State of Maine Archives: on Homeland Security
Eric Brakey:
Apply limited government philosophy to the military
I grew up my entire life being told and believing in a Republican Party that was supposed to stand for limited government. I grew up being told that the Republican Party and the philosophy of
limited government meant that we believed that for the most part not competent, can barely run the post office and DMV, and yet, we're at a point where we expect the military to run operations in 150 countries all across the world.
Source: RedAlertPolitics.com on 2018 Maine gubernatorial race
Apr 30, 2017
Bruce Poliquin:
NSA tracking of US citizens violates 4th Amendment
For years, the National Security Agency has systematically tracked and collected our emails, phone calls, and other communications. Notwithstanding the counter-terrorism purpose and provisions of the Patriot Act, this surveillance
activity of Americans might be in violation of our Fourth Amendment protection against "unreasonable searches and seizures." If so, these activities should stop and our laws tightened to prevent further such Constitutional violations.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
Bruce Poliquin:
Top spending priority is full financing of military
Freedom isn't free. A top spending priority for Congress should be the full financial and logistic support for our brave men and women in uniform during active and reserve duty. When they return to civilian life, our commitment must continue
to those who protected our homeland and kept us free. America must always be grateful to our military personnel and their families for the sacrifices made to ensure our special way of life.
Source: 2014 Maine House campaign website, PoliquinForCongress.com
Nov 4, 2014
Shenna Bellows:
NSA should target only based on individualized suspicion
Bellows is campaigning on repeal of the U.S. Patriot Act and wants to severely curb the National Security Agency's bulk data collection program--two issues that resonate with the left wing of the Democratic Party as well as libertarian-minded voters who
propped up Ron Paul's strong showing in the 2012 presidential caucuses there."What I think we need is targeting based on individualized suspicion, reasonable suspicion that people are engaged in criminal or terrorist activity," she says in response
to a question about what she thinks the NSA should be able to monitor.
Collins, seeking her fourth term, supports reforms to improve transparency and accountability but would not curtail the program to the extent Bellows wants to. "As
we increase transparency and erect further barriers to intelligence collection, we must be careful that we do not put our country at greater risk of attack," she said in a statement last month.
Source: U.S.News & World Report on 2014 Maine Senate race
Feb 27, 2014
Susan Collins:
Increase transparency of NSA but keep NSA programs
Bellows is campaigning on repeal of the U.S. Patriot Act and wants to severely curb the National Security Agency's bulk data collection program--two issues that resonate with the left wing of the Democratic Party as well as libertarian-minded voters who
propped up Ron Paul's strong showing in the 2012 presidential caucuses there."What I think we need is targeting based on individualized suspicion, reasonable suspicion that people are engaged in criminal or terrorist activity," she says in response
to a question about what she thinks the NSA should be able to monitor.
Collins, seeking her fourth term, supports reforms to improve transparency and accountability but would not curtail the program to the extent Bellows wants to. "As
we increase transparency and erect further barriers to intelligence collection, we must be careful that we do not put our country at greater risk of attack," she said in a statement last month.
Source: U.S.News & World Report on 2014 Maine Senate race
Feb 27, 2014
Susan Collins:
Mass surveillance justified by national security
Susan Collins has supported warrantless mass surveillance. Over the last seven months, the curtain has been ripped down around the covert mass spying operation.Thanks to documents provided by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, we now know that the
US government has taken unprecedented (and, according to 2 federal judges, unconstitutional) actions to invade our privacy & restrict our freedom.
We learned that the NSA collects a record of virtually every phone call, email, & instant message in the
US--who people contact, when, for how long and where they are.
According to Collins, she was never informed about the bulk collection of information on Americans, despite being the ranking member on the Homeland Security Committee. Many politicians,
perhaps conscious of not seeming soft on national security, have attacked Snowden personally or have argued that the security ends have justified the mass surveillance means. Collins, now that she has been informed about the programs, has done both.
