Scott, Hallquist address F35 fighter jets, combating gun violence at debate
NBC5 Nov. 1, 2018 (Video Available at Here)
Transcript:
STEPHANIE: A VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE F-35 STEALTH FIGHTER JET, SCHEDUELD FOR DEPLOYMENT TO THE VERMONT GUARD BASE NEXT YEAR. THREE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES HAVE FORMALLY OBJECTED OVER SAFETY AND NOISE. ONE OF THESE JETS CRASHED A MONTH AGO IN THE CAROLINAS. AND CRITICS NOTE THEY ARE CAPABLE OF CARRYING NUCLEAR WEAPONS. IS YOUR SUPPORT FOR THESE PLANES AS GOVERNOR, UNWAVERING, IN ALL CASES?
MS. HALLQUIST? MS. HALLQUIST: LET ME JUST SAY, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE F-35. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS UP TO THE GOVERNOR IN THE LAST DEBATE, HE TOLD ME I COULD NOT ASK QUESTIONS, BUT I HAVE SOME SERIOUS QUESTIONS. I WOULD NEVER QUESTION OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. I AM SURE THEY MAKE THE DECISIONS, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT NOISE LEVELS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIMITED HOURS OF TESTING THOSE HAVE GONE THROUGH. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT USING A MIXED MILITARY BASE AND CIVILIAN BASE. I HAVE SOME SIMPLE QUESTIONS. I THINK AS A GOVERNOR YOU SHOULD ALLOW ALL OF YOUR RESIDENTS TO ASK QUESTIONS. WE DESERVE TRANSPARENCY. WE DESERVE ANSWERS. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT I WILL GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED. IN THE DEBATE WHERE WE DISCUSSED THIS, PHIL SCOTT TOLD ME YOU CAN’T ASK QUESTIONS. THAT’S NOT THE WAY TO LEAD.
STEPHANIE: MR. SCOTT, IS YOUR SUPPORT FOR THESE PLANES AS GOVERNOR ABSOLUTELY UNWAVERING IN ALL CASES? GOVERNOR SCOTT: ABSOLUTELY UNWAVERING. I TOOK A TRIP TO WASHINGTON TO MEET WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE WHO REQUESTED THAT I COME DOWN AND TALK ABOUT A VERMONT. WE HAVE BEEN DEBATING THIS ISSUE SINCE I WAS FIRST ELECTED. THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION HAS COME AND SUPPORTED THIS. WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT IS GREAT FOR VERMONT AND WE SHOULD BE WELCOMING THE F-35. I AM NOT SURE WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO HAVE ANSWERED. WHEN I WENT TO WASHINGTON TO MEET WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE, HER QUESTION TO ME WHEN SHE TOOK ME ASIDE WAS DO YOU WANT THE F-35 OR NOT BECAUSE I HAVE SIX OTHER STATES THAT DO? LET ME KNOW TODAY IF YOU WANT IT AND I SAID WE WANT IT. THE VAST MAJORITY OF VERMONTERS WANT IT AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT LANDING FOR THE FIRST TIME NEXT YEAR.