Post (2/15, O’Keefe, 489K) report.

Alexandria Man, 94, Who Was Found Dead In His Home Is Identified. Roehrs Was A WWII Vet.

The Washington Post (2/15, Klein, 489K) says the family of 94-year-old Elmer Roehrs “found him dead in his stately Del Ray home around 7 p.m. Wednesday.” Alexandria “police say he was slain.” The Post adds, “Roehrs served in the Army and was awarded a Purple Heart in World War II after injuring his foot.”

MENTAL HEALTH

VA Denies Punishing Whistleblowing Psychologist. In continuing coverage, the CBS Evening

News (2/14, story 5, 3:00, Pelley, 5.58M) broadcast that veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) “will be getting some much-needed help,” as Veterans Affairs recently said it has hired over 1,000 new specialists in this area of care. According to CBS, this “might not have happened had a VA psychologist not sounded an alarm, but now Elaine Quijano tells us, that psychologist says she’s being punished.” Michelle Washington, who works at VA’s hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, says she is no longer allowed to screen new patients for PTSD and traumatic brain injury. But in a “statement, the VA denied it retaliated against Dr. Washington saying, ‘VA does not tolerate retaliation and reprisal against any employees.’” CBS News (2/15, Quijano) also covers this story on its website.

PTSD Vets Get Special Valentines From Youngstown Kids. Vets Are Patients At VA Facility.

According to the Youngstown (OH) Vindicator (2/14, Dick, 46K), fourth-graders at Taft Elementary School “used valentines as a way to thank veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Pittsburgh. The students in Laurie McEwan’s class wrote Valentine’s Day letters to the men housed at the medical center’s Post Traumatic Stress Disorder clinic.” The “project was the idea” of Taft tutor Peggy Yuhas, whose “grandson was a patient at the clinic after serving in Afghanistan.”

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Miles City Native Tapped To Lead VA Montana. Appointment Praised By Lawmaker, Gigliotti. The Billings (MT) Gazette (2/15, Uken, 39K) reports that Christine A. Gregory, a native of Miles City, Montana, “has been named director of the VA Montana Health Care System.” She was appointed to the post yesterday, according to US Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), who said he looks “forward to partnering with Christine to make VA Montana the best veterans care provider in the nation.” Ralph Gigliotti, director of VA’s Rocky Mountain Network, also commented on the appointment, saying Murphy’s “sound leadership qualities and proven experience will be valuable assets for the facility, the employees and volunteers, and most importantly, for the veterans we are honored to serve.” The Gazette notes that US Rep. Steve Daines (R-MT) “also lauded Gregory’s appointment.”

Tester’s comments were noted in the same brief report on this story aired by KFBB-TV Great Falls, MT (2/14, 6:07 p.m. MT) and KHBB-TV Helena, MT (2/14, 6:07 p.m. MT).

Miller: Budget Increases Aren’t Improving VA Mental Health Services. Petzel Says VA Is Taking

Steps To Improve Those Services. In continuing coverage, Fierce Government (2/15, Whiting) reports, “Veterans aren’t getting better or quicker mental health care services despite the Veterans Affairs Department increasing its budget and staff by almost 40 percent over the past 6 years, says” US Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), who chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee. At a Wednesday hearing, Miller “said...the increase of funds are not going toward improving or expanding services for veterans.” He stated, “It has become painfully clear to me that VA is focused more on its process and not its outcomes.” But Dr. Robert Petzel, VA’s under secretary of health, who attended the hearing, “said the department is taking steps to better treat veterans, including the hiring of more than 1,000 mental health professionals.”

PTSD Risk Linked To Genetics. Study Followed

More Than 1,000 Israeli Soldiers From 2008 to 2010. The Yahoo! News (2/15, Simmins, 10.98M) website reports, “Study findings released on Wednesday by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) suggest that a previously described genetic variation may play a critical role in whether or not a soldier develops post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).” The study, which “followed more than 1,000 Israeli soldiers from 2008” to 2010, “found that soldiers with a variant of the serotonin transporter gene that is less efficient in its activity and high threat vigilance were better adapted to combat situations.” The study “suggests that it may be possible to use computerized testing to identify those at risk of post-deployment PTSD by measuring their threat bias and then testing for the ‘combat gene.’”

Depression May Lower Response To Shingles Vax. VA Helped Support Study. MedPage Today (2/15,

Neale) reports, “Untreated major depression may hamper the protective effect of varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccine against herpes zoster — shingles — in older individuals, researchers found.” The study that the researchers worked on was “supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, the VA Cooperative Study Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Merck, the National Institutes of Health, the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, and the James R. and Jesse V. Scott Fund for Shingles Research.”

VA BHHCS Welcomes New Suicide Prevention Coordinator. Barreno Appointed To Post. According to

the KCSR-AM Chadron, NE (2/15, Anderson) website, the “VA Black Hills Health Care System is pleased to announce the appointment of Joanne Barreno as the new Suicide Prevention Coordinator.” Barreno “will work to ensure appropriate measures are taken to prevent suicide in the VA BHHCS Veteran population. She will facilitate suicide prevention strategies through education, monitoring and coordination of activities.”

HEALTHCARE (LOCAL)

MO Motel Death Suspect Convicted In Similar Case. Woman Killed In Motel Had Worked At Truman

Memorial Veterans Hospital. An AP (2/15) story run by at least two publications reports that 52-year-old Curtis L. Smith, who has been “charged with killing a woman at an eastern Missouri motel,” was “previously convicted of killing another woman at a Springfield motel nearly three decades ago.” Smith is currently “charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, theft and misdemeanor possession of marijuana in the Nov. 17 death of Kristi Murphy, 52, at a Microtel Inn in Ste. Genevieve County.” Smith, who was “Murphy’s live-in boyfriend,” had “worked as a nurse at Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital in Columbia.” The Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune (2/14, David, 21K) made the same point.

Work Of Art. Buffalo VA Hosted Veterans Creative

Arts Festival This Week. The Lockport Union (NY) Sun Journal (2/15, Wolcott, 7K) reports, “Lockport Union-Sun & Journal — Lockport native Peter Boes, who did not become interested in art until after serving in the Army, earned honors in three categories at the Veterans Creative Arts Festival this week. There were 64 veterans who participated in the semi-annual program at Freedom Hall” at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Buffalo. Select “winners are invited to attend the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival from Oct. 21-27 in Reno, Nev.”

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Applications Available For Veterans Creative Arts Fest. Event Will Be Held At Raymond G. Murphy

VA. The Deming (NM) Headlight (2/15, 3K) reports, “New Mexico’s veterans are invited to show off their talents in the 11th annual Veterans Creative Arts Festival to be held Feb. 27, 28, and March 1, 2013, at the Raymond G. Murphy Veterans Affairs Medical Center” in Albuquerque. Local “winners go on to compete at the national level.”

Students Send Valentines To Veterans. Valentines Were Made For Vets At Two VA Hospitals. The Wayne (NJ) Patch (2/15) reports, “Students at John F. Kennedy Elementary School created valentines for veterans last week and gave them to Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen and Air Force Sergeant Jim Vigilante.” The valentines were to “be delivered to the Lyons and East Orange Veterans Administration Medical Centers.”

Bellerose Students Warm Vets Hearts. Students

Handed Out Valentines At Northport VA. The Northport (NY) Patch (2/15, Bush) reports, “A chorale group of fifth grade students from Bellerose Avenue Elementary School visited with veterans at the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Tuesday.” The students “performed three songs for the elderly veterans and handed out homemade Valentines cards.” The Patch notes that the event was attended by US Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), who “reaffirmed his commitment to helping New York’s veterans and announced his success in helping veterans in his district recoup more than $6.4 million in owed benefits.”

Wildcats Visit VA Medical Center. University Of

Kentucky Athletes Visited Lexington VA On Wednesday. According to the University Of Kentucky Athletics (2/14) website, the “Kentucky track and field teams traveled to the Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Wednesday.” Wildcat athletes and coaches shared time with veterans, “lifting spirits throughout the center’s halls as well as during in-room visits. Team members also passed out UK t-shirts.”

DISABILITY PAY

As VA Struggles, Delays And Errors Greet Returning Warriors. Agency Defends Its New Claims

System. In a story carried by at least 11 news outlets, McClatchy (2/15, Adams) reports, “The processing time for disability claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs worsened in a majority of its regional offices last year, and the VA has struggled with its much-anticipated plan to correct its problems, according to two recent audits and a review of department data.” The department, however, “said it’s optimistic about hitting its speed and accuracy goals by 2015.” In a statement, the agency added that its new claims

system is “constantly evolving to meet end-user needs, business requirements and performance benchmarks.”

But in a related story that appears in at least four publications, McClatchy (2/15, Adams) notes, “The Department of Veterans Affairs’ regional office in Winston-Salem, N.C., processed a key category of disability claims improperly half the time, often because its workers didn’t properly schedule medical exams or otherwise follow up with veterans, according to a recent inspection” by VA’s Inspector General (IG). The report that resulted from that inspection is “part of an ongoing, routine review of the VA’s 56 regional offices nationwide that process disability claims.” In response to the report, VA “said it was correcting the specific case errors cited and was modifying the procedures to minimize such errors.”

In another related story that is run by at least two news outlets, McClatchy (2/15, Adams) points out, “The Department of Veterans Affairs’ regional office in Anchorage, Alaska, processed a key category of disability claims improperly half the time, and the staff allowed some cases to languish nearly two years because of improper follow-up, according to a recent” audit performed by VA’s IG. Like the Winston-Salem report, the one on Anchorage is “part of an ongoing, routine review of the VA’s 56 regional offices nationwide that process disability claims.” In response to the Anchorage report, VA “said it was correcting the specific case errors cited and was modifying procedures to minimize such errors.”

SEAL Who Killed Bin Laden Met With Lawmakers To Talk Veteran Care. Sanders: VA

Claims Backlog Is “My Highest Priority.” In continuing coverage, the Los Angeles Times (2/14, Pearce, 692K) said a former Navy SEAL who reportedly killed Osama bin Laden was “profiled in a recent Esquire cover story that describes a post-military life without a pension or timely disability benefits.” The veteran, who “met with lawmakers Tuesday to discuss veteran’s care,” has a disability claim that is “reportedly caught up” in a Veterans Affairs’ claims backlog. According to the Times, the former SEAL met with US Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), “who plans to hold hearings about the…backlog, which he called ‘my highest priority.’”

The Navy Times (2/15, Lombardo, 55K), meanwhile, reports, “The ‘man who killed Osama bin Laden,’ featured in the March issue of Esquire, knew full-well he was leaving the service short of a retirement and without benefits...said” Rear Adm. Sean Pybus, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command. In a statement, Pybus said, “Months ahead of his separation,” the former SEAL was “counseled on status and benefits, and provided with options to continue his career until Retirement eligible. Claims to the contrary in these matters are false.” He added, however, that “Naval Special Warfare and the Navy are prepared to help this former service member address health or transition issues, as we would with

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other former members.” The former SEAL recently met with Sanders. The Times adds, “Sanders was interested in gaining perspective on how long it takes VA to process disability claims, said Michael Briggs, the senator’s press spokesman.”

Bronstein Takes Note Of VA Claims Backlog. In a column for the Center For Investigative Reporting (2/15) website, Phil Bronstein notes, “The SEAL Team 6 member who killed Osama bin Laden, identified in a story published Monday in Esquire in cooperation with the Center for Investigative Reporting as ‘the Shooter,’ has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of public interest and offers of support the story has generated.” Bronstein adds, “CIR reporter Aaron Glantz has shed light on why the Department of Veterans Affairs is failing to process claims in a timely manner. Veterans who file disability claims are waiting, on average, more than nine months to receive a response from the VA, and some have been waiting years for a decision on their disability benefits.”

Veteran: Pentagon And VA Need More Positive Media Stories To Counter Negative Ones. In a Time (2/15, 3.38M) op-ed, veteran Ernest DelBuono says the aforementioned Esquire story “comes just a week after Chris Kyle’s tragic death at the hands of a former Marine he was mentoring. As such, it is yet another report that frames veterans’ issues in a negative context – just as the media is ramping up to cover more and more stories shared by combat veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.” Ernest DelBuono says the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs both have many programs to help veterans, but until more stories of vets helped by such programs are told, the agencies “can’t provide the cover needed to contain the damage when negative news inevitably arises.”

Klein Wonders Why VA Has Not Customized Its Services For Mobile Phones. In a column for Time (2/15, 3.38M), Joe Klein criticizes President Obama for saying in his most recent State of the Union address that all his “programs would be ‘paid for,’ a perfunctory yet totally unconvincing expression of prudence.” Klein asks, “Why shouldn’t government view capital investments--in education and infrastructure, as opposed to entitlements--as a necessary requirement for long-term growth, like private enterprise does?” Klein also criticizes Veterans Affairs when he asks, “Should veterans in the 21st century enter the system by filling out forms that, all too often, get lost, or molder in piles, or are sent to dreary, careless case workers--or should they customize their services through a smart phone, a device far more user-friendly to the generation coming home than incomprehensible paper?”

VFW Helping Veterans Collect VA Benefits. Lutz Says Agency Appreciates Such Assistance. According to the Baltimore Sun (2/15, Wenger, 184K), the “Baltimore office of the Veterans of Foreign Wars...helped

more than 1,500 former service members in Maryland collect more than $26 million in disability benefits last year” from the US Veterans Affairs Department. Meagan Lutz, a VA spokeswoman, “says the agency appreciates the assistance of the VFW and other service organizations accredited to help veterans apply” for Federal and state benefits. The Sun, however, points out that veterans with outstanding VA “claims — the list currently numbers 900,000 — wait an average of nine months for the VA to issue an initial decision,” and that the VA’s Baltimore regional office is one of the slowest in the country in terms of claims processing.

Making America’s Heroes Wait: Claims Backlog Grows Despite Parade Of VA “Solutions.” Baker Says VBMS Problems Identified In

Recent Report Have Been Addressed. In continuing coverage, the Washington (DC) Examiner (2/15, Flatten, 93K) reports that Veterans Affairs fixed a “billion-dollar ‘glitch’” in its disability system in July 2012, nearly a year after VA officials had “promised to fix the problem.” The Examiner continues, “Such episodes spark widespread skepticism about VA promises that its massive new computer system,” known as the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS), “will end the agency’s growing backlog of disability claims.” The “agency’s inspector general reported this month that VBMS has been plagued with problems, including long waits to retrieve documents, a lack of organization that forces users to spend hours searching for records, and being unable to process a case from beginning to end.” But earlier this week, Roger Baker, VA’s assistant secretary for information and technology, said, “We already...addressed those problems, even before they wrote their report.”

VA NEWS

VA Academy Not Coming To Palm Coast. According To VA’s Schuda. The Daytona Beach (FL) News-Journal (2/15, Holt, 65K) says Veterans Affairs has “announced it is not moving its Law Enforcement Training Center to Palm Coast. Furthermore, a VA official said it was more interested in checking out leftover computer hardware inside the building rather than uprooting and relocating its academy from Little Rock, Ark.” Jo Schuda, a VA spokeswoman, said, “I’ve been assured by the director of Security and Law Enforcement that VA people went to Palm Coast mainly to see if there was government equipment being excessed that (the) VA could take.” Schuda also “said anyone who might have concluded the VA was interested in the building becoming the next academy site had ‘unwarranted optimism.’”

VA Stand Downs To Provide Free Services To Veterans In Pablo, Plains, Missoula. Event Will

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Held In Montana Later This Year. The Missoula, Montana-based Missoulian (2/14, Kidston, 26K) noted, “This spring, the Sanders County Fairgrounds in Plains will be converted to a clearinghouse of sorts, offering free meals, sleeping bags, haircuts and needed services to homeless and at-risk veterans. For the second year, Bill Hill is organizing the Tri-State Veterans Stand Down, currently scheduled for May 5 and 6.” At such events, “VA representatives also offer referrals to housing services, employment and substance abuse treatment.”

