2012 Vermont Senate Debates: on Homeland Security

Bernie Sanders: F-35 fighter planes OK at Burlington Airport

Sanders said he was proud of the Vermont Air National Guard. "The F-35, whether one may like it or not, is the plane of choice not only for the U.S. Air Force, but for the Navy, Marines and much of NATO," Sanders said in a statement issued by his Washington office. "If the F-35 ends up not being located here, it will end up at a National Guard base in Florida or South Carolina. I would rather it be here."

Opponents say the planes, which are noisier than the F-16s they will replace, could erode the quality of life along the flight path. Sanders said the neighbors had legitimate concerns about the noise and that he and other members of the delegation would do all they could to minimize the problem, should the Air Force decide to base the planes in Vermont.

John MacGovern: No noisy F-35 fighter planes at Burlington Airport

MacGovern said he was strong on defense and supported the role of the National Guard in Vermont and the nation, but the upcoming decision that could result in the planes being based in Vermont would be bad for the community and the military because the planes are so noisy they could disrupt lives and drive down property values.

"I believe one needs to look at this matter with the cold, sober facts, not emotion, not partisanship, what is in the best interests of this community here, but also this country," he said. "It's not in the public interest to have the F-35 at the Burlington International Airport." He said it could be bad for the military because of the restrictions placed on pilots to minimize the noise of the planes. Sanders disagreed.