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Historical Details

Position on Issues

Other, 2015

At a campaign stop Rubio said, "Drug addiction needs to be treated as a disease - it's not a crime, it's a disease." However, beyond working "very closely" with states to combat the heroin epidemic, Rubio did not suggest increased funding for addiction treatment. He supports increased border enforcement as a way to combat the heroin epidemic.

Other, 2006

Supports school vouchers and school choice ("100 Innovative Ideas" by Marco Rubio)

Other, 2013

As a 2010 candidate for U.S. Senate, Marco Rubio said: "Legal immigration has been a great source of strength and prosperity for America, but I believe illegal immigration threatens the foundation of this system. If I had been in the Senate at the time, I would have opposed the McCain-Kennedy bill. I believe we must fix our immigration system by first securing the border, fixing the visa and entry process and opposing amnesty in any reform."

However, in 2013 Rubio joined the Gang of Eight which drafted an immigration reform bill that included a path to citizenship for illegal/undocumented immigrants.

Other, 2015

Opposes Common Core and said, "[The federal government] will not stop with it being a suggestion. They will turn it into a mandate."

Project Vote Smart Survey, 2010

"Like the rest of our Constitution, I believe the 2nd Amendment is a cornerstone of our democracy. I believe the right to bear arms is a constitutionally protected right. The right of citizens to defend themselves by bearing arms is a fundamental human right that should be protected."

Candidate's Website, 2010

"In the US Senate, I will support measures like a balanced budget amendment and the line-item veto that will help control the excessive and wasteful spending in Washington that threatens to leave future generations with crushing debt and a country worse off than that of their parents."

Other, 2015

"We are not going to make America a harder place to create jobs in order to pursue policies that will do absolutely nothing, nothing to change our climate, to change our weather, because America is a lot of things, the greatest country in the world, absolutely.

"But America is not a planet. And we are not even the largest carbon producer anymore, China is. And they're drilling a hole and digging anywhere in the world that they can get a hold of.

"So the bottom line is, I am not in favor of any policies that make America a harder place for people to live, or to work, or to raise their families."

Candidate's Website, 2015

Rubio sponsored federal legislation that would simplify income tax rates, but he has not voiced support for a flat income tax. On his Presidential campaign website, Rubio advocates for three income tax brackets: 15%, 25%, and 35%.

Other, 2015

Supports defunding Planned Parenthood, even if it results in a government shutdown

Other, 2015

"I'm not in favor of legalizing marijuana... Federal government needs to enforce federal law, and I think this country is already paying a high price for the impact alcohol has had on families, on addiction, on the destruction of marriages, homes, and businesses, and now we're going to legalize an additional intoxicant."

Candidate's Website, 2015

Rubio outlines a plan for combatting the Islamic State (also known as ISIS, ISIL, and Daesh) on his website. His plan includes:

  • Expanding airstrikes, including forward air controllers on the ground
  • Embedding U.S. forces on the ground
  • Creating additional safe-zones in Syria
  • Providing arms directly to Sunni tribal and Kurdish forces
  • Coordinating with allies to take down Assad

Candidate's Website, 2015

Generally supports fewer regulations on fossil fuel industries and said, "Thanks to new technology and innovation, we are poised to become the world's energy superpower even as our emissions have been declining."

Candidate's Website, 2015

Rubio's website states, "Marco has introduced legislation allowing secretaries of the VA to remove any VA employee based on performance or misconduct. Without the basic accountability this measure offers, we'll never have a VA that works for veterans rather than bureaucrats.

"Similarly, competition will push the VA to provide top quality care. If veterans don't feel like the Veterans Health Administration suits their needs, Marco supports giving them the option to use the exact same funds to see an approved private sector provider of their choice.

"Marco will also fight to streamline and reform the VA bureaucracy and protect whistleblowers from retaliation."

Other, 2015

Open to medicinal marijuana, opposes marijuana legalization

Project Vote Smart Survey, 2010

"I will support efforts to reduce the tax burden on American workers, entrepreneurs and businesses. This includes: eliminating the Death Tax; eliminating taxes on capital gains, dividends and interest, thereby encouraging greater savings and investment; and making America the most attractive place to do business by lowering corporate tax rates."

Project Vote Smart Survey, 2010

"I am pro-life. As a state legislator, I supported various pieces of pro-life legislation that, among other things, would require doctors to perform ultrasounds before performing abortions and another bill that would ban the use of taxpayer dollars to fund stem cell research."

Book, 2006

Rubio supports the death penalty. In his 2006 book 100 Innovative Ideas, Rubio said lengthy death penalty appeals "postpone a sense of finality and erode public confidence in the judicial system."

Candidate's Website, 2015

Generally supports NSA domestic surveillance and mass data collection for the purpose of national security, and said, "The next time that any politician, senator, congressman, talking head, whatever it may be, stands up and says that the U.S. government is listening to your phone calls or going through your phone records, they're lying. It just is not true. Except for some very isolated instances, in the hundreds, of individuals for whom there is reasonable suspicion that they could have links to terrorism."

