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Bob Smith on Homeland Security

Republican Sr Senator (NH; retired 2002)


The Patriot Act needs reform but not repeal

Q: Do you think the Patriot Act harms civil liberties or respects civil liberties?

A: Yes, it harms civil liberties in some areas but it also protects us in other ways. The act needs some reforms but not repeal

Source: Email interview on 2010 Senate race with OnTheIssues.org Mar 4, 2010

Expand the armed forces

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

A: Support.

Source: Email interview on 2010 Senate race with OnTheIssues.org Mar 4, 2010

Don’t balance budget on veterans’ shoulders

I have fought to preserve and protect the quality of benefits available to all veterans. While achieving real deficit reduction has, and will, require Congress to make difficult spending choices, I will vigorously oppose any effort to ask veterans to shoulder the burden of balancing the budget. The Senate, with my support, has recommended increasing the Veteran’s Administration’s total budget by more than $1.17 billion over last year’s appropriations level.
Source: senate.gov/~smith “Smith on the Issues” Aug 30, 1999

New non-VA programs for military retirees’ health care

I am deeply concerned about the ability of our military retirees over the age of 65 to get access to quality health care. We have a moral obligation to assist those in need who have honorably served our country. I [support a] test program to ensure the availability of adequate health care for Medicare-eligible military retirees. The program ensures [against the VA’s problems with] geographic constraints resulting from the diminishing number of military treatment facilities.
Source: senate.gov/~smith “Smith on the Issues” Aug 30, 1999

President needs knowledge & passion to inspire troops

“We need a strong, forceful commander in chief with the background, the credibility, and the knowledge and the passion to lead and inspire our troops and someone who cares about them and appreciates their sacrifices. And I’m prepared to meet that challenge if I’m president of the United States.” Smith promised to never send troops into military action under a leader from another country.
Source: CNN.com Campaign 2000 Jul 2, 1999

Cuts have been too deep; need SDI defense

Senator Smith, as chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, has made the protection of America’s national security a top priority and believes cuts to our nation’s military have been too deep and have cut too far in manpower, weapons and readiness. He is currently working to ensure that America is protected from the real and growing threat of ballistic missile attack.
Source: www.smithforpresident.org/issues.htm May 19, 1999

Has worked to account for all POWs and MIAs

Senator Smith, as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has worked tirelessly for 15 years to gain an accounting for America’s POWs and MIAs by travelling to Communist nations and declassifying Government records.
Source: www.smithforpresident.org/issues.htm May 19, 1999

Correct shortages in military equipment & personnel

The President has asked the military to do more with less, and the foundation of our military readiness is crumbling. Throughout the armed forces, there is a shortage of spare parts for our military equipment. As President, I will ask the Joint Chiefs for an immediate assessment of the operational needs of each of the services, and send a bill to Congress with the funding necessary to correct those shortages.
Source: www.SmithForPresident.org/ “Annoucement Speech” Mar 29, 1999

Raise military pay & benefits

I will immediately raise military pay, and restore military retirement and health care benefits which have been cut so drastically over the years. Commitments to our veterans will be honored and there will be no military personnel on food stamps.
Source: www.SmithForPresident.org/ “Annoucement Speech” Mar 29, 1999

Get answers on POWs and MIAs

Our nation’s POWs and MIAs sacrificed their own freedom to protect our freedom and were never heard from again. Their ultimate fate is still unknown. I have traveled to every corner of the world on behalf of the POW/MIA families searching for answers -- trying to end their uncertainty. I have had to bang on the doors of our own Government to open up intelligence files. Never again will these families have to beg our government and foreign governments for answers about their loved ones.
Source: www.SmithForPresident.org/ “Annoucement Speech” Mar 29, 1999

Voted NO on adopting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

Adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty would ban nuclear weapons testing six months after ratification by the 44 nations that have nuclear power plants or nucelar research reactors.
Status: Resolution of Ratification Rejected Y)48; N)51; P)1
Reference: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty; Bill Treaty Document #105-28 ; vote number 1999-325 on Oct 13, 1999

Voted NO on allowing another round of military base closures.

Vote on an amendment to allow one round of military base closures beginning in 2001 as determined by an independent panel.
Reference: Bill S.1059 ; vote number 1999-147 on May 26, 1999

Voted YES on cutting nuclear weapons below START levels.

