State of Vermont Archives: on Homeland Security
Bernie Sanders:
F-35 fighter planes OK at Burlington Airport
MacGovern doesn't think the U.S. Air Force should base F-35 fighter planes at the Vermont Air National Guard base at the Burlington International Airport because the planes are so noisy they could disrupt lives and drive down property values.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.
Source: Boston Globe on 2012 Vermont Senate debate
Oct 18, 2012
John MacGovern:
No noisy F-35 fighter planes at Burlington Airport
Republican U.S. Senate candidate John MacGovern doesn't think the U.S. Air Force should base F-35 fighter planes at the Vermont Air National Guard base at the Burlington International Airport because the planes are out of character with the area.
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.
Source: Boston Globe on 2012 Vermont Senate debate
Oct 18, 2012
John MacGovern:
No new F-35 fighter jets at Burlington Airport
Unlike Bernie Sanders, I have always supported a strong national defense. Why, then, do I oppose the installation of a new fighter jet, the F-35, at Burlington Airport? Simply stated, it is because I believe it would not be in the best interest of the
nation or Vermont.Burlington and its surrounding area is the most densely populated section of Vermont. It is the most likely area to attract the economic growth our state needs in order to expand the tax base that is so vital to Vermont's fiscal
health. Would the introduction of the F-35 be consistent with those facts? The US Air Force's Draft Environmental Impact Statement itself indicates it is an inappropriate basing for this area. Aside from any considerations of civilian safety, there is
the fact that F-35 produces much more noise than the F-16 currently flown by the National Guard.
[It is] hauling pork back from Washington--buried in the Pentagon budget among non-crucial items.
Source: Vermont 2012 Senate campaign website JohnMacGovern.com
Oct 22, 2012
Lawrence Zupan:
Government doesn't provide veterans with proper health care
Senator Sanders has proposed a $32 trillion government-controlled health care plan with no idea how to pay for more than half of it. And the half he thinks could be paid for would require raising five different taxes. This is the same government which
can't even effectually and universally provide consistent health care to the most precious slice of our population, our veterans. How will this same government manage the health care of 328 million Americans?
Source: Manchester Journal OpEd letter on 2018 Vermont Senate race
Sep 7, 2018
Patrick Leahy:
End the NSA's bulk collection program
The United States House passed a bill Wednesday that would end the National Security Agency's collecting of phone records. The final vote was 338-88. The USA FREEDOM Act was co-authored by Senator Patrick Leahy. It lost a Senate vote in late 2014, but
then Leahy reintroduced it.In a statement after the vote, Leahy said, "Momentum is on the side of surveillance reform. The USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 is a true bipartisan compromise.
I would prefer more reforms as anyone can see from previous versions of the bill that I have introduced. Other Senators would prefer more dragnet surveillance. The USA FREEDOM Act achieves the important goal of ending the NSA's bulk collection program
while ensuring the intelligence community's capabilities. Senate Republicans have an opportunity to avoid brinkmanship on this important national security issue. The Senate should take up and pass the USA FREEDOM Act." The bill now heads to the Senate.
Source: MyChamplainValley.com coverage of 2016 Vermont Senate race
May 13, 2015
Phil Scott:
$500,000 for college scholarships for veterans at UVM
I am proposing an annual increase of $1 million in base appropriations for both the University of Vermont and VSAC, to get more low and middle-income Vermonters the opportunities they need. I propose an additional
$500,000 to fund scholarships for Vermont National Guard members to attend Vermont colleges and universities. This is one small way we can show our gratitude to the men and women who defend our freedoms.
Source: 2017 Vermont State of the State address
Jan 25, 2017
Richard Tarrant:
We must sacrifice some rights & privacy in times of war
Tarrant says Americans must be willing to give up some of their liberties in times of war if the country is to remain strong. Tarrant says, "I think in general the Patriot Act and now the phone issue - keep in mind that this happens in just about every
war we have a Congress and the President at odds about power. And I think in general, over time, we find that Americans are willing to give up some of their privacy for protection, knowing they can get that privacy back at the end of the war." Tarrant
says the security of the country has to be one of the highest priorities in a time of war. Tarrant says, "I think it's a matter of balance. I don't want to lose all rights but I'd be willing to sacrifice some rights for security. Two aspects of the
Constitution that are seemingly at odds. It's a good thing to publicly debate that." Tarrant admits that the war on terrorism is different from previous conflicts and he says it may be difficult to know exactly when the war has been won.
