David not so Jolly

In the February 3 Bay News 9 Congressional District 13 debate between Alex Sink, David Jolly, and Lucas Overby, David Jolly clearly showed his antigovernment, Tea Party bona fides.  And they are none too jolly.

Not so Jolly agrees with Gov. Scott, one of the most unpopular governors in Florida history, saying he would have voted against the bullet train.  Gov. Scott's decision to reject billions in federal dollars to build high-speed rail between Tampa and Orlando cost Florida thousands of jobs.  This was a foolish, partisan decision that many Republicans including the Chamber of Commerce disagreed with.  High-speed and light rail are the future providing more environmentally friendly and accessible public transportation.

Not so Jolly wants to repeal Roe versus Wade.  Recent studies have shown abortion rates are declining due to increased education and access to contraception.  No one likes abortion, but going backwards making it illegal is not the answer.  Let's continue the downward abortion trend by doing what works (education and contraception), and stop this fight over old battles just to score political points.

Not so Jolly wants to repeal The Affordable Care Act, Obama Care, and replace it with – nothing.  Millions of Americans, many who have never had health insurance before, have already signed up including thousands of Floridians.  The law is not perfect, but changes can and have been made.  Repealing it with no alternative is an extreme measure, again strictly partisan, and is not in the best interest of Floridians who desperately need healthcare. 

Not so Jolly wants to go to war against Syria.  He said he would have voted to put troops in Syria to stop chemical warfare against Syrian insurgents.  He wanted to place our troops in the middle of a Middle East revolution involving chemical weapons?  Was his goal to fill more beds at the Bay Pines VA?  Either Jolly has forgotten or is against diplomatic efforts by the Obama administration that have led to the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons.

It is clear to me that a congressman Jolly would be less of an advocate for Pinellas County and more of a tea party obstructionist – don't we already have too many of these in Congress?