Weatherford Telegram
Hate crimes attachment irks Granger
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
Congresswoman Kay Granger (Fort Worth) voted against the National Defense Authorization Bill for fiscal year 2010 because it contained controversial "hate crimes" legislation that is not germane to armed forces funding.
"It’s indefensible that the Defense Authorization Bill, which should exclusively support our troops, is instead being used as a vehicle for a controversial social policy that goes against the principles of my constituents," Granger said.
Granger believes that all criminals should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of existing law without labels and, similarly, victims should be protected to the fullest extent of the law. She believes this should not happen in the Defense Authorization Bill.
"To use our troops as political pawns is irresponsible and sets a dangerous precedent," said the congresswoman who has voted for every Defense Authorization bill since she has been in Congress. "I do not approve of our bravest sons and daughters being used to move a social agenda forward."