Source: Portland Press Herald on 2014 Maine Senate race
Jan 4, 2014
Susan Collins:
Mass unwarranted surveillance is never justified
Thanks to documents provided by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, we now know that the US government has taken unprecedented (and, according to 2 federal judges, unconstitutional) actions to invade our privacy & restrict our freedom. We learned that
the NSA collects a record of virtually every phone call, email, & instant message in the US--who people contact, when, for how long and where they are.According to Sen. Collins, she was never informed about the bulk collection of information on
Americans, despite being the ranking member on the Homeland Security Committee. Collins now attacks Snowden personally & argues that the security ends have justified the mass surveillance means.
Shenna Bellows is running against Collins and has made
our freedom from unwarranted surveillance a centerpiece of her campaign. We need smart people in Congress who understand technology, who take the time to understand the intricacies of these issues and who stand up for our rights.
Source: Portland Press Herald on 2014 Maine Senate race
Jan 4, 2014
Shenna Bellows:
We cannot afford to be the world's policemen
International involvement of the US is one of those issues that will be important on both the local and federal level. "We cannot afford to be the world's policemen,"
she said, and pushed for strategic international involvement and for the US. To be diplomatic first and foremost.
Source: Machias Valley News Observer on 2014 Maine Senate race
Dec 4, 2013
Shenna Bellows:
No spying on foreign leaders NOR on ordinary Americans
Bellows calls out Congress for NSA complicity, amid reported US spying on world leaders including Germany's Angela Merkel. Among the critics of surveiling Merkel was Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who's chaired the Homeland Security Committee and now serves
on the Intelligence Committee.Q: Sen. Collins put out a statement saying that she's not aware of a justification for collecting intelligence on Chancellor Merkel, and that she would be telling the German ambassador that "it was wrong" for the
administration to do that.
BELLOWS: We absolutely need to stop listening in on phone calls of allies like Merkel. But we also need to stop spying on millions of Americans.
Q: What about the comparative attention that those two kinds of surveillance
get?
BELLOWS: It's certainly concerning to international relations to learn that we were spying on the phone conversations of some of our closest allies. But it's equally important to address the issue of spying on millions of ordinary Americans.
Source: Salon.com on 2014 Maine Senate debate, "Snowden"
Oct 30, 2013
Shenna Bellows:
Snowden was a whistle-blower, not a criminal
Q: What's your view of Edward Snowden?A: We need more protection for whistle-blowers so that we can have an open conversation about what's appropriate. His revelations have been a catalyst for a national conversation that we really need to have.
Q:
Should he be punished?
A: Daniel Ellsberg wrote an Op-Ed about how his revelations in the Pentagon Papers would not have been possible under current law that prohibits whistle-blowers from coming forward. And the ACLU and other civil liberties groups
have been involved in Snowden's defense. We have too much secrecy surrounding these programs.
Q: Do you believe that Snowden should be either charged with a crime or detained by the US government?
A: I do not think that speaking out about matters of
national import should be criminalized. Snowden is absolutely a whistle-blower and should be treated as such. He revealed government illegality and abuse of authority and we as a country depend upon truthful information about what the government is doing
Source: Salon.com on 2014 Maine Senate debate, "Snowden"
Oct 30, 2013
Susan Collins:
No justification for spying on Germany's chancellor
Bellows calls out Congress for NSA complicity, amid reported US spying on world leaders including Germany's Angela Merkel. Among the critics of surveiling Merkel was Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who's chaired the Homeland Security Committee and now serves
on the Intelligence Committee.Q: Sen. Collins put out a statement saying that she's not aware of a justification for collecting intelligence on Chancellor Merkel, and that she would be telling the German ambassador that "it was wrong" for the
administration to do that.
BELLOWS: We absolutely need to stop listening in on phone calls of allies like Merkel. But we also need to stop spying on millions of Americans.
Q: What about the comparative attention that those two kinds of surveillance
get?