STATE VA NEWS

Schmitt Enlists State Help On Homeless Issues. Wisconsin VA, US VA Offering Assistance To

Homeless Vets. The Green Bay (WI) Press-Gazette (2/15, Amante, 45K) notes that Wisconsin Secretary of Veterans Affairs John Scocos “met recently...with Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt to talk about possible solutions to the city’s homelessness problem.” Scocos “said the state’s three existing veterans’ homes can facilitate Green Bay individuals, and there may be need to grow the program locally, so a home would exist in an urban area.” The Press-Gazette adds, “The Veterans Administration is building a medical clinic off University Avenue on Green Bay’s northeast side, and a facility to house homeless military veterans was proposed adjacent to the former Brown County Mental Health Center.”

NEWS OF INTEREST

Charred Remains Positively Identified As Dorner’s. Dorner Was A Veteran And A Former Police

Officer. In continuing coverage, USA Today (2/15, Leger, Woodyard, Winter, 1.71M) reports, “The burned remains found in the ashes of a Southern California mountain cabin have been positively identified as fugitive former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said Thursday.” USA Today notes that Dorner was a “veteran who was fired from the Los Angeles Police Department in 2009 after he was found to have falsely accused his training officer of police brutality.”

An AP (2/15, Risling, Abdollah) story appearing in at least six publications also takes note of Dorner’s veteran status, adding, “He styled himself as a Rambo-like guerrilla, someone trained to outwit and outshoot the police at every turn, and while Christopher Dorner left no doubt he could be unforgivingly violent, when it came to keeping ahead of the law during his deadly rampage, he made one mistake after another.” The last mistake — “letting one of two people he tied up get to her cellphone and call police as he made off in their purple car — tipped authorities he was coming.”

National Cemetery Burials Prohibited For Vets Convicted Of Capital Crimes. The “Watchdog” blog for the

Riverside (CA) Press Enterprise (2/15, 130K) notes, “Someone asked whether Christpher Dorner would be eligible for burial in a national cemetery, since he is a military veteran. We asked Meagan Lutz” with Veterans Affairs “to answer the question. In short, probably not,” because VA policy states, “Under 38 U.S.C. & 2411, interment or memorialization in a VA national cemetery or in Arlington National Cemetery is prohibited if a person is convicted of a Federal or State capital crime, for which a sentence of imprisonment for life or the death penalty may be imposed and the conviction is final.”

New High-Tech Warfare Medal Draws Backlash. Soldiers, Vets Say New Medal Should Not

Rank Some Traditional Combat Valor Medals. Above In continuing coverage, the Military Times (2/15, Tilghman, 245K) reports, “The Pentagon sparked an uproar among troops and veterans when it revealed that a new high-level medal honoring drone pilots will rank above some traditional combat valor medals in the military’s ‘order of precedence.’ The Distinguished Warfare Medal will be awarded to pilots of unmanned aircraft, offensive cyberwar experts or others who are directly involved in combat operations, but who are not physically in theater and facing the physical risks that warfare historically entails.” In a Thursday statement, John Hamilton, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), “urged the Pentagon to ‘reconsider the new medal’s placement in the military order of precedence.’”

The FOX News (2/15, Chakraborty) website quotes VFW spokesman Joe Davis, who said the Pentagon made a “boneheaded decision” that is “going to affect morale.” He said the decision is “sending troops in the field a horrible message.”

CONGRESSIONAL VA NEWS

Bill Lowers Burden Of Proof For Military Sexual Assault Victims To Get VA Disability. Legislation

Was Introduced In Congress This Week. In continuing coverage, Stars And Stripes (2/14, Shane) noted, “Sexual assault victims trying to claim veterans benefits could have an easier path proving their injuries under legislation introduced in Congress this week. The Ruth Moore Act – named for a Navy veteran raped twice in 1987 who fought for more than two decades to receive veterans disability benefits – would lower the burden of proof establishing a link between a military sexual assault and later emotional or mental problems.” The bill’s sponsor, US Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), “and advocacy groups have argued it’s an unnecessarily high burden that discourages many victims from seeking help.”

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EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Lone Wolf Fights His Party’s Effort To Extend Freeze On Pay Of Federal Workers. The

Washington Post (2/15, 489K) columnist Joe Davidson says US Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) is “taking the lead in confronting” fellow House Republicans who “seem determined to pile on Federal workers, as if to punish them for the government’s shaky fiscal situation.” Wolf “has badgered his Republican colleagues with 10 letters since Feb. 8 — ‘two a day, every day this week,’ said his press secretary.” According to Davidson, one letter said, “The nurses and doctors at the VA who care for our veterans and wounded warriors — they haven’t had a pay raise in more than two years. I know I’m not alone in wanting the best doctors and nurses to care for our veterans.”

Impulsive Traveler: Douglas MacArthur And Joyce Kilmer, Brothers In Arms. A Washington

Post (2/15, 489K) op-ed by James F. Lee, who teaches journalism at Bucknell University.

Kudos To Chávez For Seeking To Help Veterans. A U-T San Diego (2/15, 242K) editorial.

“Pro-Family” Group Angry That Gay Couples Might Be Buried At Arlington National Cemetery. A piece for the Huffington Post (2/14) by

Cavan Sieczkowski, “an Associate Trends Editor with the Traffic and Trends section of The Huffington Post.”

TaylorMade Honors Military Veterans At Northern Trust Open. Kyle Porter’s “Eye On Golf” blog

for the CBS Sports (2/15) website.

Bringing The Troops Home, But Not Soon Enough. An op-ed for The Hill (2/15, 21K) “Congress” blog

by John Isaacs, who is the executive director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and Council for a Livable World, and Usha Sahay, who is the Herbert Scoville Peace Fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.

Valentine’s Day At The VA. In his “Photo” blog for the

Fayetteville, Arkansas-based Northwest Arkansas Times (2/15, 17K), Tony Reyes notes that on Thursday, he was “able to walk around the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks in Fayetteville as volunteers distributed valentines to patients in the hospital.” Reyes posts some pictures he took, saying, “I want to show people taking time out of their days to distribute valentines made by school children to the veterans.”

Veterans Services: Disability Compensation For MST. John Havens’ Newton County (AR) Times (2/15,

2K) column.

PTSD Affects More Than Service Member. An

op-ed for the Fort Leonard Wood (MO) Guidon (2/15) by Julia Ramirez-Wylie, a “psychology technician at the Behavioral Health Department, General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital.”

A Forest Park Vet Struggles To Keep Others Out Of Homelessness. A column for the WBEZ-AM

Chicago (2/14) website by Lewis Wallace.

PTSD Victims Aren’t Ticking Time Bombs. An

editorial in the San Antonio Express-News (2/15, 165K).

City, VA Must Act Together On Point. An

Alameda (CA) Sun (2/15, 20K) op-ed by Alameda resident Irene Dieter.

Help For Troubled Veterans. Phil Kadner’s

Southtown (IL) Star (2/15, Kadner, 40K) column.

BRIEFLY NOTED

Q&A With VA’s “Mobile Guy” DJ Kachman On BYOD, Cybersecurity, & ACT-IAC. WashingtonExec (2/12, Sridhar) interviewed “DJ ‘Mobile Guy’ Kachman,” who is “head of mobility at the US Department of Veterans Affairs and also serves as government co-chair” for the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council’s (ACT-IAC’s) advanced mobility working group. Kachman said VA is taking a “cautious approach” with bring your own device (BYOD) so that it can ensure data protection. Kachman added, “We are still piecing together the best ways to integrate mobile type devices. One is to make sure the technology fits our requirements, and two is to make sure that we’re leveraging the technology that we currently have and, where it makes sense, taking a mobile device and replacing something.”

Bullet Signed By Slain “American Sniper” Author Chris Kyle Sells At Texas Auction For $24,000. The New York Daily News (2/15, Caulfield,

543K).

Tuskegee Airmen Share Their Story With Temecula Students. U-T San Diego (2/15, Sanders,

242K).

Lawmakers Send Valentines To Vets. A blog for

the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (2/15, Stein, 221K).

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Widow Of Delaware Courthouse Gunman Denies Any Involvement By Her Or Her Son. An

AP (2/15) story appearing in at least two publications reports, “The tearful widow of a one-time New Jersey police officer who killed his former daughter-in-law and another woman at a Delaware courthouse before fatally shooting himself said Thursday that she had no inkling he was planning the violent rampage. Lenore Matusiewicz told The Associated Press that she told her husband Tom, who often carried a gun in a hip holster around their Texas community, to leave his guns at home before they drove to Delaware last week.” The AP adds, “Authorities...seized several boxes and jars of ammunition, letters, court documents, Veterans Affairs documents for Thomas Matusiewicz, who served in the Navy.”

Honor Guard Dedicated To Seeing Military Veterans Laid To Rest With Proper Respect. A

McClatchy (2/14, Fallstrom) story that appeared in at least two publications.

Golf Outing To Help Out Disabled Veterans Is Wildly Successful. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (2/15,

Ganster, 190K).

Veterans Employment Bill Amended, Challenged In Committee. The Macon (GA)

Telegraph (2/15, Lee, 42K).

Making Life Easier For Disabled Veterans. The

CNN (2/14, Toner) website.

Vietnam Vets Alarmed At Prospect Of Being Run Off Their Road. The Ventura County (CA) Star

(2/14, Herdt, 56K).

Halting Unsafe Injection Practices Still A Challenge. Pharmacy Practice News (2/15, Ochoa, 47K).

Chase Bank Program Helps Collier Wounded Soldier Own First Home Mortgage-Free. The

Naples (FL) Daily News (2/15, Miguel, 47K).

State Rep. Office Helping Veterans With Claims. The West Chester (PA) Daily Local News (2/15,

Glasgow, 23K).

Emeritus Senior Living Says It Will Hire 1,000 Vets, Spouses. The Seattle, Washington-based Puget

Sound Business Journal (2/14, Subscription Publication).

Local Lawmakers Want Veterans To Get In-State Tuition. The St. Pete (FL) Patch (2/15, Mansell).

Yoga Program Benefits Veterans And First Responders. The Ledyard (CT) Patch (2/15, Shirvell).

Mineola Vets Honor Wounded Warrior. The

Williston Park (NY) Island Now (2/15).

Sun Valley Becomes Hub For Healing Vets Through Sports. The Northwest Public Radio (2/15,

Banse) website.

Valentine’s For Veterans. The WLTX-TV Columbia,

SC (2/15, Youngblood) website.

Football Legend Encourages Soldiers To Get Help For PTSD. The WWNY-TV Watertown, NY (2/15)

website.

Ski Instructor With Crippling Disease Teaches Perseverance. The KHQ-TV Spokane, WA (2/15, Watts)

website.

Patriot Guard Riders Return From Chris Kyle Funeral To Help Texoma Family. The KTEN-TV

Sherman, TX (2/15, Yeomans) website.

Monument To Be Dedicated In Kinder In Honor Of Medal Of Honor Recipient. The KPLC-TV Lake

Charles, LA (2/15, Weston) website.

At Medical Marijuana “Listening Session,” State Hears Pleas, Fears. The WBUR-FM Boston

(2/15, Bebinger) website.

Veterans Advocate J.D. Kennedy Named A Santa Clarita Unsung Hero. The KHTS-AM San

Diego (2/15, Peeples) website.

PSU Football Players Visit Altoona Veterans Hospital. The WTAJ-TV Johnstown, PA (2/15, Kantz)

website.

Unique Wheelchair Holds Promise For Veterans And Others, But Lacks Support. The

WFAA-TV Dallas (2/15, McCaa) website.

NATIONAL NEWS

Obama Takes Universal Preschool Message To Atlanta Suburb. President Obama traveled to Georgia, a

state with a highly praised universal preschool program, to promote his own State of the Union call for making universal preschool available throughout the nation. Reports are mostly favorable, covering the President’s cheery interaction with

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young children at the College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center in Decatur, and analyses suggesting the proposal is one that is likely to attract wide public support. However, several sources highlight the White House’s failure to offer a cost estimate for the proposal.

NBC Nightly News (2/14, story 9, 0:30, Williams, 7.86M) was the only broadcast network newscast to cover the event, in a brief item late in its broadcast. NBC said Obama “was on the road today. In fact, he was practically on the floor with a bunch of preschoolers. Lots of hugs and high-fives in a pre-K classroom in Decatur, Georgia. ... One of the four-year-olds, by the way, asked if he was their teacher. After that got cleared up, there was another reason for his trip. The official business: pushing his early childhood education plan which he highlighted in the State of the Union address.”

The AP (2/14, Lederman, Elliott) reports, “Raising hopes among parents who want preschool for all,” the President “rolled out a plan to vastly expand government-funded early childhood while keeping the price tag a secret.” But Republicans, “wary of high costs and questionable outcomes, made clear they have no intention of signing a blank check.” The President “played blocks and gave fist-bumps to kids” at the Decatur school, “casting the plan as part of a moral imperative to give every child a shot at success.” He said, “The size of your paycheck shouldn’t determine your child’s future. Let’s fix this. Let’s make sure none of our kids start out the race of life already a step behind.” The AP says the proposal sets up “yet another clash with Republicans over spending and the proper scope of government.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (2/15, Badertscher, 263K) says the President traveled to the Atlanta suburb “to tout his plans to expand pre-kindergarten education nationwide — and spotlight local schools as a model for the country. But the details and cost of Obama’s initiative remain in flux, and any new spending faces difficult odds against a deficit-conscious Congress.” Georgia “has long been considered a leader in early education. The state has invested nearly $5 billion over the past 20 years to put about 1.2 million 4-year-olds through its yearlong pre-k program.”

The Decatur (GA) Champion (2/15, Beauregard, 24K) says the school, “which serves pupils ages 6 weeks to 4 years old, places a strong emphasis on early learning. During his brief visit, Obama said he learned about the curriculum, which consisted of learning numbers, being taught how to ask and answer critical questions and how to work well with others.”

The Decatur (GA) Patch (2/15, Ellis) reports that after the school visit, “about 500 loud, cheering supporters greeted the president in the Decatur Recreation Center. ... People lined the streets to watch his motorcade pass by on its way” to the school “and hundreds gathered outside the rec center. Some held signs to welcome Obama, others took him to task for allowing the use of drones in Afghanistan.”

More than 100 local television reports about Obama’s visit to Atlanta were broadcast across the nation throughout the day Thursday. Generally, the reports noted that the visit to College Heights was intended to rally public support for his plan to make early childhood education available to all children regardless of their parents’ income. Several reports note that Republicans have already expressed concern that the plan is an expensive overreach by the Federal government.

WAGA-TV Atlanta (2/14, 6:00 p.m. EST, 76K) reported in its broadcast, “In a State of the Union message the President praised Georgia’s pre-K program and now the nation gets a chance to hear all about it as the White House staged an event here.” Obama “cited a goal to make sure every child gets a classroom door to open for them before they start kindergarten.”

WMAZ-TV Macon, GA (2/14, 6:08 p.m. EST, 83K) reported in its broadcast, “President Obama visited the College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur today. The President is following up on his call for investments in early childhood education programs.” Obama: “I don’t think you will find a working parent in America who wouldn’t appreciate the peace of mind that their child is in a safe, high-quality learning environment every single day.”

WJBF-TV Augusta, GA (2/14, 5:36 p.m. EST, 28K) reported in its broadcast that the President said “he wants to make preschool available to all children, regardless of their families’ financial status. ... In his State of the Union address, the President held up Georgia’s pre-K as a model for the rest of the nation. Today, he said parents of all income levels should have access to the same quality education opportunities.”

