The LuLac Edition #3602, September 26th, 2017

THE BIG KNEELING DEBATE

There is no doubt in this country that people believe that there is freedom of speech. When the Trump ites yelled, “Lock Her Up” regarding Hillary Clinton, that was freedom of speech..
When they yelled “get her out of here” to an NBC reporter, that was freedom of speech. When they yelled about Obama being the Worst President in the United States, or not being born here, that was freedom of speech.
But once their freedom of speech was challenged, it became a different story. True to form, a segment of this country that responded to the dog whistle of the current occupant, are denying NFL players a right to a peaceful protest that was pretty much uneventful until the blabber mouth in chief made it a spectacle. It is no accident that he used the term "sons of bitches" blanketing black families with single mother households. Freedom of speech is okay as long as it is YOUR own freedom of speech.
Same goes for those on the Left who shut down Anne Coulter and others at Berkley. Same thing.
Two things amaze me about all of this. Longtime football fans, many adults who wear the jerseys of their favorite players now say they will never, ever watch another game again. (I imagine a child holding their breath as I write this stamping their feet) So because a few players initially did this, and their teams backed them, now the team is no good? The players you cheered for, fought over, ignored your kids for on a Sunday afternoon are now no good because your fearless leader tells you so? What one dimensional thinkers you’ve become.
Then there is the aspect of veterans and families of veterans thinking this is disrespecting everything those servicemen and women ever served for. Have they spit on the flag? Have they pissed on the flag? Have they given a middle finger to America by quietly, somberly making a statement?
The freedom those veterans fought for was freedom to say “Lock Her Up” as well as an action at a football game. Don’t tell me that it isn’t because if you want to challenge this on patriotic grounds, how patriotic was it for a candidate under the flag of the United States running for office inciting people to violence? How do you compare that to a peaceful protest? You can’t. But I’m sure you’ll have your justifications.
Fighting for freedom and sacrificing is not a Chinese menu. You don’t get to pick and choose what you like or don’t like. What you believe and what others believe.
It’s not like that. Freedom is that right, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, to express beliefs and ideas without unwarranted government restriction.
There are limitations like crying fire in a crowded movie theater but before we get our little itty feelings hurt over a gesture at a football game, let me say this.
If a certain segment of America put up with “lock her up,”, ‘grab her p****”, or this 

 during a Presidential campaign, don’t you start getting selective about athletes who chose to make a silent, non violent, gesture.

BARLETTA JOINS LOCAL VETERANS FOR ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

Welcomes Secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs, David Shulkin

Congressman Lou Barletta (Photo: Barletta office)

Congressman Lou Barletta on Friday attended a roundtable discussion on veterans issues, where he had the privilege of introducing the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), David Shulkin. 
“I was honored to introduce Secretary David Shulkin, and to welcome him to Mechanicsburg to have an important conversation with the veterans of our community,” said Barletta.  “Secretary Shulkin, who is no stranger to Pennsylvania, is a distinguished physician by trade, and uniquely qualified to serve as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.”
 The roundtable was well-attended by local representatives from the veterans community, who are best-positioned to inform the discussion on how to improve the services provided to those who have served.  During the conversation, veterans were able to share their vision on how to address systemic issues at the VA, including long wait times and claims backlogs.
In July, Barletta voted for, and the House passed, H.R. 3219, the Make America Secure Appropriations Act, which provides $78.3 billion for the VA – the highest level of funding ever for that agency.  In addition, the bill provides $69 billion for VA medical care so that veterans can receive mental health and suicide prevention services, treatment for traumatic brain injury, opioid abuse prevention, and other medical services, such as rural health initiatives.  The bill also includes $65 million for upgrading the VA electronic record system, as well as $156 million for the Board of Veterans Appeals to address claims backlogs. 
Barletta also voted for legislation in June, S. 1094, the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017, which would institute necessary reforms at the VA by providing the Secretary with the authority to expeditiously remove, demote, or suspend any VA employee for performance or misconduct, while maintaining due process for employees.  On average, it takes six months to a year to remove a permanent civil servant in the federal government – an unacceptable timeline given the immediate impact they have on veterans’ wellbeing.  President Trump has since signed the bill into law.
“I commend Secretary Shulkin and the Trump Administration for the action they have taken to restore veterans’ trust in the government that is indebted to them,” Barletta said.  “Already, Secretary Shulkin has helped usher VA accountability legislation through Congress, and has made the VA the first health care system in the country to publish waiting times at its clinics – a victory for accountability, which we owe to our heroes.”