Sen. Hobbs: ‘The home front shouldn’t be hostile territory’

OLYMPIA – Imagine returning from a tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan and discovering a new, insidious enemy in your home town. That’s the sad reality for many of the men and women returning from the Middle East.

“Unfortunately, some Washingtonians have vented their anger about the Iraq war onto the men and women who followed orders and put their lives on the line,” said Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens. “We need to protect those who have protected us.”

Senate Bill 5123, sponsored by Hobbs, would extend the state’s discrimination protections to all honorably discharged veterans and active or reserve service personnel. The law currently prohibits discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, families with children, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, or presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability.

Hobbs, a veteran of Kosovo and Iraq, believes the measure has a good chance of passage.

“I understand the frustration with the war, but denying housing, insurance or credit based on the fact that a person has worn a uniform is just plain wrong,” Hobbs said. “Vets deserve our respect, not our scorn.”

SB 5123 is scheduled for a Government Operations & Elections Committee hearing at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 23 in Senate Hearing Room 2.

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