Jeb Bush: Campaign Issues

Where he stands

Jeb Bush, 2015 Source: Jim Cole for Associated Press Related Links Hillary Clinton: Campaign Issues Campaign 2016 Closest Presidential Races Presidential Gallery Jeb Bush’s campaign website

Healthcare

• Believes the Affordable Care Act is flawed and doesn't work
• Wants to change Medicaid from "defined benefit" to defined contribution
• Against physician-assisted suicide
• Wants to provide risk-adjusted insurance vouchers
• Said in Feb. 2015 that "you should vaccinate your children; over and out"

Budget/Deficit/Taxes

• Has said that mortgage bankers created the recession and they should resolve it
• Increased Florida's budget by 27% during his terms
• Supports constitutional balanced budget amendment
• Wants more bankruptcy reform and limitations, protect states' role in it.
• Privatization was his general philosophy while governor
• Believes social security benefits should come from private, faith-based companies.
• Wants to remove Intangibles Tax on stocks, bonds, and dividends because it "helps seniors and savers"
• Believes in letting states determine estate taxes

Immigration

• Stated in Jan. 2015 that immigrants are "an engine of economic vitality"
• An advocate for illegal immigrants residency
• Supports reform that will make it easier to come to the U.S. legally
• Believes education reform is more critical than immigration reform
• Wants to split the cost of legal immigration between state and federal governments

Energy/Environment

• Approved one billion for environmental land purchases while governor
• Created new marine sanctuary to protect the Florida Keys
• While governor, he prosecuted gas stations for price gouging during hurricanes
• In July 2014, he said about global warming: "I'm a skeptic; I'm not a scientist"
• Believes drilling in Gulf or Mexico hurts tourism in Florida
• Approved $1.5 billion plan for restoring the Everglades
• Wants to eliminate automobile emissions testing
• Would set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025

Foreign Policy

• Supported strengthening the Cuban embargo, not lifting it
• Believes the U.S. should be more aggressive with Russia and Ukraine
• Is in favor of economic cooperation with China
• Supports Israel in its battle against terrorism
• Lived in Venezuela for two years, majored in Latin American studies
• Believes the role in the world for the U.S. is to show military strength and moral clarity

Domestic Issues

• In favor of restricting abortions only to cases of incest, rape, and health
• Created "Choose Life" license plates for Florida
• Has blocked use of public funds for stem cell research
• Funded adoption counseling, not abortion counseling for Florida
• Said in Jan. 2015 that he respects civil unions and same-sex lifetime commitments
• Removed Confederate flag from Florida capitol in Feb. 2007