Jeff Greene in 2010 Florida Senate debates
On Health Care:
Supports Obamacare
The candidates generally restrained from attacking each other when questioned on specific issues. Asked about health-care, the candidates praised new federal laws backed by President Barack Obama, but sparred over Medicaid.
Replying to a question on Social Security reform, Greene and Meek attacked Crist and Rubio for backing raising the age of eligibility for receiving Social Security benefits.
Source: 2010 Florida Dem. Primary Debate, in Sunshine State News
Aug 11, 2010
On Jobs:
We have a jobs crisis, not a job problem
The action started with a question about how the candidates would draft legislation to create more jobs. Meek pushed for tax cuts for the middle class and high-speed rail, arguing building a railway will help create jobs in the state. "Transportation
is a problem no matter where you live in Florida," added Meek. "We have a jobs crisis," countered Greene. "It's not a job problem." The billionaire blamed elected officials, including Meek, for the record high unemployment in the state.
Source: 2010 Florida Dem. Primary Debate, in Sunshine State News
Aug 11, 2010
On Principles & Values:
Ran as Republican for Congress in California in 1982
Meek brought up Greene running for Congress in California back in 1982 -- as a Republican.
Asked about his reputation as a playboy, Greene said it is not an issue, noting that he had married late in his life and now is the father of a 10-month-old baby.
Source: 2010 Florida Dem. Primary Debate, in Sunshine State News
Aug 11, 2010
On Social Security:
Maintain current retirement age
The candidates generally restrained from attacking each other when questioned on specific issues. Asked about health-care, the candidates praised new federal laws backed by President Barack Obama, but sparred over Medicaid.
Replying to a question on Social Security reform, Greene and Meek attacked Crist and Rubio for backing raising the age of eligibility for receiving Social Security benefits.
Source: 2010 Florida Dem. Primary Debate, in Sunshine State News
Aug 11, 2010
On Tax Reform:
Repeal Bush tax cuts, exempting small business
The candidates sparred over the tax cuts backed by President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003. While both candidates said they support the repeal of those tax cuts, Greene said he will exempt small businesses.
Source: 2010 Florida Dem. Primary Debate, in Sunshine State News
Aug 11, 2010
On Budget & Economy:
Everyone knew housing crash was coming; Congress did nothing
Meek asked about Greene's record in the real estate industry, arguing that his opponent profited off the back of failed mortgages. "I saw the housing bubble coming and I went against the biggest banks on Wall Street and I won," replied
Greene."I wasn't a genius. It was on the front page of Time magazine: Housing Bust Coming; It was on the front page of the Economist, Housing Market crumbling," Greene said to Rep.
Meek. "Guys like you were just part of the party. You were getting money from all these (Wall Street firms) and failed to regulate them."
Greene concluded that Meek and members of
Congress refused to regulate the housing lending industry -- even accusing the congressman of pushing risky sub-prime mortgages and money from the industry.
Source: 2010 Florida Dem. Primary Debate, Miami Herald & S.S.News
Aug 10, 2010
On Corporations:
Sold $21M of condos to CA dealer now facing charges
Greene said to Meek, "I'm going to fight to end the culture of corruption and bribery in Washington, which I believe you're a part of." The billionaire real estate investor in turn was on the defensive about a real estate deal detailed in Sunday's St.
Petersburg Times and Miami Herald in which Greene made about $21 million selling condo units for a buyer now facing criminal charges after every unit defaulted and lenders lost millions."I was a victim," Greene said, dismissing Meek's suggestion that
he "enabled fraud" by signing hundreds of blank deeds that were filled out by straw buyers. "It's very different when you sell a building to a guy and he turns out to be a crook."
Greene dismissed Meek's accusation in the California condo deal with
Delbert McConville. "I sold a building through a broker. They found this guy McConville. I've never met him," Greene said. "Everything I signed was done with my attorneys and the escrow officers, my loan agents. I didn't do anything crooked."
Source: 2010 Florida Dem. Primary Debate, Miami Herald & P.B.Post
Aug 10, 2010
On Energy & Oil:
Ban offshore oil drilling
There is little daylight between the two Democrats on major issues. They agreed on repealing President George W. Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, banning offshore oil drilling and maintaining the current retirement age for Social Security.
Both were equally vague about how they would make Social Security solvent. The main point of contention between Meek and Greene boils down to which one is dirtier.
Source: 2010 Florida Democratic Primary Debate, in Miami Herald
Aug 10, 2010
On Foreign Policy:
2007: Visited Cuba to repair yacht & support synagogues
The main point of contention between Meek and Greene boils down to which one is dirtier. "Your life is a question mark and every day we learn about your business dealings and how you treat your employees.
You have more versions of why you went to Cuba than Baskin Robbins has flavors of ice cream," Meek said, referring to Greene's explanations for why he took his 145-foot yacht to Cuba in 2007.Greene initially said he went to
Cuba as part of a humanitarian mission to visit the Jewish community there. He then said the Cuba visit was the result of mechanical troubles on his yacht and he visited synagogues there while he was waiting for the vessel to be repaired.
Greene says he went to Cuba merely because his yacht, Summerwind, needed repairs for a diving trip. On Tuesday he produced receipts for yacht parts and an attorney's letter saying no law was violated based on how Greene explained the trip.
Source: 2010 Florida Dem. Primary Debate, Miami Herald & P.B.Post
Aug 10, 2010
Page last updated: Dec 02, 2018