WSYX-TV Columbus, OH (2/14, 5:26 p.m. EST, 40K) reported in its broadcast, “President Obama headed to Georgia today to launch his plan for nationwide early education. He visited pre-K students outside of Atlanta. In his State of the Union address Tuesday, the President held up Georgia’ s pre-K program as a model for the rest of the nation.”

WHP-TV Harrisburg, PA (2/14, 5:43 p.m. EST, 12K) reported in its broadcast, “President Obama went to Georgia today to rally public support for his plan to expand early education programs. The President got a little face time with children at a preschool in Atlanta. He pushed to make the case that early education centers like the one here do more than get children ready for kindergarten.”

USA Today (2/15, Copeland, Jackson, 1.71M) reports the President “called for high-quality preschool programs for ‘every child in America,’ although he included no details on how to pay for it.” The President “spoke to an enthusiastic capacity crowd in the gymnasium of the Decatur Recreation Center, east of Atlanta, after touring” the College Heights school.

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The New York Times (2/15, Shear, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) says the President, “in a rally with teachers after visiting a class of 4-year-olds,” reiterated his pledge “to make high-quality preschool available to all children, which could cost as much as $10 billion a year, or nearly a tenth of the entire federal education budget.” The plan “faces deep skepticism among Republicans, who fear the creation of another federal entitlement program that they say could add to the nation’s deficit and swell the ranks of the teachers’ unions.”

The Washington Post (2/15, Goldfarb, 489K) reports that about two million children, or 45% of the nation’s total preschool-age population, fit the White House criteria for the proposed “new federal-state program. ... Education experts estimate that such an effort could cost $10 billion to $25 billion a year.” House Speaker Boehner told the AP “that getting the federal government involved in early childhood education is ‘a good way to screw it up.’”

The Los Angeles Times (2/15, Hennessey, Parsons, 692K) says while “few would argue” with the goal of universal preschool, “plenty of Republicans and some policy experts questioned whether the country could afford it — and whether a new federal effort was needed to provide it.” Research indicates that “students who attended well-regarded programs have gone on to graduate from high school and avoid crime at higher rates.” But “the benefits sometimes evaporate in elementary school, experts say, depending on the design and standards of the early instruction.”

The Wall Street Journal (2/15, Banchero, Nicholas, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) says the plan, if approved, would be the largest expansion of early childhood education since the Great Society-era Head Start was launched in 1965. Georgia Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson expressed concern about a Federal effort, saying the Georgia program is successful because it was “started locally, is funded locally, doesn’t have a dime of Federal money.”

McClatchy (2/15, Schoof) says if enacted, the plan “would be a dramatic expansion of education for 4-year-olds.” The Christian Science Monitor (2/15, Trumbull, 47K) says “some education experts say his proposals are at least a step in a positive direction — given the agreement that ‘human capital’ is vital in an increasingly knowledge-based global economy.” But the Washington Times (2/15, Wolfgang, Boyer, 76K) says “critics believe the program may be yet another expensive federal program with dubious results, while others fear the idea could lead to standardized testing for preschool children.”

The Huffington Post (2/14, Resmovits) writes that though “a brightly colored banner behind the audience” at the Thursday event “read, ‘PRESCHOOL FOR ALL,’” that is “not exactly what the White House’s plan delivers.” The Obama Administration “has billed this plan as ‘universal pre-Kindergarten,’ using the language of legions of advocates who argue that ‘pre-K for all’ is the best long-term economic

investment America can make. But in reality, the White House plan is much more targeted to poor kids.”

The New York Times (2/15, Rich, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) has a feature on an Alabama proposal to expand preschool funding. Alabama “is one of only five states whose preschool program received top marks based on an assessment of its quality standards by the National Institute for Early Education Research, but only 6 percent of 4-year-olds there are enrolled in a state-financed preschool.”

Bloomberg News (2/14, Talev, Hechinger), the New York Daily News (2/15, Warren, 543K), Politico (2/15, Slack, 25K), The Hill (2/15, Sink, 21K), CNN (2/14), and Voice of America (2/14, Klein) also have reports.

More Commentary. In his New York Times (2/15, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) column, David Brooks writes that the President “announced the most ambitious early childhood education expansion in decades,” and even “early education advocates...were stunned by the scope of what Obama is proposing. ... Millions of parents don’t have the means, the skill or, in some cases, the interest in building their children’s future.” Brooks says the President “has taken on a big challenge in a realistic and ambitious way. If Republicans really believe in opportunity and local control, they will get on board.”

Stand for Children co-founder and CEO Jonah Edelman writes in USA Today (2/15, 1.71M), “Despite the powerful evidence of the life-changing and cost-saving potential of high-quality early childhood education only 59% of our poorest four-year-olds are in pre-kindergarten, compared to 90% of our country’s wealthiest kids. ... We know pre-school works, so let’s stop talking and start building a system where all children have access to excellent early childhood education.”

But Kay Hymowitz of the Manhattan Institute, in another USA Today (2/15, 1.71M) op-ed, writes, “It’s easy to understand the appeal of universal pre-school,” but “two words in particular should dampen some” of the “enthusiasm: Head Start.” The program “was based on precisely the idea that government schooling could compensate poor children for their disadvantage. It hasn’t worked out that way. More than a hundred and fifty billion dollars and almost 50 years later, the program is a dud.”

RCP Average Has Obama Job Approval At 50.7%. The RealClearPolitics average of recent polling on

President Obama’s job approval has the President’s approval at 50.7%, and disapproval at 42.8%. Approval is down 0.5% since yesterday; disapproval is up 0.1%.

The latest Gallup daily tracking poll of 1,500 “adults” (2/11-2/13) shows the President with a 51% approval rating and 42% disapproval. Rasmussen’s automated survey of 1,500 “likely voters” (2/11-2/13) finds Obama’s approval at 54%, with 45% disapproving of his performance.

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Senate Democrats Offer Plan To Avert Sequester. Senate Democrats on Thursday proposed a

$110 billion plan called the American Family Economic Protection Act, to delay for 10 months the $1.2 trillion of automatic spending cuts for defense and domestic programs scheduled to begin March 1. Several print reports this morning note that while the plan drew immediate praise from the White House, it also drew strong opposition from Republicans and is unlikely to bring lawmakers and the Administration any closer to agreement on how to avoid the spending cuts.

According to Bloomberg News (2/15, Rowley, Tiron), the plan “would replace the across-the-board reductions by making defense spending cuts, ending direct payments to farmers, and by requiring top earners to pay a minimum 30 percent income tax rate.” White House spokesman Jay Carney “said the plan ‘includes spending cuts that won’t harm middle-class families while closing tax loopholes that benefit the wealthiest.’ He urged Republicans not to insist on ‘putting the entire burden of reducing the deficit on the backs of the middle class and seniors.’”

The Huffington Post (2/14) reports, “Party leadership sold the package to the caucus during a lunch session on Thursday. Whether it could get the votes of at least five Senate Republicans — the number needed to overcome a likely filibuster attempt — remains to be seen.” The Post adds that the plan is “the first attempt by the Senate to find a replacement” to sequestration, and notes that House Speaker John Boehner “has said he won’t act unless the Senate moves first.”

The New York Times (2/15, Weisman, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports that while Senate Democratic leaders have reached agreement on a plan, “with even some Democrats tepid on the proposal, the chances of a deal before the March 1 deadline have receded.” the Times says the Democratic legislation “is more a bargaining position than a solution. Republicans have said they will not accept any new taxes in a deal to head off the so-called sequester — across-the-board cuts to defense and domestic programs of 5 percent to 8 percent and totaling about $1 trillion over 10 years. But Senate Democratic leaders said Thursday that their party must rally support around an alternative to try to move negotiations forward.”

The Washington Post (2/15, Montgomery, 489K) reports that the “primary goal of the proposal is political: Republicans, who oppose any new taxes, must defend that position in the face of across-the-board cuts that Democrats say would threaten military readiness, reverse gains in border security and throw 70,000 preschoolers out of Head Start programs.”

The AP (2/15, Taylor) says the plan “met an icy reception from Republicans,” and notes that its release “set off a predictable round of bickering in a capital that remains at

a loss over how to prevent the sequester, even as more and more details on the impact of the cuts are being released by panicked agency heads.” The AP adds that Administration officials, “in testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee or letters to the panel, gave more shape to what they say is likely to happen absent a breakthrough.” The officials warned of layoffs and furloughs of air traffic controllers and meat inspectors, reductions in disaster relief funding, and the removal of children from the head Start program, among other cuts.

The Los Angeles Times (2/15, Mascaro, 692K) reports that the proposal “has little chance of Republican support, even though neither party wants the automatic cuts.” The Times adds, “The White House and its Democratic allies in the Senate are returning to a strategy that has shown some success — portraying Republicans as protecting tax breaks for the wealthy at the expense of deep reductions in popular domestic programs.” Republicans, meanwhile, “are gambling that by resisting the president’s call for new taxes they will win the budget reductions that they were unable to achieve in the deal.”

Roll Call (2/15, Ota, Subscription Publication, 19K) reports that Republicans, who “are adamant that no plan to replace the sequester should include” new tax revenue, “strongly opposed Reid’s proposal.” Roll Call also notes, “The White House threw its support behind the plan, and called on congressional Republicans to ‘back off their insistence of putting the entire burden of reducing the deficit on the backs of the middle class and seniors.’”

McClatchy (2/15, Lightman) reports that while the White House “praised the plan,” it “faces at least two huge hurdles. It probably would need 60 votes to clear procedural hurdles in the Senate. Democrats control 55 seats, and Republicans have made it clear they’re in no mood for more taxes. Even if the proposal were approved, it still would need to be passed by the Republican-led House of Representatives, which would barely have time to consider or change the measure.”

The Financial Times (2/15, Politi, Subscription Publication, 448K) also notes that while Democrats, Republicans and the President have expressed a desire to avoid sequestration, the Democrats’ plan is unlikely to bring them closer together on how to make that happen.

The Hill (2/14, Bolton, Wasson, 21K) reports in its “On The Money” blog that the plan “would appear to have little chance of reaching President Obama’s desk,” given “opposition from House and Senate Republicans to increasing any taxes to replace the sequester.” However, The Hill also notes that the bill “could be a marker for talks on replacing the sequester in the context of the passing a bill to avoid a shutdown after March 27. That must-pass bill could become the vehicle for a compromise on the sequester.”

The Wall Street Journal (2/15, Hook, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) also cites Republican opposition to tax

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increases and reports that the bill is nearly certain to fail when it comes to a vote.

Meanwhile, Politico (2/15, Rogers, 25K) reports that Senate Democrats “signaled broad support” for the plan, noting that while “liberals like Sen. Carl Levin appeared to have reservations, all signals were that Reid would push ahead with the bill when senators return.”

Sequester Could Bring Layoffs, Furloughs On Capitol Hill. Roll Call (2/15, Dumain, Subscription

Publication, 19K) reports that it if sequester occurs, “the security systems in place on Capitol Hill” could be affected. Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrance Gainer on Thursday “summoned his nearly 925 employees to break the news that the looming automatic spending cuts could necessitate furloughs and layoffs, the first in institutional memory for the department. ... Gainer reported to his team that depending on how much of a cut the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms is forced to make, management could be looking at a salary shortfall of $4 million to $5 million and general expense reductions of $7 million.”

Budget Dispute Endangers Thousands Of Shipbuilding Jobs. The CBS Evening News (2/14,

story 2, 2:25, Pelley, 5.58M) reported, “That budget dispute in Washington is about to have a very real effect on the people who build and repair our military ships. That industry says 100,000 jobs in several states are on the line because the Navy is planning on delaying the repair of nearly two dozen ships. The official announcement is coming tomorrow.” CBS (Andrews) added, “The Navy’s budget cuts of $10.3 billion will fall hardest in the shipyards and involving the cancellation of maintenance and modernizations on 22 warships this year. ... The formal cancellation of shipyard contracts starts tomorrow. Layoffs could start in May.” CBS added, “Defense Department officials have warned Congress for months that the combination of budget cuts and sequestration were real and now those warnings are about to get very real.”

Interior Department Says Cuts Will Impact National Parks, Wildlife Refuges. The AP (2/15,

Daly) reports that the Interior Department is warning that “automatic spending cuts set to take effect next month could lead to reduced hours and services at national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands. The department is preparing to reduce hours and services at all 398 national parks and possibly could close up to 128 wildlife refuges. The cuts are outlined in a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee that was obtained by The Associated Press.”

Group Urges Lawmakers To Let Sequester Take Effect. The Washington Post (2/15, Farnam, 489K)

reports that the conservative group Americans for Prosperity

plans a campaign to urge lawmakers to let sequester take effect on March 1. The campaign, “dubbed the Spending Accountability Project, will build on technology and techniques that the group deployed to criticize President Obama’s policies ahead of his 2012 reelection. The group’s activists will use campaign tactics including phone banks and door-to-door canvassing with tablet computers to push conservatives to contact their congressional representatives in as many as 40 districts nationwide.” The group “will also consider wading into Republican primaries next year...threatening GOP lawmakers who waffle on spending cuts or acquiesce to tax increases.”

Pelosi Opposes Congressional Pay Cut. The Hill

(2/15, Lillis, 21K) reports House Minority Leader Pelosi “said Thursday that she opposes a cut in congressional pay because it would diminish the dignity of lawmakers’ jobs.” Pelosi’s comments “were made in the context of the looming sequester, which would force across-the-board cuts affecting most federal offices, including Congress. With lawmakers nowhere near a deal to avert those cuts, federal agencies are bracing for ways to absorb them with minimum damage to programs and personnel.” The Hill notes that Pelosi “also emphasized that Congress should do everything it can to preclude such decisions by preventing the sequester cuts from taking effect at all.”

The Daily Caller (2/14, Ballasy) reports that Pelosi was asked, “if she would take a pay cut if the budgets for her congressional offices are reduced as a result of the sequester. ‘Why should people who work on Capitol Hill pay that price and be treated as members of Congress are? It’s a hard question to ask me because — most of my colleagues are the breadwinners in their families; a pay cut to me doesn’t mean as much,’ said Pelosi on Thursday at the Capitol. ‘I mean, I don’t think we should do it. I think we should respect the work we do. I think it’s necessary for us to have the dignity of the jobs that we have rewarded. But, you know, this across-the-board cut, there’s an across-the-board cut. That’s just the way it is.’”

Wolf Bucks House GOP Effort To Extend Federal Pay Freeze. The Washington Post (2/15, 489K)

reports that Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) is “taking the lead in confronting” fellow House Republicans who “seem determined to pile on federal workers, as if to punish them for the government’s shaky fiscal situation. On Friday, the House is scheduled to vote on legislation that would extend the freeze until the end of 2013.” Wolf “has been particularly active and vehement in opposition to the legislation, H.R. 273, sponsored by freshman Rep. Ron DeSantis, a Republican from Florida. ... Wolf has badgered his Republican colleagues with 10 letters since Feb. 8 — ‘two a day, every day this week,’ said his press secretary. All of the letters say ‘vote no,’ and most remind the representatives that

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85 percent of federal employees are outside of the Washington metro area.”

Astrue: Policymakers Use Social Security As A Political Tool. The AP (2/15, Ohlemacher) reports that

departing Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue said Congress, the White House and advocates for seniors have “really walked away from Social Security,” leaving the program “fraying because of inattention to its problems.” Astrue said that instead of “making the hard choices to fix Social Security’s financial problems, policymakers ‘use it as a tool of political rhetoric.’”

Bowles, Simpson Say Bipartisan Effort Needed To Address Fiscal Problems. In a commentary for

Politico (2/15, 25K), Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson criticize the “continual fiscal brinkmanship of the past two years.” They argue that neither party “will be able to deal with this problem on its own and that any solution will require a bipartisan agreement based on principled compromise. Our generation created this mess, and it’s our generation’s responsibility to clean it up together. ... One thing is certain, if our generation does not solve this problem we created, the brute force of the markets will, and that will not be a pretty sight.”

