State of Connecticut Archives: on Homeland Security

Chris Murphy: Impose a war tax to give citizens a stake in battle

Murphy was unambiguous, calling the reimposition of the draft "a dangerous idea." Instead, suggested a war tax as a way to ensure every American has a stake in the battles the U.S. engages in overseas. "If you want to go into an engagement that's going to cost your country trillions of dollars...then let's pay for it as a nation," he said. "When was the last time you heard of a Victory Garden?...We didn't do that over the last 10 years so it was just easy to put blinders on while other people fought those wars."

Chris Murphy: Keep Groton submarine base open

Both Tong and Bysiewicz said we need to start closing bases overseas, bringing home the troops and support their education.

Chris Murphy: US aid to Israel had nothing to do with 9/11

Later in the debate, Murphy said: "This notion that Ms. Whitnum continues to proffer that Israel or United States aid for Israel had something to do with 9/11 is wrong. I'm not going to let her continue to say it without calling it out for the lie that it is."

Chris Murphy: Concerned about Patriot Act's impact on citizens' rights

Murphy said he cast those votes to extend the original bill while another was being finalized. "When the (second) bill was finally negotiated it was the wrong bill, so I voted against it," Murphy said.

Linda McMahon: Terrorists only need to succeed once; we must succeed always

McMAHON: Both. The terrorists only need to succeed once, while we must get it right every single time.

BLUMENTHAL: While I am thankful that there has not been a successful attack on American shores since 9/11/2001, real threats remain. It is therefore vital that we use both military and non-military methods to target and attack the terrorists where they are. This includes targeting Al Qaeda's organizations in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen as well as its affiliates like Al-Shabaab in Somalia. At the same time, we must do more at home to remedy the unacceptable flaws exposed in our homeland security, by improving information sharing, bringing together the best technology and the most effective management strategies to get people working across agencies, and to engage the private sector to collect, understand, and mobilize information in real time to improve our national security.

Matthew Corey: Defense is vital to our state's economy

Richard Blumenthal: Apologizes again for having said he served in Vietnam

Blumenthal said he was proud of his military record in the Marine Corps Reserves but on a few occasions out of hundreds of public speeches, he said he served in Vietnam. "I apologize as I have done before to the people of Connecticut, most particularly to our veterans, and I will continue to champion the cause of veterans," he said.

Susan Bysiewicz: Close bases overseas and bring troops home

Both Tong and Bysiewicz said we need to start closing bases overseas, bringing home the troops and support their education.

Susan Bysiewicz: If we had a draft, Iraq & Afghan wars would be shorter

Murphy was unambiguous, calling the reimposition of the draft "a dangerous idea." Instead, suggested a war tax as a way to ensure every American has a stake in the battles the U.S. engages in overseas. "If you want to go into an engagement that's going to cost your country trillions of dollars...then let's pay for it as a nation," he said. "When was the last time you heard of a Victory Garden?...We didn't do that over the last 10 years so it was just easy to put blinders on while other people fought those wars."