David Jolly in 2016 FactCheck

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 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

The above quotations are from Fact-checking on 2016 presidential, gubernatorial, and Senate campaigns. Click here for other excerpts from Fact-checking on 2016 presidential, gubernatorial, and Senate campaigns. Click here for other excerpts by David Jolly. Click here for a profile of David Jolly.
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