State of Missouri Archives: on Homeland Security

Austin Petersen: Audit the Defense Department

Dave Schatz: Have the strongest, best-equipped, and most agile military

If we stick to these principles and bring the Missouri Way to our nation's capital, the results will speak for themselves.
• We will have the strongest, best-equipped, and most agile military on the globe to meet the challenges from China, Russia, and other threats.
• We will reject socialism once and for all.
• We will secure our border.

Eric Greitens: Make Missouri the best state in America for veterans

Eric Greitens: Let military spouses work in Missouri

Eric Greitens: Felony charge: taking donor lists from veterans charity

The seven-member committee said in its new report that it "finds that Greitens' statement mischaracterizes the purported testimony cited by his counsel in the pending criminal case in St. Louis."

The St. Louis Circuit Attorney has charged Greitens with tampering with a computer--a Class D felony--for taking donor and email lists from The Mission Continues veterans charity and using that information to raise funds during the early days of his campaign.

Greitens helped found the charity in 2007 and served as its executive director until 2014. He has denied any criminal wrongdoing. No trial has been set.

Jason Kander: The U.S. can't tolerate cowardly acts of terrorism

Jason Kander: As a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, keeping our country safe is my top priority. ISIS is the greatest threat facing our country and the U.S. can't tolerate cowardly acts of terrorism. Congress needs to come together to develop a targeted, comprehensive plan to destroy ISIS and work together with our allies so our brave soldiers have a coherent strategy.

Jay Nixon: Show-Me Heroes: jobs waiting for returning vets

One year ago, I announced the "Show-Me Heroes" job initiative to help our veterans quickly regain their footing in civilian life. More than 1,000 Missouri employers stepped up to take the Show-Me Heroes pledge to give veterans first crack at a job interview. I'd like to thank each and every employer who took the Show-Me Heroes pledge and hired a veteran, and I urge every employer in our state to do the same. [Companies can also take] advantage of our Work Ready Missouri program, which retrains unemployed workers to compete in today's economy.

Josh Hawley: Provide veterans with free legal help

Lester Turilli: Military strength deters foreign conflict & domestic attack

A: Military strength is important to deterring foreign conflict and domestic attack. As a supporter of our veterans and current service men and women, we need to ensure the highest quality training, equipment, and advantages for our armed forces. The USA needs to cease the supply of military weapons to foreign countries and militant groups. This political practice has fueled countless wars, loss of life, and billions of dollars.

Lucas Kunce: Money spent on Iraq & Afghanistan should've been spent here

Lucas Kunce: Focused on impact of consolidation on national security

Peter Kinder: Keep Guantanamo open; terrorists are not typical criminals

"This is a reckless plan that will put Americans in danger. President Obama apparently is more concerned about America's perception in the world than he is about American security. The Guantanamo detainees are not typical criminals. They are ideologically committed killers--terrorists in the truest sense. These hardened terrorists now are guarded by the U.S. military, and any domestic prison facility would be far more vulnerable to attack. It is telling that so many nations are happy to complain about human rights and Guantanamo but are unwilling to offer relocation. U.S. national security concerns must take precedence. I stand against this irresponsible plan. The President's first responsibility is to protect American life and liberty. Closing Guantanamo ensures the opposite effect."

Roy Blunt: Amended defense bill for company donating $20,000

Blunt countered that the $355 billion defense bill in question passed overwhelmingly. Even former Sen. Jean Carnahan, Robin Carnahan's mother, voted for it, he said. "Don't act like this is something that made a difference, that somebody makes a $1,000 contribution and that makes a difference to me," Blunt said. "Give me a break."

Carnahan's campaign said afterwards that executives from the company, Perfectwave, had given Blunt's leadership committee about $20,000 in donations. As Blunt was speaking, Carnahan cut him off and demanded to know if he had ridden the corporation's jet. Blunt said he had ridden it once and reimbursed the company.