Sebelius Urges Healthcare Workers To Spread Word About ACA. The Chicago Sun-Times (2/15,

Esposito, 405K) reports that HHS Secretary Sebelius was in Chicago on Thursday “urging those in the medical field to let the public know what’s coming” as “key parts of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul” take effect this year. Sebelius “said it will be critical for health care workers in communities — ‘the most trusted health care messengers’ — to spread the word among people who may have other day-to-day concerns, like finding a job.”

Cohen: Health Exchanges Will Be Ready To Go October 1. The Washington Times (2/15, Howell, 76K)

reports, “Republicans and Democrats warned Thursday that with major parts of President Obama’s health law scheduled to go live later this year, the Obama administration had better get it right the first time — or else risk permanently scarring the White House’s signature achievement.” With health exchanges set to begin enrollment October 1, members of the Senate Finance Committee told Gary Cohen, director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, “to make sure the exchanges’ computer systems work, are easy to understand and can share enrollees’ data across multiple federal agencies.” Cohen “repeatedly assured Republican critics and committee Chairman Max Baucus, Montana Democrat, that the exchanges are on track and in the testing phase.”

Obama’s Proposed Medicare Changes Could Save $160 Billion. The Christian Science Monitor (2/15,

Grier, 47K) reports that President Obama, in his State of the Union address, “suggested at least three potential Medicare cuts, though he didn’t provide a lot of details.” Whether those changes would “save substantial amounts of taxpayer money” depends “on how you define ‘substantial.’ It’s likely that they would not match the health-care savings suggested by the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles commission, as Obama claimed they would. But the ideas Obama mentioned form the well of the House on Tuesday night would save at least $160 billion by 2013, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Roll in administration Medicare proposals that he didn’t bring up and the dollar figure rolls even higher. That’s not chump change, even in Washington.”

Obama Plan To Cut Government Drug Costs Seen As Unlikely To Pass. The New York Times

(2/15, Thomas, Pear, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports that President Obama’s proposal “to lower the amount that the federal government pays for drugs taken by low-income seniors,” faces “formidable opposition from Republicans, some Democrats and the powerful pharmaceutical industry, making passage unlikely.” The Times notes “In essence, the plan would require drug companies to provide Medicare with discounts like those they now give to Medicaid. Specifically, the proposal would reduce federal payments for drugs used by low-income Medicare beneficiaries, including nine million people who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare.” A similar measure “was included in the administration’s budget proposal last year, and was introduced during the last Congress.” The President “returned to the idea in Tuesday’s speech, some said, because it is a relatively straightforward proposal that would not directly affect the care that seniors receive.”

Study: One In Nine Younger Women Have Used Morning-After Pill. The AP (2/15) reports that

the first government report to focus on emergency contraception since it was approved 15 years ago has found that about “1 in 9 younger women have used the morning-after pill after sex.” The numbers “come from a survey of females ages 15 to 44,” eleven percent of whom reported using a morning-after pill. The number is up from 4 percent in 2002.

Fewer US Troops Being Killed In Afghanistan. The Los Angeles Times (2/15, Bengali, 692K) reports that it has been 25 days since a US service member was killed in Afghanistan, marking “the longest stretch without a fatality since 2008” and offering a “glimmer of evidence that the United States’ 11-year war is in its twilight.” In fact, last year deaths among US troops in Afghanistan “reached a four-year

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low as commanders hailed a tipping point in a conflict that has claimed more than 2,100 American lives.”

Lawmakers Press Incoming Commander On Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal. The AP (2/14,

Baldor) says members of Congress are drawing comparisons between the current situation in Afghanistan and Iraq, where a withdrawal of US troops was followed by “increased violence and instability.” Gen. Lloyd Austin, who is expected to become the commander of troops in the Middle East, faced such questions at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday. Austin “agreed that plans to sharply decrease the number of Afghan security forces after 2014 could open the door to more Taliban violence.” However, Austin “declined to give his assessment of the Obama administration’s decision to pull 34,000 U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by next year. He said he has not been part of the deliberations but would look into it if he gets the job.”

Withdrawal Prompts Concerns For Declining Aid To Afghanistan. The New York Times (2/15,

Stevenson, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) says that as the US prepares to withdraw from Afghanistan, there are concerns that aid to the country will dissipate. Aid advocates “are warning against too precipitous a cutoff of financing from the United States and its allies. They acknowledge that corruption in the Afghan government and budget-cutting pressure in Congress do not help their cause.” The hope is that countries will stick to their pledge “to scale back aid gradually so that the Afghan government and other institutions have plenty of time to adapt.” Currently, US “development assistance alone exceeds the roughly $2 billion a year in tax revenues collected by the Afghan government.”

US To Face Logistical Challenges In Withdrawal From Afghanistan. The New York

Times (2/15, Shanker, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) mentions how the US is faced with a “hurdle” in the logistical challenge of removing the military equipment that has been assembled in Afghanistan over the last 11-plus years. In all, there are “more than 600,000 pieces of equipment valued at $28 billion.” It will always challenging to ship “MRAP mine-resistant troop transports and Stryker infantry fighting vehicles...and heavy tractor-trailers and tankers.” But, logistics handlers are “mindful that Pakistan closed the routes after American airstrikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at an outpost on the Afghan border in November 2011.”

Afghan Women Being Trained For Night Raids. The AP (2/14, Faiez) reports, “The Afghan army is training female special forces to take part in night raids against insurgents, breaking new ground in an ultraconservative society and filling a vacuum left by departing international forces.” The night raids have “long been a divisive issue

between Afghan President Hamid Karzai” and the US. Many Afghans “have complained that the house raids are culturally offensive. Having male troops search Afghan females is taboo.” Although US troops are still joining Afghan night raids, “the female Afghan special forces soldiers play an important role.” The will be assigned with rounding up “women and children” and getting “them to safety while guarding against the potential dangers of female suicide bombers or militants disguised in women’s clothes.”

Pakistani Parties Agree To Pursue Peace With Taliban. The New York Times (2/15, Masood, Walsh,

Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports that there was consensus on Thursday between Pakistan’s political parties on the need to engage the Taliban in peace talks. The push for “peace through dialogue” was led by “the Awami National Party, a secular political party that rules the restive northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, where Taliban violence has been most concentrated since 2007. The initiative followed recent overtures from the Pakistani Taliban that suggested it was ready for talks.”

Swat Valley Residents Feel Taliban Has Diminished Tourism Prospects. The Los Angeles

Times (2/15, Rodriguez, 692K) reports that a once vibrant ski resort in Pakistan’s Swat Valley region has been overtaken during the last five years by the Taliban. Much of the resort was destroyed by militants, but the government has technically retained control of the area in Malam Jabba. Residents have given up hope, however, that the once booming tourism to the valley will return. They believe the government does not have the will, and that pessimism was only exacerbated by the Taliban shooting of “15-year-old education activist Malala Yousafzai in October.”

Hearing For 9/11 Defendants Features Legal Clashes. The New York Times (2/15, Savage,

Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports, “The retired admiral who runs the military commissions system was called to testify at a tribunal hearing on Thursday in the case involving the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 — and ended up arguing with a lower-ranking Navy defense lawyer about his handling of the matter.” The Times continues, “Adding to the unusual session in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, an official from the military prison there took the witness stand to explain why guards seized confidential legal documents during inspections of the cells of three defendants, including Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, while they were attending court or meeting with their lawyers this week. Defense lawyers used both episodes to keep the focus on the legitimacy of the military tribunal process that the government is using instead of a civilian trial. Nine months after the arraignment in the

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case, no trial is yet in sight; the next pretrial hearing is scheduled for late April.”

Businesses Increasingly Worried About Cyberattacks. The CBS Evening News (2/14, story 6,

2:30, Pelley, 5.58M) reported, “Attacks by computer are a major threat to national security. Today, Congress heard testimony on a bill that would allow businesses and government to share information to ward off those attacks.” From the California Command Center of the security firm Mandia, which monitors worldwide Internet activity, CBS reported, “Officials say US government and business networks are attacked thousands of times every day. Mandia founder Kevin Mandia, says more than 90% of the attacks he sees come from China and are nearly impossible to stop.” CBS reported that companies are “worried revealing details of attacks could weaken them with competitors and expose them to investor lawsuits,” but “Mandia warns hackers could do even greater damage. There is broad agreement a devastating cyber attack is likely at some point,” but “Congress has been unable to pass a cyber protection bill that the industry supports.”

WPost Urges Action To Curb Chinese Hacking. The Washington Post (2/15, 489K) editorializes, “Three major US newspapers — The Washington Post, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal — reported recently that Chinese intruders hacked into their computer networks, snooping for passwords and information about coverage of China.” The Post argues that the US “could begin to speak more firmly to China’s leadership about the problem, perhaps threatening to deny visas or expel those found to be involved in economic espionage. If a little pressure does not succeed, the United States could ponder more aggressive options, such as whether to launch offensive cyber-assaults to preemptively disarm adversaries.”

Obama Addresses Drones, Guns, Other Issues In Google+ Hangout. President Obama participated in

a Google+ Hangout chat on Thursday during which he fielded questions on subjects ranging from drones and gun violence to the nomination of Chuck Hagel to be defense secretary to why the Federal government has not done away with the penny.

The AP (2/15, Kuhnhenn) reports that Obama “offered assurances that drones...have never been used against a US citizen on US soil.” He “also defended his proposals to ban certain weapons and bullet magazines and expand background checks on gun buyers,” saying, “We already have some restrictions. ... We can’t purchase a grenade launcher from a store, although there may be some folks who want to buy those. And the reason is that we think that on balance the second amendment does not automatically assume that any weapon that’s available you can automatically purchase.” The President also “criticized

Republican senators for stalling the confirmation of former Sen. Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense.”

Roll Call (2/15, Dennis, Subscription Publication, 19K) reports that the chat “featured questions from bloggers and others across the political spectrum — including one conservative blogger who repeatedly challenged Obama on the minimum wage and other issues. She said that she had to let go two employees at a nonprofit the last time the minimum wage went up. But Obama contended that the minimum wage does not have a big impact on employment overall but would help many low-wage workers. He said that corporations who have seen record profits might have to take a small hit on their bottom line.”

Obama: Immigration System Is Stifling Economy. Bloomberg News (2/15, Sobczyk) reports that during the chat, the President “said the US economy is ‘stifled’ by an inefficient immigration system and that a consensus is forming in Congress that may lead to a rewritten law in the next few months.” Obama “has said he wants Congress to approve immigration changes that increase border security and create a road to citizenship for some of the 11 million undocumented immigrants already in the country. Bipartisan groups of lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives have been working on legislation. ‘My hope is that we can get this done in the next few months,’” Obama said.

Obama Hints At Executive Actions On Climate Change. Politico (2/15, Slack, 25K) reports that Obama was also asked “how he will get anything done on climate change.” He “hinted at what executive actions he might take and acknowledged that getting anything through Congress will be difficult. ‘Some of this is ideological, some of it is economic, and it’s not all partisan,’ he said in a Google+ chat. ‘I have to tell you that there are some Democrats, for example who represent states or districts that are heavily reliant on old power plants and are more heavily manufacturing based. ... At the core, we have to do something that’s really difficult for any society to do, and that is to take actions now where the benefits are going to be coming down the road, or at least we’re going to be avoiding big problems down the road. And it’s hard when people are thinking day-to-day about bread and butter issues.”

Obama Says Patent Reforms Don’t Go Far Enough. CNET News (2/15, Newton) reports that Obama said patent reforms passed last year “don’t go far enough to fully protect entrepreneurs from software patent holders who try to exploit them,” In response “to a question about what the government was doing to promote innovation — and protect against what the questioner called ‘patent trolls,’” Obama said, “We passed some legislation last year, but it hasn’t captured all the problems,” adding, “The folks that you’re talking about are a classic example. ... They don’t actually produce anything themselves. They’re trying to essentially leverage and hijack

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someone else’s side and see if they can extort some money out of them.”

Obama Favors Eliminating Pennies. The Hill (2/15, Easley, 21K) reports in its “Blog Briefing Room” blog that during the chat, Obama “said he supports eliminating pennies, but that it’s unlikely to happen because it’s so low on the list of congressional priorities.” Asked why the Treasury “continues to mint pennies even though the cost to mint them is more than they’re worth,” Obama said, “I got to tell you, I don’t know,” adding, “It’s one of those things where people get attached emotionally to the way things have been.” The Hill notes, “The president said the penny was a good metaphor for other inefficiencies in Washington that become institutionalized.”

The Huffington Post (2/14, Bendery) reports that Obama called pennies “obsolete and a ‘good metaphor’ for some of the more frustrating aspects of government waste.” Obama “said while it wouldn’t be a huge savings for the government to discontinue the penny — each zinc and copper coin costs 2.41 cents to produce and distribute, according to the mint — the fact that the government keeps spending money on it when it’s not being used much may mean it is ‘an example of something we should probably change.’”

Obama Declines To Weigh In On Baby Name. Politico (2/15, Slack, 25K) reports that Obama was also “asked to settle a couple’s dispute over naming their forthcoming baby girl (Eleanor or Alice),” but he “declined to take a side,” saying, “I’m going to leave this up to you guys.” The President explained “that if the couple decided against his choice, the girl would forever think the president of the United States didn’t like her name.” Obama “volunteered that he does have an opinion if the baby turns out to be a boy. ‘If it’s a boy and you want to name it Barack,’ he said, ‘that’s fine.’”

Obamas Have Valentine’s Day Dinner Date. The

AP (2/14, Anderson) reports President Obama, during his stop in Decatur, Georgia on Thursday, said he “was ready for a Valentine’s Day date with the first lady.” The President said his wife “made him promise to get back to the White House in time for their date.” Politico (2/14, Slack, 25K) says on its website that the Obamas dined at Minibar in Penn Quarter.

Jobless Claims Down Sharply Last Week. Bloomberg News (2/14, Chandra) reports that first-time claims for jobless benefits fell 27,000 last week to 341,000, “indicating an improving outlook for the labor market,” according to new data released Thursday by the Department of Labor. Additionally, “The level of filings was lower than any projection in a Bloomberg survey in which the median forecast was 360,000.” The four-week moving average, which irons out week-to-week volatility, rose 1,500 to 352,500.

Dow Jones Newswires (2/14, Morath, Portlock) reports that a Labor Department analyst said last week’s major snowfall had little impact on the numbers, though they were estimated for Connecticut and Illinois. Dow Jones says the new numbers point to slow but consistent jobs growth.

Reuters (2/14) is positive in its reporting on the numbers, saying that they raise the prospect that the labor market may be accelerating.

The Financial Times (2/15, Subscription Publication, 448K) similarly says that the drop offers hope that the labor market may be picking up steam.

The AP (2/15, Rugaber) says the “outlook for the U.S. job market is brightening after a government report showed a sharp drop in the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits.” However, the AP adds, “Economists were encouraged by the decline but want to see the progress sustained and more jobs created. Since the recession ended in June 2009, the job market has shown brief bursts of improvement in the winter months only to falter in the spring.”

Mortgage Rates Steady Last Week. The Los

Angeles Times (2/15, Reckard, 692K) reports mortgage rates “held steady this week,” according to Freddie Mac’s survey released Thursday. The average rate on a 30-year fixed loan was 3.53% for the third week in a row, while the average rate for a 15-year fixed mortgage was 2.77%, the same as the prior week. Both remain slightly ahead of their all-time lows.

The AP (2/14, Crutsinger) reports the record low for the 30-year note is 3.31 percent, hit back in November, while that for the 15-year note is 2.63 percent. The AP cautions, “many people are unable to take advantage of the low rates, either because they can’t qualify under stricter lending rules or they lack the money to meet larger down payment requirements.”