Source: Bob Kinzel series of interviews on Vermont Public Radio
Jun 5, 2006
Gerald Malloy:
F-35s in Burlington: jet noise is the sound of freedom
On a select few topics, the two candidates generally agreed. When asked about the controversial decision to base F-35 fighter jets in South Burlington, both Welch and Malloy said they supported it. Three years into their operation, many in the flight
path still complain of disruptions and health impacts from the noise.Welch, who supported the basing decision throughout the multi-year process, said he stood by his advocacy. "We're very proud of our National Guard. The Air Guard needs airplanes,"
he said. But he acknowledged that the planes' arrival had come with some genuine downsides for some nearby residents. "That's tough on some folks in the neighborhood. It really is. Because there is noise associated with that," Welch said. "And I've been
a persistent advocate for noise mitigation, including buying up homes at a fair price if that's what the choice is."
Malloy said the jets were "part of our national defense" and called the roar of their engines "the sound of freedom."
Source: Valley News on 2022 Vermont Senate race
Sep 10, 2022
Peter Welch:
Base F-35 fighter jets in Burlington, but reduce noise
On a select few topics, the two candidates generally agreed. When asked about the controversial decision to base F-35 fighter jets in South Burlington, both Welch and Malloy said they supported it. Three years into their operation, many in the flight
path still complain of disruptions and health impacts from the noise.Welch, who supported the basing decision throughout the multi-year process, said he stood by his advocacy. "We're very proud of our National Guard. The Air Guard needs airplanes,"
he said. But he acknowledged that the planes' arrival had come with some genuine downsides for some nearby residents. "That's tough on some folks in the neighborhood. It really is. Because there is noise associated with that," Welch said. "And I've been
a persistent advocate for noise mitigation, including buying up homes at a fair price if that's what the choice is."
Malloy said the jets were "part of our national defense" and called the roar of their engines "the sound of freedom."
Source: Valley News on 2022 Vermont Senate race
Sep 10, 2022
David Zuckerman:
Apologized for criticizing Vermont Air National Guard
Zuckerman apologized for questioning the role that the Vermont Air National Guard played in the response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. "I have tremendous respect for our service personnel and the Guard and national service for their
willingness to put their lives on the line for all of us--whether it be in a terrorist situation, a national tragedy or a natural disaster," the senator said. "Our Guard serve us at the drop of a hat, putting their families aside."
Source: Seven Days e-zine on 2024 Vermont Gubernatorial race
Oct 25, 2016
Phil Scott:
Honor the heroic American veterans
Today, we honor the heroic Americans who served our country and recognize their unwavering sense of duty, dedication, and service to a cause greater than themselves. We all enjoy
the freedoms that make the United States the envy of the world because of their commitment to serve each of us.Vermonters have a long and proud history of service to our nation and to the cause of freedom and we will forever be in their debt.
Source: Facebook posting on 2024 Vermont Gubernatorial race
Nov 11, 2023
Phil Scott:
Repeal the tax on military retirement pay
Phil Scott- Wants to continue holding down income, estate and property taxes.
- Wants to repeal the tax on military retirement pay.
Scott Milne
- Supports policies that strengthen the economy, which will help lower property taxes
by creating a larger revenue pool.
- Wants to listen before acting on any policies that could change the tax codes to lessen property taxes.
David Zuckerman
- Wants the top 30% of earners to pay a higher share of property and education taxes,
in relation to their income, in an effort to shift more of the burden of property taxes to the state's highest earners.
Rebecca Holcombe
- Believes school boards can be more efficient in their spending of property taxes.
-
Supports an income-based property tax system.
Brenda Siegel
- Wants to tie education funding to income tax rather than property taxes, believing that would create a more equalized system for low-income earners.
Source: VT Digger on 2020 Vermont Gubernatorial race
Jul 30, 2020
Peter Duval:
Reducing fuel use does less to prop up Russia
Our consumption connects many 'crises' and the war in Ukraine. Every time Vermonters fill up a tank (car, home, or farm), our demand for oil increases its price, affecting all global commodities and increasing inflation. That puts money in
Putin's pocket. Through coordinated conservation, we could reduce fuel use while doing less to prop up Russia. We did it before and can do it again. I would lead the state government to make that effort--right now.
Source: 2024 VT Governor campaign website PeterForVermont.earth
Jun 11, 2024
Phil Scott:
Declined Trump request to deploy Vermont National Guard
Scott has "politely declined" a federal request to deploy Vermont National Guard soldiers to Washington, D.C. as part of Trump's controversial directive to tamp down on crime. It isn't the first time Scott has denied the Trump administration's
request to use Vermont National Guard soldiers for a domestic mission. The Pentagon asked Scott to mobilize a dozen Guard soldiers to perform administrative duties at detention facilities operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Source: Vermont Public (PBS News) on 2026 Vermont Gubernatorial race
Aug 15, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026