State of Kansas Archives: on Homeland Security


Roger Marshall: Proudly supported a 20% increase in military funding

We must get our federal government back to its core functions--chief among them is national defense. Congressman Marshall proudly supported a 20% increase in military funding in order to fully fund Ft. Riley and the largest pay increase for our troops in 9 years. We must be certain the brave men and women protecting us have the tools and training they need to be successful on the battlefield, and the confidence that America will never renege on the promises made to them as veterans.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website KansansForMarshall.com Jun 17, 2020

Dave Lindstrom: Military funding should be untouchable priority

America needs to make as an untouchable priority a fully funded, fully trained, fully equipped, and fully ready to deploy military. Given the relentless pace at which conflicts are brewing around the world, and more recently to our south, America cannot be caught with military depleted as a result of funding a multi-million dollar habitat for a prehistoric sea urchin, or funding rebates for windmills. A strong military shouldn't be a political issue. It's just commonsense.

Our military defense commitments do not end when our servicemen and women come home. We must also fulfill our promise to them with quality health care, support for those who struggle from the effects of war, and support for military families. We cannot deploy our men and women for months and years at a time and not be there to support them and their families when they return to American soil.

Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website LindstromForSenate.com May 31, 2020

Barbara Bollier: Increase accountability of Veterans Administration

Barbara believes that we owe it to Kansas' nearly 180,000 veterans to demand proper delivery of the care and services they've earned. Keeping that promise means ensuring access to quality healthcare that puts the veteran first. It also means increasing accountability for the Veterans Administration, streamlining and modernizing the delivery of services and helping veterans receive the training and education they need to build strong careers once they've returned to civilian life.
Source: 2020 Kansas Senate campaign website BollierForKansas.com May 28, 2020

Roger Marshall: Ensure that our military installations are fully funded

"We must get our federal government back to its core functions--chief among them is our national defense. America is the world's pre-eminent superpower, but we cannot be the world's policeman. However, when American lives or interests are in danger, our enemies should know we will act swiftly and decisively."--Roger Marshall

The most basic role of government is to defend Americans. We must ensure that Ft. Riley and our other military installations are fully funded.

Source: 2016 Kansas House campaign website KansansForMarshall.com Nov 8, 2016

Patrick Wiesner: Served 21 years in military; 3 years in Iraq & Afghanistan

In 2014, Patrick retired as a US Army Reserve Judge Advocate (the military term for attorney) with the rank of Major. He had over 21 years of military service, all as a reservist.

His military career started out by enlisting in the Naval Reserves; he joined the Army as a direct commission First Lieutenant assigned to the team at Fort Leavenworth. This duty included travel throughout western Kansas working to prepare Army Reserve units for deployments by drafting wills and powers of attorneys for soldiers and giving instructions of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, reemployment rights, and the law of war.

He has served on three year-long deployments; twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. In his two Iraq deployments, he gave legal opinions on Army requests to use the Iraqi Security Forces Fund to train and equip the Iraqi army, police, and border patrol.

Source: 2016 Kansas Senate campaign website WiesnerForSenate.com Apr 1, 2016

Sam Brownback: Arm additional security at National Guard facilities

Last summer, in response to the attack on recruiting facilities in Tennessee, I ordered Adjutant General Tafanelli to complete a comprehensive security assessment of all Kansas National Guard facilities. Included in his report was a plan to arm and train additional personnel and make security enhancements to our National Guard facilities. My budget proposal includes funding to support these activities.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Kansas legislature Jan 12, 2016

Randall Batson: Strongly opposes expanding the armed forces

Q: Do you support or oppose expanding the armed forces?

A: Strongly Oppose.

Source: Email interview on Kansas 2014 Senate race with OnTheIssues Sep 19, 2014

Randall Batson: Bring our troops home; close bases overseas

While stationed overseas in the Navy, in some places the people of that nation protested our presence. Nations and people should be given respect. Our soldiers standing on their soil isn't the best diplomacy.

Bring our troops home from foreign lands and defend America. Claims that this is isolationism or being naive are incorrect. Peaceful trade and commerce benefits all and is not isolationism but expands peace and prosperity. Examples are our former enemies Vietnam, Japan, and Germany.

Source: 2014 Kansas Senate campaign site batson4senate.weebly.com Aug 31, 2014

Pat Roberts: $200M for new fleet of tankers at McConnell Air Force Base

Roberts has a tricky task in this campaign: to showcase his clout in Congress as a reason to give him another term without allowing a grass-roots, anti-Washington movement to coalesce against him. His balancing act was on display at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita last week. A group of high-ranking politicians, including Roberts, had gathered to break ground on a nearly $200 million construction project for a new fleet of refueling tankers. Roberts boasted that he'd been pushing Congress since 2003 to act on the issue, going as far as hauling in a 3-foot rusty piece of the aging fleet to convince lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee the investment was worth it.

Gov. Sam Brownback showered Roberts with praise for his work on the project, as well as his support for a $404 million research lab at Kansas State University.