The Kerrey (D-NE) amdt would strike bill language requiring that U.S. strategic nuclear forces remain at START I levels through the end of fiscal 2000 unless Russia ratified START II.
Status: Motion to Table Agreed to Y)56; N)44
Reference: Motion to table Kerrey Amdt #395; Bill S. 1059 ; vote number 1999-149 on May 26, 1999

Voted YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP.

Vote that the policy of the US is to deploy a National Missile Defense system capable of defending against limited ballistic missile attack as soon as it is technologically possible, and to seek continued negotiated reductions in Russian nuclear forces.
Reference: Bill S 257 ; vote number 1999-51 on Mar 17, 1999

Voted YES on military pay raise of 4.8%.

Vote to pass a bill to authorize a military pay raise of 4.8% in 2000 and annual pay increases through 2006 of 0.5% above the inflation rate. The bill would also provide additional incentives to certain enlisted personnel who remain on active duty.
Reference: Bill S.4 ; vote number 1999-26 on Feb 24, 1999

Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex basic training.

Byrd Amdt (D-WV) that would prohibit same-sex military barracks and basic training.
Status: Amdt Rejected Y)39; N)53; NV)8
Reference: Byrd Amdt #3011; Bill S. 2057 ; vote number 1998-180 on Jun 25, 1998

Voted YES on favoring 36 vetoed military projects.

Overturning line-item vetoes of 36 military projects vetoed by President Clinton.
Status: Bill Passed Y)69; N)30; NV)1
Reference: Line Item Veto Cancellation bill; Bill S. 1292 ; vote number 1997-287 on Oct 30, 1997

Voted NO on banning chemical weapons.

Approval of the chemical weapons ban.
Status: Resolution of Ratification Agreed to Y)74; N)26
Reference: Resolution of ratification of the Chemical (Comprehensive) Weapons (Convention) Ban; Bill S. Res. 75 ; vote number 1997-51 on Apr 24, 1997

Voted YES on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty.

Vote to consider establishing a policy requiring the deployment of a national missile defense system by the end of 2003. The bill would also urge discussions with Russia to amend the ABM Treaty to allow deployment of the system.
Reference: Bill S 1635 ; vote number 1996-157 on Jun 4, 1996

Voted YES on 1996 Defense Appropriations.

Approval of the 1996 Defense Appropriations bill.
Status: Bill Passed Y)62; N)35; NV)3
Reference: Defense Approps Bill FY 96; Bill S. 1087 ; vote number 1995-397 on Sep 5, 1995

Other candidates on Homeland Security: Bob Smith on other issues:
NH Gubernatorial:
John Lynch
NH Senatorial:
Jeanne Shaheen
Kelly Ayotte

Retiring as of Jan. 2011:
CT:Dodd(D)
DE:Kaufman(D)
FL:Martinez(R)
FL:LeMieux(R)
IL:Burris(D)
IN:Bayh(D)
KS:Brownback(R)
KY:Bunning(R)
MO:Bond(R)
ND:Dorgan(D)
NH:Gregg(R)
OH:Voinovich(R)
PA:Specter(R)
UT:Bennett(R)
WV:Goodwin(D)

Unseated as of Jan. 2011:
AR:Lincoln(D)
UT:Bennett(R)
WI:Feingold(D)

Newly elected, Nov. 2010:
AR:Boozman(R)
CT:Blumenthal(D)
CO:Bennet(D)
DE:Coons(D)
FL:Rubio(R)
IL:Kirk(R)
IN:Coats(R)
KS:Moran(R)
KY:Paul(R)
MO:Blunt(R)
ND:Hoeven(R)
NH:Ayotte(R)
NY2:Gillibrand(D)
OH:Portman(R)
PA:Toomey(R)
UT:Lee(R)
WI:Johnson(R)
WV:Manchin(D)

Re-elected, Nov. 2010:
AK:Murkowski(I)
AL:Shelby(R)
AZ:McCain(R)
CA:Boxer(D)
GA:Isakson(R)
HI:Inouye(D)
IA:Grassley(R)
ID:Crapo(R)
LA:Vitter(R)
MD:Mikulski(D)
NC:Burr(R)
NV:Reid(D)
NY6:Schumer(D)
OK:Coburn(R)
OR:Wyden(D)
SC:DeMint(R)
SD:Thune(R)
VT:Leahy(D)
WA:Murray(D) 		Abortion
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Page last updated: Nov 26, 2010