Sandy Hook shooting changes lobbying dynamics for guns and mental health

The Washington Post reports on how the recent Sandy Hook shooting has altered the lobbying landscape regarding gun rights and mental health issues.

The Washington Post: Sandy Hook Shooting Reshapes The Lobbying Landscape On Gun Laws, Mental Health Services
The classic lobbying nemeses over gun laws have been the National Rifle Association and the Washington gun control group, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. But the Newtown tragedy is prompting some locally based advocacy groups that have previously been silent on gun control to consider stepping in (Ho, 1/6).

In other news from Capitol Hill --

Modern Healthcare: Better Data Needed On Preventative Health Spending: GAO
HHS and the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments could improve their reporting on estimated cost savings and cost-effectiveness of federal spending on preventive health activities, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office. The authors of the 45-page report, requested by Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.), wrote that additional information on the cost savings and effectiveness of preventive health spending would be useful for policymakers to have given the increased attention such programs have received. Preventive services include such things as immunizations provided in clinical settings and health education media campaigns (Barr, 1/7).