Foreclosure Crisis Waning. ABC World News (2/14,

story 3, 3:00, Sawyer, 7.43M) reported, “There are new signs tonight that after six long years, the foreclosure crisis may be ending. At its peak, 367,000 homes in foreclosure. Today, less than half that.” ABC (Muir) added, “The number of treasured homes slipping away from American families — dropping to its lowest level in six years. Down 28% across the nation from a year ago. Foreclosures down an eye-popping 65% in California,” which the report credits to a new state law that promotes short sales of homes worth less than the value of the mortgage.

Consumer Confidence Improved Last Week. Bloomberg News (2/15, Smialek) reports consumer confidence “climbed last week to the highest level in a month as improving labor and real-estate markets eased the burden of a higher payroll tax. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index rose to minus 35.9 in the period ended Feb. 10 from minus 36.3 in the prior week. The advance, within the

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survey’s margin of error of 3 percentage points, was led by waning pessimism about the economy.”

GM Notches Profit, But Down From 2011 On European Decline. The AP (2/15, Krisher) reports

General Motors “has strung together a tidy three-year run of profits by making big dollars in its backyard. Now the question is whether its U.S. operations can keep making enough to carry the company and cover widening losses in Europe.” GM reported on Thursday that it posted a profit of $4.9 billion in 2012, down 36% from the prior year. The AP adds that the company’s “net income fell because of European losses and a truckload of one-time accounting gains and losses in both years.”

The Wall Street Journal (2/15, Bennett, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) runs a fairly positive report, noting that GM notched a profit for the 3rd consecutive year and that revenue was up 1% in 2012 to $152.3 billion. However, it also notes the concerns about the drop in European profits.

The Financial Times (2/15, Wright, Subscription Publication, 448K) focuses on the company’s performance in Europe, saying that financial directory Dan Ammann admitted “concern” over the sales volume in Europe.

The New York Times (2/15, Vlasic, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports that outside of Europe and North America, GM “had modest success in its other international operations, reporting a $500 million profit in Asia and a net income of $100 million in South America.” For 2013, CEO Daniel Akerson said, “This year our priorities will be executing flawless new vehicle launches, controlling costs and delivering more vehicles to our customers at outstanding value.”

Looking forward, USA Today (2/15, Meier, Healey, 1.71M) reports GM “said 2013 results would be driven by a wave of new products in the U.S. and worldwide. ... GM’s new product schedule is just now recovering from a big gap created by its bankruptcy reorganization and will include what CFO Dan Amman called ‘an onslaught’ of launches extending through 2013.”

Proposed Airline Merger Faces Hurdles. ABC

World News (2/14, story 4, 0:25, Sawyer, 7.43M) reported, “Now it’s official tonight: American Airlines and US Airways announced a mega merger to create the biggest airline in the world; 130 million passengers a year. The American brand will live on. The US Air name will be retired. The merger deal still needs a stamp of approval from the Department of Justice, but it’s not expected to stand in the way.”

The Los Angeles Times (2/15, Martín, White, 692K) reports, “The combination of American Airlines and US Airways will create the world’s largest airline. And, if critics are to be believed, it will also cause world-class headaches for customers.” The Times notes that chief executives of the two airlines “promised an idyllic marriage that will benefit

consumers and shareholders,” but that “many experts and travelers, already frustrated by how expensive and time-consuming air travel has become, are dubious,” as approval of the merger would mean the number of major US air carriers would drop from 10 in 2001 to “just four — American, United, Delta and Southwest — serving about 80% of the market.”

The AP (2/15, Koenig, Freed) reports, “When the deal closes later this year, the four biggest U.S. airlines” will “all be the products of mergers that began in 2008,” but it is “not easy to stitch two airlines together. The new company will have to combine the separate computer systems that American and US Airways use for reservations and other functions, while avoiding the glitches that have plagued United since it switched to Continental’s system.”

The Wall Street Journal (2/15, Nicas, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) reports the proposed merger also faces antitrust review by the Justice Department.

The Christian Science Monitor (2/15, Haq, 47K) reports, “As it has in other markets, consolidation has steadied an airline industry dogged for decades by the effects of deregulation, rising fuel costs, labor problems, and the advent of low-cost competitors. Of course, that consolidation — the final chapter of which is the American-US Air merger — comes at a cost to consumers.”

USA Today (2/15, Jones, 1.71M) reports that “passengers on the newly merged airline will be able to fly across a vastly expanded map that would likely include US Airways’ East Coast hubs of Charlotte and Philadelphia and American’s strong international presence across the Atlantic and in Latin America. The combined carrier will also likely stick with American’s frequent-flier program, the industry’s oldest and one of its most popular.”

The Financial Times (2/15, Wright, Subscription Publication, 448K) reports that the proposed merger will require the approval of the judge overseeing the bankruptcy of AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines. The AMR restructuring, which has cut American’s costs, made the deal possible, according to the Times.

Big Mergers Making A Comeback. The New York Times (2/15, Lattman, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports, “For the corporate takeover business, the last half-decade was a fallow period. Wall Street deal makers and chief executives, brought low by the global financial crisis, lacked the confidence to strike the audacious multibillion-dollar acquisitions that had defined previous market booms. Cycles, however, turn, and in the opening weeks of 2013, merger activity has suddenly roared back to life.” The Times notes, “A confluence of factors has driven the recent deals. Most visibly, the stock market has been on a tear, with the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index this week briefly hitting its highest levels since November 2007,” and higher share prices “have buoyed the confidence of chief executives, who

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now, instead of retrenching, are looking for ways to expand their businesses.”

NYTimes Urges Deep DOJ Scrutiny Of Deal. The New York Times (2/15, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) editorializes, “The deal should cause antitrust regulators and the flying public grave concern because it would leave more than 70 percent of the passenger business in the hands of four behemoth airlines, which would have unassailable holds on most of their hub airports.” The Times urges the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division to “dig deeper” into a deal that would “essentially eliminate all competition on flights between several big cities like Dallas and Phoenix and Philadelphia and Miami, which are hub airports for the airlines. The antitrust division needs to investigate this deal rigorously and thwart the damage to competition.”

Major Stock Indexes Little Changed On Thursday. The AP (2/15, Craft) reports that “renewed

worries about Europe overshadowed” the positive jobless claims report on Thursday, “leaving major stock indexes roughly where they started.” The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 9.52 points to 13,973.39, while the S&P 500 Index rose 1.05 to 1,521.38.

However, Bloomberg News (2/15, Picker, Wang) is more positive, and reports the S&P 500 “climbed to a five-year high as a drop in jobless claims and Warren Buffett’s deal for H.J. Heinz Co. overshadowed concern over shrinking economies in Europe and Japan.” Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal (2/15, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) reports that the Nasdaq rose 1.78 points to 3198.66.

USA Today (2/15, Shell, 1.71M) runs a very positive review of the market’s performance, saying, “Wall Street has already ordered the champagne as the Dow continues to flirt with closing at a new all-time high.” Noting that the DJIA is currently 191 points shy of its record, USA Today adds, “A new high is not likely to convince all the skeptics that the market’s dark period is over. But at least it is likely to provide good cheer to anyone with a 401(k).”

Warren Leading Fight To Confirm Cordray, Keep Big Banks In Check. The Washington Post

(2/15, Douglas, 489K) reports that four years after she led the crusade to create the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Sen. Elizabeth Warren is now trying to keep the agency’s “power intact as her Republican colleagues vow to block the confirmation of CFPB director Richard Cordray.” Working with Sens. Sherrod Brown and Jack Reed, Warren is “calling on Republicans to bring Cordray’s confirmation to a vote. In response to GOP claims that the bureau operates without controls, the senators noted that CFPB can be overruled by the Financial Stability Oversight Council and has a statutory cap on its funding.”

The Boston Globe (2/15, Uberti, 250K) says that Warren ended her relatively quiet first month in the Senate by

rebuking “federal regulators for settling civil cases with big banks instead of taking them to trial.” The challenge came during Warren’s first hearing as a member of the Senate Banking Committee. Warren noted “that she had often sat at the same witness table before becoming a senator, she used her new power to question why the federal government has not been more aggressive.” Republicans held back on their attacks of Cordray, who testified, “in effect clearing the path for Warren to take the limelight.”

The Hill (2/15, 21K) says that Warren “quickly reassumed her mantle as a fierce Wall Street critic, pushing regulators at a Thursday hearing on the Dodd-Frank financial reform law to acknowledge they could not remember the last time they had taken banks to trial for misbehavior.” The Huffington Post (2/14) characterized the Thursday hearing as Warren embarrassing “hapless bank regulators.”

Boxer Backs Climate Bill That Would Tax Carbon Emissions. USA Today (2/14, Chebium,

1.71M) reports Sen. Barbara Boxer is co-sponsoring a “bill that would tax carbon and methane emissions linked to global warming and use the money for consumer rebates and to finance a raft of new clean-energy projects.” Boxer faces a steep fight. The legislation, written by Sen. Bernie Sanders, “faces little to no chance of passing and is sure to face fierce opposition from industry groups and congressional Republicans.” But, Boxer “was undaunted by the political difficulties and urged lawmakers to act before it’s too late.” Under the plan, “companies would pay $20 per ton of carbon or methane they emit. The tax would increase by 5.6% for each of the next 10 years.”

The Hill (2/15, Colman, 21K) also says passage “is unlikely.” But Boxer believes “bringing it to the floor would signal Democrats want a more public political battle on climate change.”

Climate Change Poses Massive Financial Risk For Government, GAO Says. The Washington Post (2/15, Rein, Eilperin, 489K) reports natural disasters due to climate change may wreak havoc on crop yields, bridges and other infrastructure, posing a massive financial risk for the Federal government, according to a new Government Accountability Office report. The document says “these risks, along with the threat of gaps in critical weather forecasting satellites that could last years, topped a biennial list” of the biggest risks to the Federal government.

Menendez Further Scrutinized For Donor Ties. Roll Call (2/15, Becker, Subscription Publication, 19K) reports Sen. Robert Menendez “continues to be hammered in media reports this week, with scrutiny expanding beyond alleged rendezvous with prostitutes and his cozy relationship with longtime doctor-donor friend Salomon Melgen.” New reports say that almost 10 years ago, Menendez “made a failed attempted to stop a merger that would have hurt a company

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in which he had invested.” Another Newark Star-Ledger report claims “Menendez also assisted a company involved in a contract dispute in the Dominican Republic that benefited New Jersey investors who contributed to his campaign.”

Cruz’s Aggressive Start Underscores GOP Challenge. Politico (2/15, Raju, 25K) reports that

freshman Texas Sen. Ted Cruz “has quickly become a lightning rod” on a host of issues. His approach is “upending the Senate’s conventional ways, in which freshmen typically work quietly to build bridges with their colleagues.” Cruz’s “style underscores the dilemma facing Republicans as they seek a way out of the political wilderness: Rising stars like Cruz, a tea party favorite, are winning elections and GOP primaries. But their no-compromise, firebrand styles could turn off voters eager to see the two parties start making deals.”

Ruth Marcus, in her column for the Washington Post (2/15, 489K), says that Ted Cruz “is not going to win Senator Congeniality.” Marcus adds, “Cruz has taken the wear-their-scorn-as-a-badge-of-honor approach with his liberal critics.” All indications from Cruz’s start are “that there’s little he won’t do in pursuit of his prey.”

LaPierre Says Obama Has Abandoned School Safety Cause. In a speech to the National Wild Turkey

Federation in Nashville that was promoted as the NRA’s response to President Obama’s State of the Union call for new gun control laws, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre reiterated his call for armed guards in schools and called on gun owners to “stand and fight” for their Second Amendment rights. Much of the print coverage this morning focuses on LaPierre’s claim that the President has abandoned the cause of school safety, which he championed in the immediate wake of the Sandy Hook shootings, and is now engaged in an effort to take guns away from law-abiding citizens.

For example, the AP (2/15, Schelzig) reports that LaPierre noted that Obama’s speech “didn’t mention school security. He dismissed Obama’s calls for background checks for all firearms purchases and bans on assault weapons and ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. ‘We will not be duped by the hypocrisy in the White House or the Congress who would deny our right to semi-automatic technology, and the magazines we need to defend ourselves and our families,’ he said. LaPierre said the proponents’ real intentions would be to ‘ban every gun they can, tax every gun sold and register every gun owner.’” The AP notes that LaPierre’s remarks “were milder than sentiments he expressed in an opinion piece published this week by The Daily Caller, a conservative website, in which he predicted the president’s financial policies will lead to chaos.”

Politico (2/15, Robillard, 25K) reports that LaPierre accused Obama “of abandoning the cause of school safety,”

saying he “displayed a level of political fraud and public deception that cannot be ignored.” LaPierre “contrasted the president’s remarks a few days after the massacre of 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., when Obama said ‘nothing else matters’ besides school safety, to the lack of a direct mention at Tuesday’s State of the Union.” Politico notes that LaPierre’s speech “fits with the NRA’s initial strategy of shifting the debate to school safety rather than gun control.”

The Hill (2/15, Strauss, 21K) reports that LaPierre said Obama’s “gun-control push was revealed as a ‘charade’ during Tuesday night’s State of the Union address.” LaPierre “said proponents of stricter gun laws are really just trying to take guns away from law-abiding citizens,” and “vowed that defenders of the Second Amendment would ‘stand and fight.’”

The Washington Times (2/15, Sherfinski, 76K) reports that LaPierre accused Obama “of trying to exploit the recent Connecticut school shootings to advance a decades-old gun-control agenda,” and “criticized the president for not once mentioning the phrase ‘school safety’ in Tuesday night’s hourlong presidential address.” The Times notes that he “received resounding applause from his audience when he declared gun owners would not shirk from the ongoing skirmish.”

LaPierre Claims About Looting In Sandy’s Wake Prove Untrue. The New York Daily News (2/15, Morales, Siemaszko, 543K) reports that in his Daily Caller op-ed LaPierre claimed that “looters ran wild in south Brooklyn” and “the National Guard was nowhere to be found after Hurricane Sandy struck the city.” The Daily News adds, “Never mind that NYPD stats showed that serious crime plunged in the aftermath of Sandy or that looting in Coney Island was largely limited to a few stores including a Key Food supermarket where 11 people were arrested for making off with food, water, toilet paper and diapers. Also never mind that armed National Guardsmen were patrolling south Brooklyn and actively helping in rescue and recovery after the storm.”

State Lawmakers Move To Block Federal Gun Control Efforts. The Los Angeles Times (2/15, Simon, 692K) reports that lawmakers in at least 20 states are “pushing back against the Obama administration’s drive to pass tougher gun laws after the Newtown, Conn., school shooting. They seek to exempt their states from any new federal regulations. Even before Congress votes on new gun laws, some state legislators are intent on promoting bills like the Firearms Freedom Act — introduced in Alabama, Michigan and Oklahoma, among other states — based on a theory that guns and ammunition made and kept within state borders do not involve interstate commerce and are out of Washington’s reach.”

Demonstrators Urge Tougher Gun Laws In Connecticut. The AP (2/15, Haigh) reports that thousands of people “rallied at Connecticut’s state Capitol on Thursday

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demanding lawmakers toughen gun laws.” Many in the crowd, which was estimated to be at 5,500, “said they wanted to make sure their opinions were heard. They said they did not want them overshadowed by vocal gun rights advocates who’ve successfully defeated gun control measures in Connecticut in the past, such as limits on the size of ammunition magazines.”

The New York Times (2/15, Applebome, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports, “The rally on Thursday, organized by two mothers from Fairfield, Conn., after the Dec. 14 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., was a reminder how much momentum for gun control has been created in a state still grieving from the killing of 20 children and 6 adults.” The Times adds, “At the rally...some speakers called for measures including an expansion of the state’s assault-weapons ban, limits on high-capacity magazines, universal background checks on weapons purchasers and mandatory gun registration and annual renewal.”

