David Jolly in 2016 FL Senate race
On Budget & Economy:
Balance the budget: morally bound and for national security
The greatest threat to our national security is our own government's continued deficit spending that, if left unchecked, will one day undermine our nation's status as the world's superpower. The greatest path to prosperity, to job creation, and to
economic growth is by creating a free economy that empowers individuals and communities. When this President took office, the national debt was approximately $10 trillion. When this President leaves office, the cumulative national debt [will be]
roughly $20 trillion, doubling in eight years what took 220 years to accumulate. In our lifetime, mandatory government spending on interest on the debt and our entitlement programs will likely consume every dollar the U.S. Treasury receives from the
people, leaving only continued deficit spending to fund the basic functions of government. We as a nation are morally bound to pay our debts and not burden future generations with debt created by ours. I support a balanced budget amendment.
Source: 2016 Florida Senate campaign website DavidJolly.com
Apr 14, 2016
On Energy & Oil:
I support offshore drilling, but not off Florida's coasts
David Jolly said, "I have never lobbied for offshore oil drilling," refuting an audience member question. Jolly's lobbyist past is a major target for his opponents. So has Jolly lobbied for expanded oil exploration?The Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee declared, "In 2011 Jolly lobbied on behalf of Free Enterprise Nation," which supported the Roadmap for America's Energy Future, introduced as H.R.909 by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) on March 3, 2011. The Roadmap "would open the
Outer Continental Shelf to offshore drilling." Offshore drilling is not allowed off Florida shores, for the most part [despite H.R.909]. Jolly himself wrote an April 2011 Free Enterprise Nation blog post in favor of the Nunes bill.
Jolly responded to
the DCCC's attack by saying the "comprehensive energy independence blueprint could have possibly expanded drilling in the Gulf, but I did not lobby on its behalf." He added he did support offshore drilling outside the 230-mile moratorium area.
Source: PolitiFact.com fact-check on 2016 Florida Senate race
Jan 10, 2016
On Free Trade:
Yes to Ex-im bank; No to fast-track
Ballotpedia.org analysis of Congressional voting record on trade issues:- Voted YEA on Trade adjustment assistance (TAA): On 6/12/15, the House rejected the TAA measure in HR 1314 by a vote of 126 to 302. TAA is a federal program providing
American workers displaced by foreign trade agreements with job training and services.
- Voted NAY on Trade promotion authority (TPA): On 6/12/15, the House narrowly passed the TPA measure in HR 1314 by a vote of 219 to 211.
TPA would give the president fast-track authority to negotiate trade agreements sent to Congress without the opportunity for amendment or filibuster.
- Voted YEA on Export-Import Bank: On 10/27/15, the House passed HR 597, the Export-Import Bank
Reform and Reauthorization Act, by a vote of 313-118. The bill allows the Export-Import Bank to resume offering assistance in the form of loans and insurance to foreign companies that want to buy U.S. goods.
Source: Ballotpedia.org coverage of 2016 Florida Senate race
Oct 27, 2015
On War & Peace:
Cancel Obama's Iran agreement and keep sanctions
Ballotpedia.org analysis of Congressional voting record on Foreign Policy issues: Suspension of Iran sanctions relief: Jolly voted YEA on September 11, 2015, when the House approved HR 3460 "To suspend until January 21, 2017, the authority of the
President to waive, suspend, reduce, provide relief from, or otherwise limit the application of sanctions pursuant to an agreement related to the nuclear program of Iran" by a vote of 247-186. HR 3460 prohibits "the President, prior to
January 21, 2017, from: limiting the application of specified sanctions on Iran or refraining from applying any such sanctions; or removing a foreign person (including entities) listed in Attachments 3 or 4 to Annex II of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of
Action (JCPA) from the list of designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Asset Control of the Department of the Treasury." Jolly voted with 244 Republicans and 2 Democrats for the bill.
Source: Ballotpedia.org coverage of 2016 Florida Senate race
Sep 11, 2015
On Government Reform:
OpEd AdWatch: Worked for lobbyists associated with Pakistan
Jolly's years as a lobbyist fed attacks during the 2014 special election. In a campaign ad, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee accused his former firm,
Van Scoyoc Associates Inc., of lobbying `for hundreds of millions (of dollars) for a dictator in Pakistan.`The dictator in the ad was former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, and experts we talked to agreed with describing him as a dictator.
The ad used guilt by association, but was careful not to claim Jolly himself lobbied for the country, which he never did.
The commercial veered close to the line, implying that Jolly's firm did something unethical when,
so far as we know, it acted lawfully and as other lobbying firms regularly do. We rated the claim Half True.
Source: PolitiFact AdWatch on 2016 Florida Senate race
Jul 20, 2015
On Social Security:
FactCheck: Discuss private accounts & other options too
In Jolly's district, an outsized number of residents collect Social Security payments, so the Florida Democratic Party raised Jolly's record on the retirement benefits program, saying in 2014 that Jolly `supports privatizing Social Security.` They used a
paraphrased statement that private accounts should be on the table in discussing future reforms.Which option Jolly favored wasn't so clear, beyond setting some kind of benefit guarantee for people who have already qualified for Social Security or are
currently receiving payments. He hasn't said whether private accounts were at the top of his list of potential fixes, only that they should be considered. Democrats were attempting to make it sound like he is 100% behind the idea; we rate that
statement `Mostly False.`
Jolly said several times on the campaign trail that the Supreme Court found that `Social Security is not guaranteed.` A 1960 case did indeed say that; Congress can change the rules. We rate his statement `True.`
Source: PolitiFact fact-checking on 2016 Florida Senate race
Jul 20, 2015
On Budget & Economy:
We've doubled our national debt in the last 8 years
The greatest path to prosperity, to job creation, and to economic growth is by creating a free economy that empowers individuals and communities. When this President took office, the national debt was approximately $10 trillion. When this President
leaves office, his Administration and the Congress will leave us with a cumulative national debt of roughly $20 trillion, doubling in eight years what took 220 years to accumulate. In our lifetime, mandatory government spending on interest on the debt
and our entitlement programs will likely consume every dollar the US Treasury receives from the people, leaving only continued deficit spending to fund the basic functions of government--from defense to veterans, to transportation and infrastructure,
to energy and the environment. I believe, as Thomas Jefferson did, that we as a nation are morally bound to pay our debts during the life of the majority and not burden future generations with debt created by ours. I support a balanced budget amendment.
Source: 2016 Florida Senate campaign website, DavidJolly.com
Jan 1, 2015
On Foreign Policy:
Help create stability in regions where there is none
We must work to protect our military strength and ensure that our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines, including those serving in the Guard & Reserves, can count with the most advanced tools and technologies necessary to protect our nation, our lives
and personal freedoms. By standing with our allies who fight with us against our common enemies and helping create stability and in regions where there is none will help us in our continued effort defend our nation's liberties and keep us safe.
Source: 2016 Florida Senate campaign website, DavidJolly.com
Jan 1, 2015
Page last updated: May 11, 2020