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About this candidate response
DutyStation contacts candidates to ask whether and how they support service members, military families and veterans, and invites them to share their thoughts and priorities. We share their replies here in the candidate’s or campaign’s own words, with minor formatting for readability and correction of obvious spelling mistakes.
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Government-shutdown follow-up received October 1, 2026. Robert Quigley asked that his earlier answers remain unchanged.
Government shutdown and cooperation
- The simple answer is that I do not support a government shut down and pretty much oppose such an action in almost any situation. Shutting the government down is equivalent to locking yourself out of your home and car. It looks like something closer to insanity than a smart move. The only extreme situation I could really justify a government shut down is if there were some kind of natural catastrophe or war like type of activity which even in those cases is even more reason to keep the government open because after all the government is serving critical functions across the United States.
- I would work with any administration to make sure the government is kept open and functioning properly simply because we cannot ask our Military to take a break, seniors to wait on their retirement checks or our patients to endure pain while they wait for medical treatment, etc.
- The whole practice of shutting the government down makes absolutely no sense. Therefore, you can pretty much count on me to always vote to protect our citizens and specifically to protect our military personnel, their family and their dependents from serious life disruptions.
- If we ask folks to serve in the defense and maintenance of America, then as Americans, we must make sure these folks are taken care of.
Earlier statement received September 27, 2026. The candidate’s original wording is retained below.
Military-family background
- Note that I served in the Navy as a young boy with the rank and duties typically associated with the position of Military Brat or more politically correct Military Dependent. My dad Michael E Quigley started as an E1 worked as a flight engineer, earned his pilots wings in the 1960s and retired as a Lieutenant. Of course this is a joke but those 18 years gave me a lived experience that directly bares on your questions.
Use of military force
- My general position regarding the use of our military resources is to use them sparingly and only when all else fails. Peace is achieved through force at this time in history but reaching for the military, continuing forever wars and asking those that serve to risk their lives for vague goals must be avoided at all cost.
- As the saying goes it is better to get the foolish enemy to die for his country first before investing American blood and treasure.
- Peace through strength works best when enemies pause to consider our overwhelming capabilities.
Family housing
- Depending on the duty station I support the provision of housing allowances for each active duty member that covers the total average housing bills for that particular location and is equivalent to an average middle class lifestyle in the USA. This rule would cover most duty stations. The benefit will cover the whole family either state side or at other international duty stations.
- Naturally there will be many duty stations that are remote and isolated. In these locations accommodations that equal a middle class living standard must be built and provided to our military personnel in place of the more robust housing allowance.
- However, many deployments are going to be in war zones where rough living conditions like camping will be the only option.
- The ultimate test is that folks willing to risk their life for America must be given quality housing.
- Once folks separate from the military then they must be given full and complete access to all VA housing benefits and mortgages without any type of restriction whatsoever. Defaults are to be ignored. If the military guy and his family need housing then they get housed. No ifs ands or buts or maybes.
- Nate that the Quigley Campaign proposes tweaking the FHA loan qualification rules so that a two year on-time rent history will make all borrowers eligible for a mortgage without regard to credit scores. We are short 5 million housing units and Quigley supports building small and tiny houses including ADUs to address the housing shortage.
Quality of life
- Active duty pay must meet the national average excluding all minimum wage paychecks.
- Full healthcare without cost must be provided to all members for life from the first day of service until death without exception. All departments must be covered until adulthood.
- Raising the base level paycheck as mentioned should eliminate the need for a two income family and hence one spouse will be free to fully care for children and work if desired once kids goto school.
- Overseas deployments must be kept shorter with rotations more frequent. As a young boy I saw my dad disappear for 6 months tours of duty aboard aircraft carriers. It wrecked many families and ended a high number of marriages. In today’s world a one or two month tour of duty is plenty.
- Robert Quigley is a guy who puts a very high priority on strong families.
Veterans’ care
- We need to educate more healthcare professionals for the VA and military generally. More service providers equals better healthcare.
- Current disability benefits are currently set up to be hard to get. The simple answer is to grant such benefits on the advice of trained medical professionals. In other words, this is a medical question and not a law question.
- We can’t make knee jerk war decisions then leave our heroes sleeping on the streets.
- I am a firm believer in a strong economy that only comes from a large mom & pop entrepreneurial class. I will tweak the SBA to make it much easier to obtain government loans to start and build small businesses. The more individuals and families that are self supporting the stronger our society. Military veterans will be encouraged to take full advantage of these SBA programs.
Measuring success
- Ultimately, I would judge the success of the suggested programs by the absence of homeless veterans, the absence of unemployed veterans and the number of veterans actively working in their communities across America.
ELECTION REFLECTIONS · IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Looking ahead to Election Day
Brief answers to DutyStation’s questions about hope, America’s future, unity, the next generation and a closing message. The earlier policy answers and their received date remain above.
Hope heading into the election
- Americans are realizing the our two party duopoly political system is the country ending disaster George Washington warned us about 250 years ago. Our elected leaders must be for the folks in fact not just in words.
Vision for America
- Non-stop economic development.
Bringing Americans together
- Strong Independent centrist leaders, they are the strong magnet that pulls both extremes to the middle and Americans back together.
The next generation
- We need to clean up the American system as well as the environment ASAP. I hope they inherit both a beautiful sustainable society and a healthy environment.
Closing message to voters
- The status quo, or a new direction in our political world, your choice?