Growing Number Of Women Choose To Own Guns. The Christian Science Monitor (2/15, Terry, 47K) reports that while the safety of women is emerging as an issue in the national debate over gun restrictions, “it would appear that as women themselves do the calculus, a small but growing share is coming down on the side of having a gun. The gun-gravitation is not drastic: 15 percent of women in the US own guns. That, however, is up from 12 percent as recently as 2007, according to a Gallup poll released earlier this month.” The Monitor adds, “Broadly speaking, polls show women are more inclined than men to support new gun control proposals before Congress. ... But the argument that women need guns for personal safety and home defense resonates with many women — some of whom see government efforts to curtail gun access as a threat to their rights.”

Noting High Number Of Suicides, NYTimes Urges Responsible Gun Handling. An editorial in the New York Times (2/15, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) notes the “disturbing reality” that “nearly two-thirds of the 30,000 gun deaths each year are not the work of deranged mass shooters but the suicides of troubled individuals with easy access to firearms, often in quiet family homes. Banning assault weapons and requiring comprehensive gun registration can help reduce the scourge of guns; but suicides are also an issue of self-responsibility, resting in the hands of largely law-abiding yet careless citizens who make their weapons all too accessible.” The Times argues, “Firearms should be left at the gun range and locked up there, or at least secured under lock and key at home, firmly beyond the hands of children and potentially troubled individuals.”

Professor: Obama’s Call For Background Checks Falls Short. In an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times (2/15, 692K), Adam Winkler, a professor at UCLA School of Law, argues that while President Obama’s call for universal background checks for gun purchases is “a valuable reform,”

for to be “both effective at reducing crime and respectful of Americans’ 2nd Amendment rights, the president’s proposal falls short in two ways. Backgrounds checks should be truly universal. And they should be free.” Winkler writes, “By making background checks truly universal and free, Congress can please both sides in the gun debate. Lawmakers would be doing more to keep criminals from obtaining guns while still respecting the 2nd Amendment.”

Immigration Officials Sought To Boost Deportations Last Year. USA Today (2/15, Heath,

1.71M) reports that it has obtained new records which show that US immigration officials “laid out plans last year that would ratchet up expulsions of immigrants convicted of minor crimes as part of an urgent push to make sure the government would not fall short of its criminal deportation targets.” Tactics included “trolling state driver’s license records for information about foreign-born applicants, dispatching U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to traffic safety checkpoints conducted by police departments, and processing more illegal immigrants who had been booked into jails for low-level offenses.” While the effort “came after senior ICE officials in Washington warned its regional enforcement chiefs that criminal deportations had fallen from the year before and instructed them to get the numbers back up,” ICE spokeswoman Gillian Christensen “said in a statement that ‘ICE does not have quotas.’”

US Citizens Married To Illegal Immigrants Face A “Catch-22.” The Christian Science Monitor (2/15, Grant, 47K) reports on the difficulties facing married couples in which one spouse is a US citizen and the other is without legal status, noting that US law “requires nearly all those who wish to adjust their citizenship status to apply from abroad, and those who have been in the country illegally for more than a year are barred from reentering the US for 10 years after they exit the country.” The Monitor reports, “Fixes to the system could include allowing immigrants...to return to the US at least until final adjudication or expanding applications for ‘extreme hardship’ waivers to include marriages and situations involving children who are US citizens. Until then, however, undocumented persons and their US citizen spouses are stuck in a Catch-22: leave the country and pray the government approves a hardship waiver or stay in the US fearing deportation.”

Boehner Says House May Take Up Senate Version Of VAWA. In what the Huffington Post (2/14,

Bendery) calls a “major shift from last year’s debate” over the Violence Against Women Act, House Speaker Boehner “signaled that he may be open to taking up the expanded VAWA bill that passed the Senate earlier this week.” The Post adds, “The fact that Boehner is even leaving the door open to taking up the Senate bill signals that this year’s VAWA debate may not be nearly as contentious as last

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year’s, which, it is worth noting, took place in the midst of a presidential election. The stalled Senate VAWA bill was frequently cited as part of Democrats’ contention that Republicans were waging a ‘war on women,’ a theme that resonated through much of the election cycle.”

McCarthy Critics Say GOP Whip Must Be Bolder. Roll Call (2/15, Drucker, Subscription Publication,

19K) looks into the style of House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, who “may be the most well-liked member on Capitol Hill among fellow House Republicans.” Roll call says that a majority whip “has to be part confidant, part enforcer. And it’s in fulfilling the enforcement role that McCarthy falls noticeably short, according to a broad range of Republican operatives, including former GOP House members.” Critics of McCarthy “say there are factors within his control that might allow House Republicans to present a more united front” against Democrats. They also say “McCarthy lacks the attention to detail and deep knowledge of the issues that make a good whip.” Some feel he is “too concerned with maintaining good relationships to exert party discipline.”

Capitol Hill Reformers Opt For Less Experienced Staff. A Washington Times (2/15, Rosiak,

76K) report says that members of Congress are avoiding veterans of Capitol Hill as they fill their staffs. Seeking to cast themselves as reformers, “eighteen members of Congress, including 15 House Republicans and one Democrat first elected in 2010, filled their offices with staff members who had an average of no more than one year of experience in Congress.” The Times says “having staffers plucked straight from a home district help maintain a focus on the district’s residents.” According to Legistorm data, overall “House Republicans had an average of 20 fewer years of cumulative experience in their offices, which average about 20 people, than House Democrats did.”

FAA Seeks Proposals For Six Drone Test Sites In US. The AP (2/15, Lowy) reports that in “a major step

toward opening U.S. skies to thousands of unmanned drones,” the FAA on Thursday “solicited proposals to create six drone test sites around the country.” The sites “are planned to evaluate what requirements are needed to ensure the drones don’t collide with planes or endanger people or property on the ground. Remotely controlled drones don’t have a pilot who can see other aircraft the way an onboard plane or helicopter pilot can. There’s also concern that links between drones and their on-the-ground operators can be broken or hacked, causing the operator to lose control of the drone.”

The Washington Times (2/15, Wolfgang, 76K) also calls the FAA solicitations a “major step forward for domestic drones.” The Times notes, “The six locations, which have

generated interest from more than 30 states, including Maryland and Virginia, will become the primary testing grounds for unmanned aerial systems, scheduled to enter U.S. airspace en masse in September 2015.”

Pew Poll: Public Supports Five-Day Mail Delivery. A Pew Research Center poll reported on by the

Washington Post (2/15, Hicks, 489K) says that “most Americans approve of the U.S. Postal Service’s decision last week to end Saturday mail delivery.” The survey found that “54 percent of Americans support the five-day delivery plan while 32 percent disapprove of it.” The change “garners bipartisan support, with at least 50 percent of Democrats, Republicans and independents supporting it.”

Many Sandy Flood Insurance Claims Are Still Unresolved. The AP (2/15, Caruso, Mulvihill) reports that

nearly 40 percent of flood insurance claimants from Superstorm Sandy “are still waiting for the final settlements they desperately need to rebuild. The delays have prompted criticism from officials including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has blamed the bottlenecks partly on ‘excessive paperwork’ requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. But federal data suggest that the speediness, or sluggishness, of the process may be linked to which insurance company is handling your claim.”

WSJournal Urges Christie To Veto PLA Bill. An editorial in the Wall Street Journal (2/15, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) says President Obama is seeking to direct Federal dollars for Sandy clean up to unions using project labor agreements, which unions prefer because they drive away competitors who don’t want to operate under their mandates. The Journal cites a study which found that PLAs increase construction costs and calls on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to veto a state Senate-passed measure that would expand the government’s ability to mandate PLAs for the kind of work that will likely come up as part of hurricane reconstruction.

Governments Seek Alternatives As Gasoline Tax Revenues Fall. The New York Times (2/15,

Schwartz, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports that, as vehicles become more efficient and people drive less, money collected from gasoline taxes have decreased. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, “fuel taxes provide some 40 percent of state highway revenues and 92 percent of the federal highway trust fund.” Moreover, most states do not tie the tax to inflation and many have not raised the tax in years. States have started to look to alternative means of road financing, including proposals to eliminate the gas tax in favor of an increased sales tax in Virginia or institute a vehicle-miles driven tax in Oregon and Washington.

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Computer Experts Warn Of Internet Voting Risks. Politico (2/15, Edwards, 25K) reports that computer

security experts and voting rights advocates say that just because “online voting is possible, doesn’t mean the U.S. government should try it for national elections any time soon.” Politico continues, “David Jefferson, a Lawrence Livermore computer scientist, said Thursday” at a press conference hosted by Common Cause “that hosting a national election online poses a national security threat. He pointed out three fundamental areas of attack by hackers or viruses, with no immediate solutions for online voting. ‘Client side’ attacks would trigger malicious software in a voter’s computer or smartphone itself. ‘Server side’ attacks could bring down the servers that would collect and count the votes and the ‘denial of service’ attacks could actually prevent people from voting and take the server down.”

Election Opponents Team Up To Help Fix Voting System. The New York Times (2/15, Zeleny, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports, “Robert Bauer and Ben Ginsberg, two of the nation’s pre-eminent election lawyers, have long been on opposing sides of legal arguments. Last fall they were quarreling over voter registration, early voting laws and how the debates should be staged between their respective clients, President Obama and Mitt Romney. But for the next six months they will be working side by side on a new presidential commission, surveying election officials and customer service specialists — possibly from theme parks and other crowded places — to find ways to streamline how Americans cast their ballots and reduce the long lines that kept hundreds of thousands of people from voting in November.”

Commission Finds Widening Racial Gap In Sentencing. The Wall Street Journal (2/15, Palazzolo,

Subscription Publication, 2.29M) reports that the US Sentencing Commission has found that prison sentences of black men were nearly 20 percent longer than those of white men convicted of similar crimes in recent years. The racial gap in sentencing has widened since the 2005 restoration of judicial discretion in sentencing by the Supreme Court, the commission found. The commission recommended that more weight be given to sentencing guidelines by Federal judges, and that appeals courts apply greater scrutiny to sentences that go beyond the guidelines.

Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passes Illinois Senate, Moves To House. The AP (2/14, Burnett) reports, “The

push to allow same-sex marriages in Illinois got its biggest victory to date Thursday with a historic Valentine’s Day vote in the state Senate.” The Senate voted 34-21 to send the measure “to the House, where it could be a tougher sell even though Democrats also hold a majority there.” Gov. Pat Quinn “has pledged to sign it into law should the House pass it too.”

Bloomberg News (2/14, Jones) says if approved, Illinois would become “the 10th state to legalize gay marriage.”

The Chicago Tribune (2/15, Long, Guerrero, 450K) says “under the measure, marriage officially would be changed in state law from an act between a man and a woman to two people. The legislation explicitly says nothing in the proposed law would force a religious denomination or minster to ‘solemnize any marriage.’”

The Chicago Sun-Times (2/15, McKinney, Buccheit, 405K) reports the bill’s chief sponsor, Sen. Heather Steans of Chicago, said, “It is time Illinois get rid of its second-class status for a segment of our residents and allow everyone the opportunity to reap the emotional, social and economic benefits and obligations of marriage.”

USA Today (2/15, Winter, 1.71M), the New York Times (2/15, Yaccino, Subscription Publication, 1.68M), and Wall Street Journal (2/15, Peters, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) also have reports.

Cohen Reveals Young Woman He Tweeted To Is His Daughter. The New York Daily News (2/15, Lee,

543K) reports Rep. Steve Cohen’s “tweets to a bombshell blonde led to a bombshell announcement on Thursday, as the young woman was revealed to be his secret daughter.” The Tennessee Democrat had “set tongues wagging in Washington with what were perceived to be flirty tweets to a gorgeous blonde university student.” On Thursday, Cohen “told NBC News he only learned he had a daughter three years ago.”

Politico (2/15, Edwards, 25K) reports Cohen said, “I Googled her mother, found out she had a child, and the math looked pretty accurate. The mom told me we had a lot of catching up to do.” The Hill (2/15, Kurtz, 21K) and Huffington Post (2/14) also have reports.

“Paws For Love” Pet Adoption Event Held On Capitol Hill. USA Today (2/15, DiBlasio, 1.71M) reports,

“It’s not every day when members of Congress step away from running the country to get covered in animal hair. But this Valentine’s Day they were filing in by the dozens to cuddle with adoptable dogs and cats.” The “‘Paws for Love’ Valentine’s Day pet adoption event on Capitol Hill” drew nine members of the House. The program “tries to get politicians to adopt the pets and raise awareness about homeless animals.”

Lautenberg Will Not Seek Reelection In 2014. NBC Nightly News (2/14, story 8, 0:25, Williams, 7.86M) reported, “Sen. Frank Lautenberg, the senior senator from New Jersey, a Democrat, announced today he will not run again. Lautenberg is a five-term senator, at 89 the oldest serving senator and the last remaining World War II veteran currently in the US Senate. The race for the seat will be

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closely watched. Newark Mayor Cory Booker has already filed papers to run for Lautenberg’s seat.”

The AP (2/15, Santi) reports that President Obama “called Lautenberg ‘a steadfast champion of the people of New Jersey.’” The senator “was facing growing pressure to step down. Though he has been easily elected five times in a state that has not sent a Republican to the Senate in 40 years, he was facing a likely Democratic primary challenge from...Booker. No Republicans have publicly expressed interest in the seat.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer (2/15, Farrell, 306K) reports that Lautenberg “announced that he would travel to his hometown of Paterson Friday to make a formal announcement. ‘This is not the end of anything, but rather the beginning of a two-year mission to pass new gun safety laws, protect children from toxic chemicals, and create more opportunities for working families in New Jersey,’ he said in a statement.” Lautenberg added, “While I may not be seeking re-election, there is plenty of work to do before the end of this term, and I’m going to keep fighting as hard as ever for the people of New Jersey in the US Senate.”

The Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger (2/15, Friedman, 326K) reports, “The decision by Lautenberg...marks the end of a political era in New Jersey and one that is likely to set off a fierce primary battle as Democrats...jockey for the rare open seat.” NJ6 Rep. Frank Pallone (D) “has privately told party leaders he intends to run if Lautenberg retires. Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) has also expressed interest.”

Bloomberg News (2/14, Dopp, Rowley) reports that state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D), among others, also has “expressed interest in seeking the post. ‘I cannot believe that after watching Booker for the last few weeks he gets a free ride’ from fellow Democrats to his party’s nomination, said Jennifer Duffy, senior editor of the Cook Political Report.”

USA Today (2/15, Camia, 1.71M) reports, “Ruth Mandel, director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, said Lautenberg’s decision is not much of a surprise given his age. ‘He’s probably decided that a six-year term and a tough campaign is not the right thing for him at this stage of life,’ Mandel said.”

The New York Times (2/15, Zernike, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports that “Lautenberg had already been leaning toward retirement but felt disrespected when Mr. Booker announced his intention to run for the seat in December, before the senator had a chance to announce his departure.” The Senator “was upset enough that he began talking of running again, tweaking Mr. Booker in public for not paying sufficient attention to his current job.” Lautenberg’s “office was tentatively planning to announce his retirement at the annual Congressional dinner of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce last month; when the day came,” the senator “was not ready to do so.”

The Washington Post (2/15, O’Keefe, 489K) reports, “A Monmouth University poll released Thursday showed Booker leading the senator 40 percent to 25 percent in a hypothetical matchup, while many voters in the Garden State consider the senator’s age a liability. Booker in a statement said Thursday that Lautenberg ‘has been a champion for the people of New Jersey for decades and his legacy of service will improve the lives of all Americans for years to come.’”

