Eye Opener: Nov. 5, 2009

Eye Opener

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• Cabinet and Staff News: Tough talk, but few results on Hillary Rodham Clinton's latest overseas swing. Obama's national security team is "incredibly weak," according to a new report. The acting GSA chief says his agency is gaining clout.

• Tribal Conference Starts Today: President Obama, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and others host the conference at the Interior Department. Representatives from each of the 564 federally recognized tribes will be in attendance.

• FHA delays the release of disputed audit of its finances: The agency's financial health has been a topic of growing concern as the agency's loan volume exploded and its default rate climbed.

• Pentagon expected to request more war funding: The financing would be on top of the $130 billion that Congress authorized for the wars just last month.

• SEC chief wants better shareholder voting: Mary Schapiro said her agency was eyeing the mechanics of shareholder voting and vowed to give shareholders an easier and cheaper way to nominate corporate directors.

• HUD audits: $220M to go to at-risk agencies: The government is sending millions of dollars in stimulus aid to communities and housing agencies that federal watchdogs have concluded are unable to spend it appropriately, increasing the risk that the money will be wasted.

• FDA launches plan to curb accidental overdoses: Under the plan announced Wednesday, the agency will work with physicians to identify the types of drugs that pose the greatest risks to patients.

• How to avoid drowning in Open Season's flood of choices: There are more than 200 health plan options, though the number offered in any one area varies from place to place.

• Girding for an uphill battle for recruits: Obesity and poor education make many younger people unfit for military.

• Veterans groups boost lobbying: With U.S. deaths in Afghanistan rising and the Taliban resurgent, officials from the hawkish Veterans for Freedom and the dovish Veterans for Rethinking Afghanistan said they are increasing their lobbying campaigns to dramatically change how America conducts the eight-year war.

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