Pardon me for bragging...

about a home girl, but I'm just pleased as can be with Senator Patty Murray from right here in the Upper Left.

She's introduced legislation that "among other things, requires the government to fill the pay gap between a federal employee's full-time job and his or her soldier's pay. It also increases health care benefits, provides more money for child care and more generous student loans." according to a report in the Seattle P-I.

The "other things" include tax incentives to encourage private employers to help Reservists and Guard members fill the income gap cause by activation, as well.

With tens of thousands of part-time soldiers pulling full time duty in a war zone, this is a basic and long overdue mark of respect and appreciation for our troops. Why it wasn't proposed by someone from the party of the President who put them there, well, I can only say I'm not suprised.

I'm not suprised Patty stepped up to the plate, either. Everyone who claims to care about our men and women in uniform owes the Senator an expression of thanks right now, and a vote come November.