Roy Blunt: FactCheck: Did not disclose student deferment from Vietnam

Blunt said he had not hidden the deferments. "Anytime anybody ever asked me about that, I would have said I had student deferments," he said. But Blunt's office did not disclose the deferments in 2015, when The Star directly asked if he had ever received one.

"Senator Blunt was 1A status in 1969, the year of the first draft lottery," the office had replied. "His number was in the low 300s and was never called."

Federal draft records show Blunt's draft status in 1969 wasn't 1-A, or eligible for service. Instead, he was classified as 2-S, which is a student deferment. That deferment, not a high lottery number, protected Blunt from the draft in 1969.

Blunt's staff said this week that poor memories and difficult-to-obtain draft records may have contributed to the confusion.

Tony Monetti: Invest in training & equipment

Vicky Hartzler: Peace is best kept through strength

Vicky Hartzler: Saving F-15 and F-18 fighter jets created jobs in Missouri

Vicky Hartzler: Chinese military threat is real, Biden cuts defense budget

Vicky Hartzler: Defense budget should invest in future capabilities

Bill Eigel: Calls for restrictions on foreign ownership of farmland

Bill Eigel: Ensure veterans' sacrifice is honored when they return home

Bill Eigel, who served in the Air Force, said he was "stunned to hear one of the candidates up here say he's really not interested in looking into veterans' issues or helping them out." Eigel, who is running a hard-right campaign for governor, later shared a video of Ashcroft's comments on social media. "I know first hand the struggles that our veterans and active military personnel face. I lost friends. I saw the struggle upon returning to the States," he wrote on social media. "I disdain the ruling elite who send our men and women to die in their wars, all while doing nothing to ensure their sacrifice is honored when they return home."

Crystal Quade: Serious leaders recognize our veterans

[Several of Ashcroft's Republican opponents criticized Ashcroft, and] Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat who is running for governor, also criticized Ashcroft. "We need serious leaders in our state & Jay isn't up to the task," Quade wrote on social media.

The Democratic Governors Association also weighed in. Emma O'Brien, a press secretary for the DGA, said Thursday that Ashcroft was "an insider politician who only looks out for himself, but wants to rip away benefits from members of the military and veterans who put their lives on the line to protect our freedom. It's shameful."

Jay Ashcroft: Special benefits for veterans unfair; treat everyone equally

Ashcroft, responding to the criticism, said in a statement it was "shameful that we have failed to fulfill our commitment to our veterans. I honor [their] service and as Governor will make our commitment to them a priority, without qualification."

Mike Kehoe: Never treat our veterans as anything less than heroes

Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, who is also running for governor, said that for Ashcroft "to treat our veterans as anything less than heroes is disrespectful to all veterans and their families." Kehoe's role as lieutenant governor includes serving as an advocate for veterans. "Communities across our state value our nation's heroes and their service and sacrifice to our country, and they would want their governor to do the same," he wrote on social media.

Karla May: Continue military assistance for Ukraine to repel Russia

Bill Eigel: Chinese Communist Party poses serious threat

A: Strongly Agree. I have sponsored legislation to BAN all foreign countries from buying land in Missouri. I have also filed a constitutional amendment to take back all the land currently in foreign hands. My amendment to ban all foreign countries from owning land passed the Missouri Senate this year.

Lucas Kunce: Monopolists control the defense industry

Economy: Decrease or increase government investment in, and regulation of, the economy?
• Josh Hawley (R): Mixed. Voted against $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. Supports stronger antitrust laws, including a ban on all mergers and acquisitions by companies with a market capitalization of over $100 billion. Supports breaking up Amazon.com and large meatpacking and poultry monopolies.
• Lucas Kunce (D): Increase. Criticizes Wall Street for destroying US's production power. "Monopolists" control the defense industry. Increase the Defense Department's power to regulate contracts. Wants a "historic investment… to rebuild our forgotten towns and cities… and start making stuff in America again."