BELLOWS: It's certainly concerning to international relations to learn that we were spying on the phone conversations of some of our closest allies. But it's equally important to address the issue of spying on millions of ordinary Americans.
Source: Salon.com on 2014 Maine Senate debate, "Snowden"
Oct 30, 2013
Susan Collins:
Cuts in defense are very troubling to me personally
Q: A poll asked, "Would you vote to defeat and replace every member of Congress including your representative if you could?" 60% said, "Yes, I would."COLLINS: There's a lot of justifiable anger at Congress and at the president for failing to
solve these [government shutdown and budget] problems. But I do want to say that despite what people may read, there are a lot of constructive discussions going on behind the scenes.
Q: Any kind of budget deal?
COLLINS: There could be a substitution of some of the mandatory spending cuts--such as the farm bill which would save $23 billion over ten years--
for some of the cuts in defense and biomedical research that are very troubling to me personally.
Source: CNN SOTU 2013 interview on 2014 Maine Senate race
Oct 13, 2013
Paul LePage:
Wreaths Across America: thank our men and women in uniform
I ask that we all take a moment to remember, recognize and thank our men and women in uniform. Recently, Ann and I had the opportunity to go down to Arlington National Cemetery during the Wreaths Across America trip. As I walked through rows and rows of
tombstones, marking the final resting place of our fallen American heroes, I remembered one simple truth: These individuals paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure future generations had the opportunity to pursue their piece of the American Dream.
It is a dream we cherish and the freedom that marks our lives is so rare for the rest of the world.The American experience represents a unique moment in time. We must not abandon it! If each and every one of our elected officials visited
Arlington, they might realize the political battles we wage are meaningless in comparison to the blood that's been shed to protect our American Dream.
Source: 2013 State of the State speech to Maine Legislature
Feb 5, 2013
Angus King:
Ok to target suspected terrorists outside of war zones
Q: Do you support targeting suspected terrorists outside of official theaters of conflict?
A: Yes. In the face of a foreign threat every option must be on the table, beginning with diplomacy and right through military force; a nuclear-armed Iran is a threat not only to Israel, but to the U.S. and the world.
Source: Maine Congressional Election 2012 Political Courage Test
Sep 1, 2012
Cynthia Dill:
Cut military spending such as weapons systems
Dill called for fair tax policies that require the wealthy to pay their fair share, and cuts in military spending such as for weapons systems.
All four candidates said they oppose unlimited detention of terror suspects, including by the Obama administration.
Source: Portland Press Herald on 2012 Maine Senate debates
Jun 6, 2012
Cynthia Dill:
Opposes unlimited detention of terror suspects
All four candidates said they oppose unlimited detention of terror suspects, including by the Obama administration. Dill said Congress authorized detentions with too little public debate. "I believe we have to
make choices and cast votes based on constitutional liberties and civil rights. There's been a total lessening of liberties" since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Dill said.
Source: Portland Press Herald on 2012 Maine Senate debates
Jun 6, 2012
Charlie Summers:
Bath Iron Works & Kittery Naval Shipyard are indispensable
We need a senator who not only supports our military, but also understands their needs because he is one of them. A senator who has served in both of the major wars of our time--Iraq and Afghanistan--and at the Pentagon working for the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A senator who knows the indispensable roles that Bath Iron Works and Kittery Naval Shipyard play in the defense of our nation.
Source: 2012 Senate Campaign website, summersformaine.com, "Message"
Apr 14, 2012
Charlie Summers:
Military tribunals for terrorists; deploy National Guard
Q: Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical?A: Yes.
Q: Should the United States hold foreign states accountable for terrorists who operate in their country?
A: Yes.
Q: Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support the creation of a federal identification card system?
A: No.
Q: Do you support long-term use of National Guard troops to supplement the armed forces in assignments overseas?
A: Yes.
Source: Maine Congressional Election 2008 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2008
Page last updated: Feb 13, 2018