The Los Angeles Times (2/15, Mascaro, 692K) reports, “Holding the New Jersey seat will be a high priority for the party since Democrats already have a number of seats at risk in the 2014 election and are expected to be on defense as they seek to retain control of the Senate. While New Jersey has been solidly Democratic, ‘a messy primary could provide Republicans with an opening in the general election,’” the Cook Report’s Duffy recently wrote.

Politico (2/15, Haberman, 25K) reports that “Pallone, who has a close relationship with Lautenberg and a $3 million war chest...has long been waiting for a chance at this seat.”

On its website, The Hill (2/15, Jaffe, Joseph, 21K) reported that on Thursday, “Pallone confirmed he would continue [to] explore a Senate bid in the wake of Lautenberg’s decision. ‘It changes the political landscape because he’s not running. I’ve always been interested in the Senate, and I’m going to continue to explore it,’ Pallone said.”

Roll Call (2/15, Livingston, Subscription Publication, 19K) reports that Booker and Pallone appear to be “on track to have a New Jersey-style knockout primary,” which “would match an outsider with an army of Twitter followers, wealthy celebrity connections and television news fame against a congressman who has spent years currying favor with the state establishment to run for this very seat.” Roll Call adds, “A county Democratic Party’s endorsement gives a candidate preferential treatment on the ballot, known locally as ‘the line.’ ‘They can’t vote for you if they can’t find you [on the ballot],’ said one Washington Democratic strategist who is familiar with New Jersey politics. ... Sources say Pallone has quietly put everything into place for a longtime congressman to leverage the line.”

The Wall Street Journal (2/15, Grossman, Haddon, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) and the Washington Times (2/15, Chasmar, 76K) also have the story.

Illinois LG Simon Will Not Run With Quinn In 2014. The Chicago Tribune (2/14, Garcia, Pearson, 450K)

reports that Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon (D) announced Wednesday that she will not seek reelection “and will run for another office that will allow her to have a ‘greater impact.’” The Tribune notes that the announcement “leaves Gov. Pat Quinn without a running mate for the 2014 election and could lead to a game of political musical chairs as would-be candidates for statewide office wait to see which positions open up depending on who else decides to run for governor.”

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The AP (2/14, Tareen) reported that political experts say Simon’s move “points toward a possible run for attorney general, comptroller or treasurer, all of which are seen as stepping stones to higher office in Illinois, unlike lieutenant governor. But Simon’s choice of which office to run for would depend on how the gubernatorial race shapes up. ‘The fulcrum is Lisa Madigan,’ said longtime political strategist Don Rose.”

WPost Supports Obama’s Natural Gas Strategy. In an editorial, the Washington Post (2/15, 489K)

says New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Maryland Democrats, and others should listen to President Obama’s proposal to help speed up permits for new oil and gas permits. The paper says burning natural gas is cleaner than coal, and over time it could serve as a “low-cost alternative to dirtier fossil fuels in a program to steadily green the economy.” The Post criticizes Cuomo’s Administration’s and Maryland Democrats’ for “dragging their feet” on fracking, and says they should follow the President efforts to strengthen regulations to “make extracting gas much cleaner.”

WSJournal Opposes Restriction Of LNG Exports. In an editorial, the Wall Street Journal (2/15, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) states that politicians should not have a say in when and where companies can sell goods. The Journal takes issue, therefore, with the Obama Administration limiting the number of liquefied natural gas export terminals.

WPost Calls On District Of Columbia Officials To Approve Charter Network. Noting that the District

of Columbia is “in urgent need of schools that can perform,” an editorial in the Washington Post (2/15, 489K) pans District officials for their resistance to allowing charter school operator Rocketship Education to open schools in the city. The Post points out that some 43% of District students attend charters, up from 41% in the last school year. “Some worry that this growth weakens traditional schools and could lead to a shrunken system that could not operate a viable system of neighborhood schools. Never mind that the competition from the charter schools helped spur traditional schools to undertake needed reforms or that recent years have seen a stabilization of enrollment in the public-school system and even a slight increase this school year.”

NYTimes Backs Bloomberg’s Proposed Plastic Foam Container Ban. The New York Times (2/15,

Subscription Publication, 1.68M), in an editorial, supports New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s call for a ban on plastic foam containers. The Times believes it “could make an immediate difference” in terms of ensuring landfills are biodegradable.

Columnists Continue To Weigh In On State Of The Union Address. Columnists continue their

assessment of President Obama’s Tuesday State of the Union address. Eugene Robinson, in the Washington Post (2/15, 489K), calls the speech “a detailed reiteration of his position that we can and must act to secure our future — and that government can and must be one of our principal instruments.” Robinson thinks that Obama is “winning the argument” with Republicans.

In his column for the Washington Post (2/15, 489K), Michael Gerson describes the speech as “Clintonian,” which he finds “reassuring.” Gerson says Obama “challenged Republicans” on climate change, spoke about an “AIDS-free generation,” and “outlined a centrist position on immigration reform.” Gerson concludes that “if Republicans find these measures ideologically aggressive, it is only because their ideology has become immoderate.”

Paul Krugman’s column for the New York Times (2/15, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) calls the Republican response to the SOTU “disturbing.” Krugman thinks the Republican party has not learned form failed economic lessons, and says that “it apparently believes that all will be well if it just keeps repeating the old slogans, but louder.”

Lazarus Argues Against Deregulation. In his

column for the Los Angeles Times (2/15, 692K), David Lazarus makes a case against deregulation, arguing that there is not “a single example of consumer prices going down and market competition increasing after deregulation of a U.S. industry.” Lazarus writes, “Over the long haul, the benefits of deregulation increasingly belong to companies,” adding that government should “unleash all those wonderful market forces that can come with allowing businesses to run with the ball, but draw the line when, as always seems to happen, businesses run instead into one another’s arms. Unless your idea of a healthy market is to have just two major phone companies, or two major cable companies, or two major airlines. Or fewer.”

Writer: STEM Education Depends On Humanities Foundation. In an op-ed in the

Washington Post (2/15, 489K), author and Institute for Advanced Study professor Danielle Allen writes about President Obama’s calls for supporting schools that focus on STEM education in his State Of The Union Address, noting that though such classes are important, “we don’t need to become a nation of technocrats.” Allen points out that even engineers and mathematicians must be able to read, which leads logically to the need for a focus on literature, language arts, and writing. “Nor can you do well in science and technology if you can’t interpret images and develop effective visualizations — skills that are strengthened by courses in art and art history.” Allen’s argument is based on the premise

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that technical education, and even basic citizenship, are based on a foundation of humanities education.

Law Professor: Campaign Finance Cases Before Supreme Court Will Chart Free Speech Protection. In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal (2/15,

Smith, Subscription Publication, 2.29M), Bradley A Smith, a professor of law at Capital University and chairman of the Center for Competitive Politics, which represents the plaintiff in James v. FEC, writes that despite the Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, political campaigns remain under substantial government regulation that he claims impedes free speech. Smith argues that three cases pending before the high court, including the James case, will demonstrate how aggressively the court will protect free speech.

Cloture Vote On Hagel Nomination Fails, 58-40. A cloture vote on Chuck Hagel’s nomination to become defense secretary fell short Thursday, with 58 votes in favor of cloture, 40 opposed, and Sen. Orrin Hatch voting present. The only Democrat to vote against cloture was Majority Leader Reid, in a parliamentary maneuver that allows him to again call the nomination to a vote. Four Republicans — Sens. Thad Cochran, Susan Collins, Mike Johanns, and Lisa Murkowski — voted for cloture. While this marked the first time ever that a nominee to head the Pentagon was required to cross a cloture threshold, Republicans insisted they were not filibustering Hagel and were only delaying the final vote. Senators of both parties said Hagel is likely to ultimately be confirmed.

As Nancy Cordes of the CBS Evening News (2/14, story 3, 1:05, Pelley, 5.58M) reported, Republicans gave several reasons for the move: “Some of them feel that this vote is being rushed, that they still have questions about Hagel’s record and his suitability to be secretary of defense while others think blocking this vote is their best leverage to try to get more information out of the White House about the Benghazi attacks last September. Democrats call it a fishing expedition designed to embarrass both the White House and Hagel himself.”

ABC World News (2/14, story 5, 1:00, Sawyer, 7.43M) said President Obama “was thrown a curveball.” ABC (Karl) added, “Today was the day the President hoped he would have a new secretary of defense, but Republicans blocked a straight up or down vote on his nomination. They don’t like him for a lot of reasons, but their complaint today, was they said he didn’t turn over enough information on his financial disclosure forms. The White House is calling this delay unconscionable and the President, in an online chat just a short while ago, said, quote, ‘It is unfortunate this kind of politics intrudes at a time when I’m presiding over a war in Afghanistan and I need a secretary of defense.’”

NBC Nightly News (2/14, story 3, 0:20, Williams, 7.86M) more briefly reported that the setback “doesn’t stop [Hagel]. The nomination isn’t dead. It is, however, a delaying tactic, as several senators press the White House for more information on the attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi last September 11.” The AP (2/15, Lardner) reports Republicans “have, for now,” blocked the nomination. The AP attributes the delay to the Benghazi information request.

Bloomberg News (2/14, Litvan) says it was “the first time the minority party in the Senate had threatened a filibuster” against a defense secretary nominee. Reid “said he scheduled the initial vote today because Republicans have engaged in ‘one stall after another’ in an increasingly acrimonious fight against Hagel.” Sen. John McCain said, “I will vote on cloture the day we get back, and I believe enough of my colleagues will do the same.”

USA Today (2/15, Davis, Jackson, 1.71M) reports confirmation is now delayed “for at least one week,” and seems to be “on pause but not in peril.” Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin was critical, saying, “Has this ever happened in history? Not to a nominee of the Defense Department, no.” But committee ranking Republican James Inhofe said, “It’s the Senate’s prerogative. It’s not a filibuster.”

The New York Times (2/15, Peters, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) says Republicans “took the extraordinary step of rebuffing their former colleague and fellow party member” during a “tense standoff...as one party tried to force the other into a more politically undesirable position.” Republicans had hoped to push Reid into delaying the vote until after the recess altogether. The Los Angeles Times (2/15, West, Memoli, 692K) says White House officials “had pushed for a confirmation vote before the Senate left town Thursday evening for 10 days, but Republicans blocked an effort to end debate on the nomination.”

The Washington Post (2/15, Kane, 489K) says Republicans “delivered a sharp rebuke to President Obama on Thursday when they began a filibuster” of the Hagel nomination. Both sides “still think the former GOP senator from Nebraska will be confirmed, but the filibuster brought stark condemnations from Obama and Senate Democrats, who decried it as an unprecedented partisan move against a nominee to lead the Pentagon.”

McClatchy (2/15, Douglas) reports Senate Minority Whip Cornyn said, “This is not any attempt to kill this nomination. This is not a filibuster. I realize that’s the headline that the majority leader would like the newspapers to write.” The Washington Times (2/15, Dinan, 76K) reports that “denying that the vote amounted to a filibuster drew an angry response from Mr. Reid.” Reid said, “If this is not filibuster, I’d like to see what a filibuster was. This is going to the absurd.”

The Wall Street Journal (2/15, A1, Murray, Barnes, Subscription Publication, 2.29M), New York Daily News (2/15, Friedman, 543K), Chicago Sun-Times (2/15, Sweet, 405K), Christian Science Monitor (2/15, Grant, 47K), Financial Times

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(2/15, McGregor, Subscription Publication, 448K), Politico (2/15, Mak, Raju, 25K), The Hill (2/15, Herb, Cox, 21K), Roll Call (2/15, Lesniewski, Sanchez, Subscription Publication, 19K), and Huffington Post (2/14) also have reports.

NYTimes: GOP “Hit A New Low.” The New York Times (2/15, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) says in an editorial that Republicans “hit a new low” as they “successfully filibustered” the Hagel nomination, “though he answered every question at his confirmation hearing and provided more paperwork than usual.” The Times says Hagel “is better known to his old colleagues than most nominees. A delay of another week or two, which some members said they were seeking, is not going to change anyone’s opinion.”

DOJ: Brennan Did Not Officially Disclose CIA Drone Program. The Huffington Post (2/14) reports

Director of Central Intelligence-designate John Brennan “didn’t officially acknowledge the CIA’s role in the use of drones in the targeted killing of suspected terrorists overseas during his testimony last week, a Justice Department lawyer contended in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit this week.” The Post continues, “The American Civil Liberties Union, which is suing the CIA for information on its drone program, didn’t identify any statement ‘in which Mr. Brennan allegedly confirms purported CIA involvement in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for “targeted killing,”’ DOJ attorney Sharon Swingle wrote in a filing in the CIA FOIA case on Wednesday. ‘Rather, plaintiffs cite instances in which members of Congress mentioned “targeted killing,” and general discussions of “targeted killing” that do not address the involvement of any particular agency.’”

Krauthammer Calls DOJ Drone Justification “Hopelessly Muddled.” In his column for the Washington Post (2/15, 489K), Charles Krauthammer writes, “The nation’s vexation over the morality and legality of President Obama’s drone war has produced a salutary but hopelessly confused debate. Unfortunately, Obama’s Justice Department memos justifying the drone attacks are hopelessly muddled. They imply that the sole justification for drone attack is imminent threat — and whereas al-Qaeda is plotting all the time, an al-Qaeda honcho sleeping in his bed is therefore a legitimate target.” Krauthammer adds, “Now, for those who believe that the war on terror is not war but law enforcement, I assert that they are living on a different and distant planet. For us earthlings, on the other hand, the case for Obama’s drone war is strong. Pity that his Justice Department couldn’t make it.”

Three Southeastern Governors Ask Jewell To Permit Atlantic Drilling. The AP (2/14, Szkotak)

reports, “The Republican governors of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina appealed Thursday” to Interior Secretary-designate Sally Jewell “to open waters off their states’ coasts to gas and oil exploration.” In a letter to Jewell,

Govs. Bob McDonnell, Pat McCrory, and Nikki Haley asked Jewell “to support their quest to ‘prudently take advantage of abundant off-shore resources.’”

McClatchy (2/15, Cockerham) says it is “questionable how much the Atlantic drilling issue will factor into” Jewell’s confirmation. While Republicans on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee “favor drilling in the Atlantic Ocean,” most of them “are from Western states, and they’re more likely to grill Jewell on public land issues closer to their constituents.”

McCarthy Likely To Be Tapped To Head EPA. The Wall Street Journal (2/15, Tracy, Johnson, Tracy, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) reports President Obama is likely to nominate Environmental Protection Agency Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation Gina McCarthy to succeed Lisa Jackson as head of the EPA. Jackson officially left her post Thursday. She would be likely to draw Republican opposition, the Journal says, though business interests see McCarthy as an acceptable candidate.

Acting Labor Secretary Making “Push For Visibility.” The Washington Post (2/15, Kamen, 489K) “In

The Loop” column Acting Labor Secretary Seth Harris “has made a recent push for visibility” that has some inside the agency “wondering whether Harris has designs on ditching the ‘acting’ from his title.” But Harris is so far not “among those most often mentioned for the nomination.”

White House Releases New Details On Benghazi Attack. The AP (2/14) reports the White

House says President Obama “did not speak to any Libyan government officials until the night after” the attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi. In a letter sent Thursday to three Republican senators holding up the confirmation of Chuck Hagel as defense secretary, White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler says then-Secretary of State Clinton “called Libyan President Mohamed Magariaf on Obama’s behalf on Sept. 11 to coordinate additional support to protect Americans in Libya,” and Obama spoke to Magariaf the following evening on Sept. 12.

The Washington Times (2/15, Dinan, 76K) quotes Sen. Lindsey Graham as saying in response to the letter, “During the entire attack, the president of the United States never picked up the phone to put the weight of his office in the mix.” He argued that if the President “had picked up the phone, at least two of the Americans killed in the attacks...might still be alive because he might have been able to push US aid to get to the scene faster.”