Source: Politico.com weblog on 2014 Kansas Senate race Jul 8, 2014

Milton Wolf: Maintain a superior nuclear arsenal

Question topic: The United States must maintain a nuclear arsenal that is safe, reliable, modern and numerically superior to those of potential adversaries.

Wolf: Strongly Agree

Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Kansas Senate race Jul 2, 2014

Greg Orman: Understand costs of military action, including veterans

Too often we engage in military action without fully understanding the costs. At the same time, I believe that if America makes a promise or a threat we must actually keep it. Over the last two administrations we seem to have failed at both. We must also ensure that after the last bullet is fired we don't forget our veterans. It's clear that Washington has not honored that sacred commitment and is jeopardizing their lives long after they leave the battlefield.
Source: KSN.com Q&A on 2014 Kansas Senate race Jun 25, 2014

Chad Taylor: Advocate of a national defense respected throughout world

Taylor said he would work through November to introduce himself so voters would know he was an advocate of a national defense respected throughout the world, an economy that delivered good-paying jobs, and a government that didn't intrude on established constitutional rights of citizens. He said national health insurance reform, known as ObamaCare, had positive elements but was implemented poorly and in need of bipartisan repair. Taylor said he would work through November to introduce himself so voters would know he was an advocate of a national defense respected throughout the world, an economy that delivered good-paying jobs, and a government that didn't intrude on established constitutional rights of citizens. He said national health insurance reform, known as ObamaCare, had positive elements but was implemented poorly and in need of bipartisan repair.
Source: 2014 Kansas Senate debate coverage by CjOnline.com Feb 28, 2014

Jerry Moran: Increase security in our airports and harbors

September 11th illustrated the need for America to increase the security in our airports and harbors. My position on the Transportation Committee allows me to take an active role in protecting our skies and securing our homeland. I have worked hard to balance the need to improve security while making sure that all Americans can still freely travel in a timely manner and that all goods can flow in and out of our ports without unwarranted delay.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2010 Kansas Senate incumbents Nov 28, 2010

Jerry Moran: No constitutional rights for terrorists, categorically

The two candidates sparred on other issues, including how to handle suspected terrorists. Tiahrt, citing House votes in 2006, said Moran favored giving suspected terrorists constitutional rights, but Moran said after the debate that's not true.

Tiahrt criticized Moran on terrorism issues in a television ad his campaign began broadcasting statewide Tuesday, including in Topeka during the debate. "He has a weak record on national security, and I think that's why he supports constitutional rights for terrorists," Tiahrt said.

Tiahrt's campaign cited two votes by Moran in 2006 against legislation to continue allowing military tribunals to try suspected terrorists, legislation Tiahrt supported.

Moran said after the debate that he'd viewed the legislation as flawed and unconstitutional. "Let me categorically say I do not support constitutional rights for terrorists," Moran said.

Source: Salina Journal on 2010 Kansas Senate Republican Debate Jul 7, 2010

Todd Tiahrt: 2006: For military tribunals to try suspected terrorists

The two candidates sparred on other issues, including how to handle suspected terrorists. Tiahrt, citing House votes in 2006, said Moran favored giving suspected terrorists constitutional rights, but Moran said after the debate that's not true.

Tiahrt criticized Moran on terrorism issues in a television ad his campaign began broadcasting statewide Tuesday, including in Topeka during the debate. "He has a weak record on national security, and I think that's why he supports constitutional rights for terrorists," Tiahrt said.

Tiahrt's campaign cited two votes by Moran in 2006 against legislation to continue allowing military tribunals to try suspected terrorists, legislation Tiahrt supported.

Moran said after the debate that he'd viewed the legislation as flawed and unconstitutional. "Let me categorically say I do not support constitutional rights for terrorists," Moran said.

Source: Salina Journal on 2010 Kansas Senate Republican Debate Jul 7, 2010

Jerry Moran: Military tribunals for terrorists are unconstitutional

Tiahrt criticized Moran's opposition to legislation allowing military tribunals to try suspected terrorists. Moran has said he thought the legislation was unconstitutional.

Tiahrt has characterized Moran as a waffling conservative, while Moran has framed Tiahrt as a politician tainted by Washington gamesmanship.

Source: KSNT-TV coverage of 2010 Kansas Senate GOP Primary Debate Jul 6, 2010

Kathleen Sebelius: Strategic Military Planning to protect vital military assets

Our military installations contribute more than $2 billion a year to the Kansas economy and generate tens of thousands of jobs in Kansas. They are integral to our economy and our heritage. That’s why I am convening the Governor’s Strategic Military Planning Commission that includes members of the Kansas congressional delegation, leaders from our military base communities, military experts, and key legislators. They will work together to protect our vital military assets.
Source: 2004 State of the State address to the Kansas Legislature Jan 12, 2004

  • The above quotations are from State of Kansas Politicians: Archives.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Homeland Security:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)
Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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