State of Oklahoma Archives: on Homeland Security
James Lankford:
National security government's number one priority
National security should be the federal government's number one priority. We should deal with waste in all areas of government, including the military. But, the budget should not drive military strategy, strategy should drive the budget.
Trump prioritized defense and ensured members of the military have the resources needed to fulfill their duties. James has consistently voted to support the President's strategic efforts, including the largest military pay raise in a decade.
Veterans should have the freedom to choose their health provider. When our armed forces risk their lives in service, we should provide our gratitude and the best possible care for them. James voted for the
2018 Mission Act to streamline veteran health care, introduced legislation for greater VA oversight and reforms to veterans' benefits. James will continue to fight for our Military and provide first class support to our Veterans!
Source: 2021 Oklahoma Senate campaign website JamesLankford.com
Jun 21, 2021
Abby Broyles:
Invest in service members, fully fund military bases
Abby will fight to keep our military bases fully funded and to guarantee the safety and protection of the United States. Congress has balanced their budget by shortchanging our service members. Reduced pay raises and cuts to benefits are not only
disrespectful but also unsustainable. Abby will work to ensure that we as a nation invest in our service members and their families. She will fight to keep our military bases fully funded and to guarantee the safety and protection of the United States.
Source: 2020 Oklahoma Senate campaign website AbbyBroyles.com
Jul 26, 2020
Drew Edmondson:
Services for veterans instead of for corporate donors
"Our legislative leaders still have a chance to set Oklahoma back on solid financial footing to fund education, health care and services for veterans," Edmondson said. "If they aren't willing to stand up to their corporate donors and their
corporate lobbyists and do what's right, I said in July 2017 that as governor, I'll put a plan before the people and let them vote to secure these critical services and put Oklahoma back on track."
Source: Tulsa World on 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial race
Jun 4, 2018
Chris Powell:
Don't expand the military
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Expand the military"?
A: Oppose.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Oklahoma Governor candidate
May 15, 2018
Joe Maldonado:
Don't expand the military
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Expand the military"?
A: NO.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Oklahoma Governor candidate
May 15, 2018
Mick Cornett:
Praises nonprofits efforts finding housing for homeless vets
Mayor Mick Cornett pitched the virtues of service in Wednesday's State of the City address, highlighting accomplishments of nonprofits that fill gaps in Oklahoma City's˙social services safety net. Cornett gave credit to
nonprofits' efforts by organizations, including the Homeless Alliance, for finding housing for homeless veterans, and the Humane Society, for turning around dismal euthanasia rates in the animal shelter by helping find homes for stray pets.
Source: The Oklahoman on 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial race
Jan 13, 2016
Kevin Stine:
Tighten up defense spending; end use-it-or-lose-it mentality
Stine said he describes himself as to the left on social issues; on fiscal issues, he said he is more conservative. He said he would attempt to tighten up defense spending. After being in the military,
Stine said he remembers that at this time of year every single squadron is spending "ridiculous amounts of money. It's the use-it-or-lose-it mentality."
Source: Medford Mail Tribune on 2016 Oklahoma Senate race
Sep 21, 2015
James Inhofe:
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.
Inhofe: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Oklahoma Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
Matt Silverstein:
Support the strongest, most dominant military in the world
Matt supports the United States having the strongest, most dominant military in the world. He agrees with the Joint Chiefs that we need to modernize the military, stop paying for redundant and antiquated weapons systems, and always make sure our brave
troops always have the best protection.Matt is concerned about military readiness due to inefficiencies and redundancies. This reflects the broken culture in Washington DC of constant conflict as opposed to working together in creative cooperation.
There's no excuse for our military to be inefficient and Matt will work every day to fight for Oklahoma's military installations, which are being devastated by partisanship and gridlock. Partisan finger pointing is obnoxious and it doesn't advance our
collective goal to secure our nation and strengthen Oklahoma's economy with smart investments. Matt believes we need to consolidate redundant programs and zero out ineffective or outdated programs.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, MattForOklahoma.com, "Issues"
Nov 11, 2013
Jim Bridenstine:
Smart defense reductions; don't jeopardize national security
In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?A: Yes.
Q: Do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
A: No.
Q: Do you support reducing Medicaid spending?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support reducing
Medicare spending?