Rice: Focus On Talking Points Distracted From “Bigger Tragedy.” UN Ambassador Rice appeared on Comedy Central’s Daily Show (2/14, Stewart) on Thursday night, where her handling of the Benghazi incident was the primary topic of discussion. Rice was dismissive of criticism of

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her Sunday show appearances days after the attack. Rice said, “There’s always confusion when you have a tragedy of that sort and Americans are killed. The bigger tragedy, though, is we spent all of these months trying to figure out origin of talking points, which were cleared at the highest levels of the intelligence community, and, in my opinion, not enough time doing the service we owe to our fallen colleagues.”

Kerry Says Syrian Death Toll Reaches 90,000 As Rebels Claim Control Of Province. AFP (2/15)

reports briefly that Secretary of State Kerry said Thursday that the death toll in Syria “may have reached 90,000, citing figures given to him” by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal. Said Kerry, “I had occasion.. to speak this morning with the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia. The first thing he mentioned to me was in his estimate perhaps as many as 90,000 people have been killed in Syria.”

Kerry’s comments came the same day that Syrian rebels claimed to have asserted “near-total control” of the nation’s “strategically important” province of Hasaka, the New York Times (2/15, Mourtada, Gladstone, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports. The province, it notes, is “home to some of the few remaining domestic oil production facilities that supply fuel” for government forces. If confirmed, it would mark “at least the third significant gain by the insurgency this week,” after capturing the nation’s largest hydropower dam and a northern military air base “with much of its fleet still intact.”

The Washington Post (2/15, Dehghanpisheh, Ramadan, 489K) says, “Taken together, the rebel gains in less than a week appear to signify renewed momentum after several weeks of relative stalemate,” particularly in Aleppo and Damascus. Noting rebel claims yesterday to have also shot down three jet aircraft, the Post says “if proved true, raises the question once again of whether the rebels are receiving heavier weaponry, such as surface-to-air missiles, either from foreign supporters or from Syrian military bases they have captured.”

Noting this week’s rebel gains, the AP (2/15, Hubbard) reports that the Assad regime still “does not appear on the brink of collapse,” but the victories have “shrunk the portion of the country that Assad effectively governs and could deprive his regime of resources necessary for its survival.”

Regime Rejects Russian Offer For Talks With Opposition. The Washington Post (2/15, DeYoung, Dehghanpisheh, 489K), meanwhile, reports that a “small window of opportunity for a political solution...appeared to close Thursday” when the Assad regime “rejected a meeting in Moscow with the head of the opposition coalition.” Syria’s Foreign Ministry said that, “despite reports about a Moscow ‘meeting with the opposition,’ the regime was open only to talks inside Syria.” The Syrian Opposition Coalition “also said there would be no Moscow meeting.”

Report: New Peace Plan Circulated At UN. Citing a report in Asharq Alawsat, AFP (2/14) says a new peace plan, “involving the creation of a senate to oversee a power transition, is currently making the rounds in the United Nations.” The newspaper “reported that it had obtained a copy of the plan,” which is says had been drafted “under UN supervision.” The draft does not, however, address Assad’s fate.

Turkey Opens School For Syrian Refugees. The Washington Post (2/15, Johnson, 489K) reports this morning that a new school for Syrian refugees has been opened in Turkey in a “still-under-construction apartment building.” According to the Post, when the middle and high school opened “late last year, many of its students had not attended classes in more than a year,” and “nearly immediately, 600 students enrolled.”

Journalist In Syria Warns Of Rebel Willingness To Continue War. Freelance journalist J. Malcolm Garcia, in an op-ed in the New York Times (2/15, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) that he wrote from Aleppo, says that rebels with the Free Syrian Army “seem content with fighting a war with no clear end in sight.” A commander told Garcia, that “without war, without guns, many of these fighters would most likely be unemployed or back at school. Their bravery and passion can’t be denied, but the longer the war lasts, the longer they have a purpose.”

UN Chief Warns Iran Could Use Talks To Stall As Latest Round Fails. In an interview with the

Washington Post (2/15, Gearan, 489K), UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday that the world body “must be decisive and swift in judging whether diplomacy can resolve world concerns about Iran’s nuclear program...or invite the risk that Iran, like North Korea, will use talks as a cover” to build a nuclear bomb. “We should not give much more time to the Iranians, and we should not waste time,” Ban said. “We have seen what happened with the DPRK,” he added. Ban called on the UN Security Council to “show a firm, decisive and effective, quick response.”

Ban was in Washington for talks with Secretary of State Kerry, who, the AP (2/15, Jahn) reports, “urged Iran to show flexibility” during upcoming talks with international in Kazakhstan later this month. “These talks can only make progress if the Iranians come to the table determined to make and discuss real offers and engage in a real dialogue,” Kerry said.

Their comments came as the latest round of talks between the IAEA and Iranian officials failed Thursday in Tehran. The New York Times (2/15, Cowell, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports IAEA Deputy Director Herman Nackaerts said that “ended inconclusively and that international inspectors had not been given access” to Iran’s Parchin site. He said the talks “could not finalize” a document that “once agreed, should facilitate the resolution of

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outstanding issues regarding possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program.” He declined, however, “to say whether any progress had been made.”

Meanwhile, a “a senior diplomat” told the AP (2/15, Jahn) that Tehran “has shown high-level UN officials” the new generation of centrifuges it recently installed at its Natanz uranium enrichment site.

US Calls On Iran To Release Two Opposition Leaders. The Wall Street Journal (2/15, Solomon, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) reports the State Department issued a statement yesterday calling for the release of two Iranian opposition leaders currently under house arrest, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. “We join the international community in condemning their continued imprisonment and the harassment of their family members, and in calling for their immediate release,” spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in the statement. “We are equally concerned by the ongoing bans on political parties and the imprisonment of political leaders in the lead-up to Iran’s presidential elections,” she added.

Iran Denies Supplying Arms To Shabab Militants. The AP (2/15) reports that it has obtained a letter written by Iran’s UN Ambassador, Mohammad Khazaee, to the Security Council rejecting allegations that it sent weapons to Al Shabab militants in Somalia as an “absurd fabrication.” Calling a report by UN experts monitoring sanctions against Somalia and Eritrea a “malicious campaign,” Khazaee said the group put forward “unfounded allegations and strange fabrications” for “propaganda purposes.”

US Not Planning Combat, Armed Drone Presence In Mali. USA Today (2/15, Dorell, 1.71M)

reports that the Obama Administration said on Thursday that it will not commit US combat support to the French-led “fight against terrorists in north Mali.” The information surfaced from House Foreign Affairs testimony by the State Department’s point person for Africa, Johnnie Carson, Deputy Assistant for African Affairs, Amanda Dory, and J. Peter Pham, an adviser to US African Command. Carson said the US has “no plans in engaging ourselves or putting boots on the ground.” No plans for armed drones are also in the works, according to Dory. However, Pham said that the US “may have to ratchet up the instruments it deploys” in order to keep Al Qaeda operatives from resurfacing in Mali.

The New York Times (2/15, Gordon, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) quotes Carson as saying the lead for counterterrorism operations in Mali will likely remain “in the hands of the French and not in the hands of the United Nations.” Carson’s remarks “reflected extensive consultations between France and the United States regarding the military operation in Mali and suggested that there would be a longer-term role for French forces in the country.”

Kerry Hails “Successful” French Mission In Mali. AFP (2/15) reports Secretary of State Kerry on Thursday

praised the “successful” mission by French forces to root out Islamic militants in northern Mali, and called on Malian leaders to hold elections. “We urge the government to continue the political transition process towards elections and to step up negotiations with the non-extremist groups in the north,” Kerry said.

Manifesto Found In Mali Shows Al Qaeda Has Long-Term Africa Plans. The AP (2/14, Callimachi) reports that Al Qaeda fighters in Mali left behind a “manifesto” as they were forced to flee Timbuktu. A document uncovered by the AP in the wake of French airstrikes that have rooted out Islamist insurgents is viewed as an “unprecedented window into the terrorist operation.” The confidential writings indicate that Al Qaeda leaders themselves expected a military intervention would thwart their expansion in Mali. The document exceeding nine pages reveals Al Qaeda “plans to operate in the region over the long haul.”

Threats Forcing Administration To Shift Focus To Africa. A Washington Post (2/15, Whitlock, 489K)

article examines how the Obama Administration’s desired “pivot” to Asia has been somewhat deterred by events that are leading to a “shift” toward Africa. Noting military involvement in Libya, Somalia, Mali, and central Africa, the Post says that Asia still commands a greater overall US presence. However, “it is becoming more common for the Pentagon to deploy troops to parts of Africa.” The presumptive incoming leader of US African Command, Army Gen. David Rodriguez, recently said in testimony that “the U.S. military needs to increase its intelligence-gathering and spying missions in Africa by nearly 15-fold.” Criticism over the Pentagon’s response to the attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi has also put pressure on the Administration to bolster its Africa presence says the Post.

Report: North Korea Upgrading Launch Site. The AP (2/15) reports a US research institute said Thursday that North Korea is “upgrading one of its two major missile launch sites, apparently to handle much bigger rockets, and some design features suggest it is getting help from Iran.” A report on the website of the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies “indicates that North Korea has made significant progress since October in constructing a new launchpad and other facilities at Tonghae.” Based on commercial satellite photos taken in January, the AP says the design features haven’t been used by Pyongyang before and are “similar” to a launch complex in Semnan, Iran.

South Korea Stages Military Drill, Deploys New Missile. The New York Times (2/15, Choe, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports that in an apparent show of force following the North’s latest nuclear test, South Korea “staged large military drills and disclosed a new cruise missile capable of hitting any target in North Korea.”

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Cato’s Carpenter Calls For US Engagement With North Korea. The Cato Institute’s Ted Galen Carpenter writes in the Washington Post (2/15, 489K) that after North Korea’s nuclear test “the West’s reaction has been as predictable as it will be ineffective: lots of hand-wringing, calls for more sanctions, warnings of vague consequences if North Korea continues to violate U.N. resolutions.” Carpenter says the US should think about opening diplomatic ties with the North and “should enter into serious negotiations with North Korea, China and South Korea to sign a peace treaty formally ending the Korean War,” a move that he believes “would pave the way for reduced military deployments.” Carpenter feels it is “unwise to alienate a burgeoning nuclear power.”

Kerry Marks Anniversary Of Hariri’s Assassination. AFP (2/15) reports Secretary of State

Kerry “vowed Thursday that the United States would stand by Lebanon as he marked the eighth anniversary of the killing of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri.” In what AFP calls “a very personal statement,” Kerry said, “This act of cold blooded mass murder sent shivers throughout the region,” adding that Hariri’s assassination aimed “to undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence.”

Questions Linger About Suspected Spy’s Death In Israeli Jail. Updating the case of Ben Zygier,

the Australian-born attorney who immigrated to Israel and died in jail there, the Los Angeles Times (2/15, Sanders, 692K) says many questions remain as suspicions mount that he was working for Israel’s spy network. Meanwhile, Israel’s Mossad spy agency is “scrambling to contain possible damage to its operations in Iran and other places where Zygier is believed to have traveled using his Australian passport.” There are also “embarrassing questions about how a high-risk detainee could be found hanged in solitary confinement.”

The New York Times (2/15, Rudoren, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) says the death of Zygier in 2010 inside a “maximum-security prison cell” is leading to suspicion that he was “involved in the assassination of a Hamas leader that year.” According to a Thursday report from Kuwaiti daily Al Jarida, Zygier “was among the 26 suspects in the assassination plot, in which Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a Hamas official, was drugged and suffocated in his hotel room in Dubai.” The report said that “Zygier had provided the authorities in Dubai with ‘names and pictures and accurate details’ in exchange for protection, but Israel kidnapped him from a hiding place and imprisoned him on charges of treason.”

During Private Talks With Officials, Xi Stresses Commitment To Communist Ideals. The New York

Times (2/15, A1, Buckley, Subscription Publication, 1.68M)

reports on its front page that China’s new leader, Xi Jinping, visited Guangdong Province in December to deliver a message “to Communist Party officials behind closed doors.” Despite recent vows for reforms, “party insiders” say Xi told officials that “China must still heed the ‘deeply profound’ lessons of the former Soviet Union, where political rot, ideological heresy and military disloyalty brought down the governing party.” The Times, citing a “summary of his comments that has circulated among officials but has not been published by the state-run news media,” quotes Xi as saying, “Why did the Soviet Union disintegrate? Why did the Soviet Communist Party collapse? An important reason was that their ideals and convictions wavered. Finally, all it took was one quiet word from Gorbachev to declare the dissolution of the Soviet Communist Party, and a great party was gone.”

Global Economy Still Struggling Despite Cash Infusions. The Washington Post (2/15, Schneider, 489K)

reports on further signs that the global economy is stagnant. Data out Thursday “showed that economic output in Europe fell more sharply than analysts expected at the end of last year.” The GDP fell “0.6 percent in the last three months of 2012, compared with the prior period. Growth in Britain was zero percent, while Japan’s economy contracted 0.4 percent at the end of the year.” The Post says the “stagnation follows a historic run in which $5.5 trillion has flowed into the global economy from central banks in the United States, Japan, Britain and the euro zone.” This week’s G20 meetings in Moscow will likely focus on the “paradox of a cheap money/ slow growth.”

Malaysian Police In Standoff With Militiamen From Philippines. The New York Times (2/15, Whaley,

Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports Malaysian police “were in a standoff late Thursday with at least 80 militiamen from the Philippines who were seeking to stay by right of historic claims on the island of Borneo.” The militiamen claim they are “descendants of the leaders of the Sultanate of Sulu, an area ruled from the southern Philippines that in the 18th century included sections of the island.” As of late Thursday, the “situation remained peaceful,” said the police chief.

Russia Issues Arrest Warrant For Georgian Politician. The New York Times (2/15, Barry, Subscription

Publication, 1.68M) reports that authorities in Russia “issued an arrest warrant for a Georgian politician, Givi Targamadze, on Thursday, charging that he had incited riots in Russia.” They claim Targamadze helped “organize an anti-government march last May that culminated in a confrontation between protesters and the riot police.” Russian television aired video showing “Targamadze meeting with a leftist leader, Sergei Udaltsov, and two of his deputies, at one point

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offering to deliver large sums of money on behalf of a Russian banker now living in exile.”

Berlusconi’s Hopes Hindered By Italian Media’s Focus On Papal Retirement. The Los

Angeles Times (2/15, Kington, 692K) reports that former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s surge in popularity in the lead-up to elections may be halted by the surprise retirement of Pope Benedict XVI, which has “overshadowed” political coverage. According to polls, “the candidate with most to lose from blanket coverage of Benedict” is Berlusconi who had moved “to within 5 points of his center-left coalition opponents.”

WSJournal: Administration Right To Oppose Europe’s Tax Plans. The Wall Street Journal (2/15,

Subscription Publication, 2.29M), in an editorial, says the Obama Administration is right to oppose the European Commission’s proposal to tax companies for financial transactions. Such a move, as the White House contends, would hurt US investors, says the Journal, which encourages the Obama Administration to use the same line of thinking in dealing with capital gains and dividends.

Cohen Sees Fayyad As Being On Margins Of Peace Process. Roger Cohen, in his New York Times

(2/15, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) column, says that Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is the “most progressive and innovative Palestinian thinker on a Middle East peace settlement.” But, he has “been steadily isolated over the past several years. Undercut by Israel, undermined by his own people’s factionalism, unable to meet even once with President Obama, this dynamic Palestinian leader is now close to the end of his rope,” says Cohen. Cohen says the “absolutist” approach taken by Fayyad “has led to Palestinian defeat and humiliation,” and that seems likely to continue, he claims.

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