CNBC 2015 GOP primary debate: on Homeland Security

George Pataki: Far more to help our military & help our veterans

GRAHAM: This budget, if it is paid for, will put $40 billion dollars back in the defense department at a time we need it. The problems with the V.A. are real.

PATAKI: I think it was a bad deal, but I would have voted for it for a very simple reason. Barack Obama is the first president in American history to hold our military hostage. He knew that we needed funding for overseas contingency operations, $40 billion dollars that would go to support our troops. And, he was prepared, and had vetoed it, unless this deal went through. I have two sons, they both served overseas. One in Iraq, and one in Afghanistan, and I understand that we have got to do far more to help our military, help our veterans, and help protect our security. This is a bad deal, but to protect our military, I would have signed it.

Lindsey Graham: Problems in V.A. are real; threats to homeland are real

GRAHAM: Without national security, there is no economic security. Without the sacrifice of the veteran, all of our hopes and dreams are at risk. Hillary Clinton said that the problems with the V.A. are being exaggerated by Republicans. They are not; they are real.

Q: Gov. Jindal calls the 2015 budget deal a "phony deal, it doesn't do anything."

GRAHAM: Well, let me tell you what is real. The threat to our homeland. I've never seen so many threats to our homeland. There are more terrorist organizations with safe havens to attack the American homeland than anytime since 9/11. We're in the process of reducing our defense spending by half. I am looking at this budget with one view in mind, will it restore the ability to defend this nation. We're on track to have the smallest army since 1940, the smallest navy since 1915, this budget, if it is paid for, will put $40 billion dollars back in the defense department at a time we need it.