A: Yes.
Q: Is balancing the budget a legislative priority?
A: Yes. We must balance our national budget. Our debt is unsustainable, jeopardizing our ability to attract capital needed to expand our economy and create jobs.
Politicians often get re-elected by making promises which can't be kept. However, retired people and those nearing retirement have counted upon these promises.
Therefore, people 55 or older should be protected from benefit reductions. I support smart reductions in defense spending that don't jeopardize national security.
Source: Oklahoma Congressional 2012 Political Courage Test
Oct 30, 2012
Andrew Rice:
Shift defense resources from Iraq to destroying terrorists
Once the Iraq Civil War is no longer draining American lives and our treasury, the US can refocus more fully on identifying and destroying terrorist cells around the world. In 2003, America enjoyed one of its greatest successes since Sept. 11 when our
intelligence forces cooperated with Pakistani intelligence to capture Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. This surgical raid in a Pakistani village five years ago serves as an example of American strength against terror.
Source: 2008 Senate campaign website andrewforoklahoma.com “Details”
Jul 11, 2008
Andrew Rice:
Divest from terrorist states like we divested for apartheid
Q: And how has your voting record reflected your opinions on the war?A: Well, on the war, there’s really no direct vote on the state level. Although somewhat related to it; I had a bill this year that the Republicans blocked. The bill would have had
our state retirement pension plans, the judge retirements, the teacher retirements, all of our big state retirement plans that are invested in mutual funds, that would have forced us to divest our retirements out of mutual funds that invest in countries
that are state sponsors of terrorism. Syria, North Korea, Iran. Our idea is that if they are national security threats, we shouldn’t be economically investing with their governments. And there have been a lot of states that have done these divestment
plans. This is what we did in South Africa during Apartheid; we divested the money out of South Africa until they dealt with ending Apartheid. That bill was stopped. So that would have had somewhat of a direct effect on national security issues.
Source: Judd Morse, Ada Evening News on 2008 Oklahoma Senate Debate
Jul 9, 2008
Andrew Rice:
9/11: Pressured US government to stay focused on terrorism
After losing his older brother in the World Trade Center attack on 9/11/01, Rice and his family were hopeful that international goodwill toward the US would be converted into a global campaign to reign in terrorists and bring the perpetrators of
9/11 to justice. Rice was involved with other 9/11 families in pressuring the US government to stay focused on terrorism and avoid military adventures in the Middle East, a cauldron of religious conflict for centuries.
Source: 2008 Senate campaign website andrewforoklahoma.com “Details”
May 21, 2008
Andrew Rice:
Fight to improve the veterans’ health care system
Rice is prepared to ask more Americans, not just our men and women in uniform, to sacrifice to win the war on terror. We cannot overcome the evil of terrorism on the cheap. Rice will ensure that soldiers and veterans receive their full benefits and he
will fight to improve the veterans’ health care system so that no deserving soldier is denied treatment. He believes most Americans will agree it is a justifiable expense to honor the men & women who have sacrificed so much in this ongoing war on terror.
Source: 2008 Senate campaign website andrewforoklahoma.com “Details”
May 21, 2008
Andrew Rice:
Conditions at Walter Reed Hospital are unacceptable
Americans are angered when they hear stories about the military health care and veterans’ health care systems that our troops come home to. The deplorable conditions at Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, MD are symptomatic of more pervasive negligence
and incompetence throughout the government health care systems supposed to benefit our soldiers and veterans. Rice believes these conditions are unacceptable. The US should spare no expense when it comes to caring for our war veterans and their families.
Source: 2008 Senate campaign website andrewforoklahoma.com “Details”
May 21, 2008
Andrew Rice:
As 9/11 family, pressured Washington to focus on terrorism
After losing his older brother in the World Trade Center attack on 9/11/01, Andrew Rice and his family were hopeful that international goodwill toward the US would be converted into a global campaign to reign in terrorists and bring the perpetrators
of 9/11 to justice. Rice was involved with other 9/11 families in pressuring the US government to stay focused on terrorism. However, he could see that most of the politicians in Washington weren’t listening to the grieving families.
Source: 2008 Senate campaign website andrewforoklahoma.com “Issues”
Mar 30, 2008
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021