Can We Convince Congress It Will Be a Good Thing for Them to Step-Up and Fix the Absurdity of "Workplace Violence?"

I don't know about you, but I was in no mood to hear that Nidal Hasan gave his almost $300,000 of taxpayer paid salary to undisclosed "charities" (secret from you and me).  After forcing taxpayers to fund aborting babies and denying parental rights in abortion and birth control decisions for their child, we can't sink any lower. We are on our bellies.

Fort Hood

I saw a headline recently: Congress Mulling Fort Hood Heroes Act. What the heck is there to 'mull?' To mull is to  "brood over, chaw, consider, contemplate, delay, deliberate, examine," etc." There's need for consideration, deliberation?

 Legislation in the mulling pot:

 Senate bill S.1500, Honoring the Fort Hood Heroes Act sponsored by Senator John Cornyn, sponsored by four Senators: Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). And I thank them. Where is everyone else? The bill was introduced on September 12th, 2013 and referred to the Senate Committee on Armed Forces. Not a single Democrat and not a single co-sponsor from my home state of Oklahoma. 

 There are two bills in the House. I've read the summaries. So long as they change the classification of Hasan's charges and conviction to Terrorism or whatever gives the dead and the survivors the deserved benefits of dying and defending themselves against a Muslim jihadist, I'm happy.

 1) Rep. Tom Rooney introduced H.R. 3049, Justice for Fort Hood and Little Rock Heroes Act on August 2, 2013. On the same date the bill was referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. There are 5 cosponsors: Representatives John R. Carter (R-TX-31st), Tim Griffin (R-AR-2nd), Michael McCaul (R-TX-10th), Frank Wolf (R-VA-10th). Not a single Democrat and not a single co-sponsor of my home state of Oklahoma. 

 2) Rep. John R. Carter (R-TX-31) introduced H.R. 705, Fort Hood Victims and Families Benefits Protection Act on February 14, 2013. The bill was referred to the House SubCommittee on Military Personnel on march 6, 2013 - close to 6-1/2 months ago. There are 19 co-sponsors: Representatives Michael Burgess (R-TX-26th), Steve Chabot (R-OH-1st), Ron DeSantis (R-FL-17th), Louie Gohmert (R-TX-29th), Tim Griffin (R-AR-2nd), Sam Johnson (R-TX-3rd), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ-2nd), Kenny Marchant (R-TX-24th), Michael McCaul (R-TX-10th), Tim Murphy (R-PA-18th), Steven Pearce (R-NM-2nd), Phil Roe (R-TN-1st), Brad Wenstrup (R-OH-2nd), Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA-3rd), Roger Williams (R-TX-25th) Frank Wolf (R-VA-10th). Not a single Democrat and not a single co-sponsor from my home state of Oklahoma.

 The whole herd should have shown up by now in both Chambers, pen in hand - Democrat or Republican, it doesn't make any difference. This is not political. We're told the Department of Defense and the Secretary of the Army decided the murders were "workplace violence." They are un-elected bureaucrats. We need to fix it and fix it soon.

 Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) is the chair and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Find all members here.

 Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA-25th) is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Find all members here.

 Rep. Joe Wilson is the Chairman of the SubCommittee on Military Personnel. Find all members here.

 I hope you will call, email and tweet these Committees and encourage them to please move the legislation along. Do the same with your Congressperson and Senators. Please let the sponsors and co-sponsors know they have your full support.

 I encourage Republicans in both Chambers to stand up and loudly shame Democrats for not co-sponsoring, for stalling, for whatever they may be doing to slow the process. If any relative of any member of the House or Senate was wounded or killed by Nidal Hasan, we wouldn't need a "Heroes Act."

Had the charge been appropriate originally, the wounded would be receiving the medical care and job assistance needed and the families of the dead would have deserved medals in their hands along with the casket flag.

The only issue I can find is that the dead and wounded were killed and wounded on U.S. soil, and so maybe...maybe it's not really terrorism. That's like saying your mutt hound-dog is really a pure bred. One look and no one believes it.

 Besides giving these families some much needed relief, if you really want to honor them, let the entire Congress sign on as co-sponsors and move these bills quickly to the floor. You don't need much of a vote when everyone is co-sponsoring. Read the details of what Nidal Hasan did with your money here.

by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook