Texas does what Obama will not do.
Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson announced Friday that the Texas Veterans Land Board, which provides loans and retirement home services to veterans and their families, will treat the spouses of those killed in the Nov. 5, 2009, Fort Hood shooting “as if they were killed in combat.”
More than 150 victims and family members are suing the federal government seeking to have the attack classified as an act of war, which would lead to increased retirement, medical and disability benefits.
The federal government has not called Maj. Nidal Hasan, who was convicted in the shootings Friday, an enemy combatant, which would open the door to Purple Hearts and expanded benefits.
The Statesman is partially correct. The Obama administration hasn’t called Hasan an “enemy combatant.” It has called his act of jihad on American soil “workplace violence.”
It’s not clear what Patterson’s announcement means for the spouses of the Fort Hood victims.
“We’re going to change the rules to give these families full access to VLB benefits,” Patterson said in a statement. “We’ll let the lawyers work out the details, but I intend to make sure we honor their sacrifice.”
Maj. Nidal Hasan was convicted Friday and now faces the possibility of the death penalty for his 2009 attack, during which he shouted “Allahu Ackbar!” while killing 13 and wounding more than 30.
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