Other, 2015

"We must gradually increase the retirement age for individuals under 55, without changing it for current seniors."

Candidate's Website, 2016

"We need to repeal Dodd-Frank and focus on stopping out-of-control regulators by enacting a National Regulatory Budget, which will cap - and reduce - the amount that regulations can cost the economy per year."

Candidate's Website, 2013

"I believe that marriage is a unique historical institution best defined as the union between one man and one woman. In the U.S., marriage has traditionally been defined by state law, and I believe each state, acting through their elected representatives or the ballot, should decide their own definition of marriage. For the purposes of federal law, however, Congress had every right to adopt a uniform definition and I regret that the Supreme Court would interfere with that determination."

Other, 2012

Rubio sponsored a bill to expand the religious exception for contraception coverage in employer health insurance

Other, 2012

When asked about voter ID in 2012, Rubio noted that many other activities, such as boarding a plane, require showing ID. He asked, "What's the big deal? What is the big deal?"

Other, 2010

"More stimulus spending will empower Washington politicians to pick the winners in our economy, while the rest of us will lose and foot the bill for more reckless spending. It is alarming and, frankly, fiscally irresponsible of President Obama to call for even more stimulus spending, while we still have a chance to stop what's left of the failed $800 billion stimulus. What American entrepreneurs and workers need right away is for Washington to get serious about its out-of-control spending and eliminate the uncertainty surrounding the 2001 and 2003 tax rates that are set to expire on January 1."

Other, 2015

"The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), discussed between President Obama and Prime Minister Abe this week, will further our strategic goals in Asia and increase prosperity at home. It will advance economic liberty and unleash free-market forces in the world's most dynamic region. It will create the opportunity for emerging economies to become the next 'tigers' of Asia and enhance linkages between nations in the Western Hemisphere and East Asia."

Candidate's Website, 2015

Opposes Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran, especially lifting all sanctions

Voting Record

S 524

Attempts to combat the opioid addiction crisis on multiple fronts, for example expanding the availiability of naloxone

S 2012 (2016)

Promotes energy efficiency, requires upgrades to the electric grid, loosens regulations for natural gas pipelines on federal lands, subsidizes hydropower and geothermal, and permanently authorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund

S Amdt 4720

Allows the Attorney General to bar anyone on the terrorist watch list from buying a firearm

S Amdt 4751

Increases the connections between states, the courts, and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and requires the Attorney General to study the causes of mass shootings

S Amdt 4749

Creates a 72 hour waiting period for anyone on a terrorist watch list who wishes to buy a gun, giving time for federal officials to review the purchase

S Amdt 4787

Allows the FBI to issue "National Security Letters," which compel companies to turn over "electronic communications transactional records" without court approval

S 3100

Withholds federal grants for cities that either do not require or expressly prohibit inquiries about an individual's immigration status ("sanctuary cities")

S 2193
Increases the maximum prison term for an illegal/undocumented immigrant who reenters the U.S. after being deported
S 2328
A bill to restructure Puerto Rico's debt through a bankruptcy-like process
S 1
Authorizes the Keystone XL Pipeline and amends energy efficiency regulations
HR 2146
Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill, also having to do with federal firefighters
S Amdt 2327
Reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank
S 754
Encourages private companies to share information with the federal government about possible threats to computer networks. Some civil liberty advocates are concerned that the bill threatens consumer privacy.
S J Res 24
Expresses disapproval of the EPA rules that require states to lower carbon dioxide emissions
HR 22
Federal highway and transportation funding bill
S Amdt 777
Recognizes that climate change is real and caused by human activity and that Congress needs to take action to cut carbon pollution
S 1177
Expands state responsibility over schools and reduces the federal test-based funding system of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
HR 2048
Tightens regulations on electronic surveillance
HR 1295
Eases trade restrictions between U.S. and parts of Africa, funds a worker assistance program in the U.S., and renews Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)
HR 1314
Renews Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)
S 1881

Prohibits any federal funding for Planned Parenthood

S 2146
Blocks federal funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" that do not comply with federal detainer requests for illegal immigrants
HR 4038
Expands background checks on Iraqi and Syrian refugees
S 2232

Requires an audit of the Federal Reserve.

HR 3762
Repeals several key pieces of the Affordable Care Act/"Obamacare," including the individual mandate to buy health insurance
HR 3547 (2014)

Appropriates funds for fiscal year 2014

S 540 (2014)

Temporary debt limit extension

S 1752 (2014)

Increasing regulation of court martials for rape in the military

S 1845 (2014)

To provide for the extension of certain unemployment benefits

S 2223 (2014)

Minimum Wage Fairness Act, to increase the federal minimum wage

S 2578 (2014)

Prohibits any employer that maintains a group health plan for its employees from denying coverage of any health care item or service required under federal law (e.g. birth control)

S 2685 (2014)

Limits the collection of phone records by the government

S J Res 19 (2014)

Constitutional amendment related to campaign finance, potentially overturning the Citizens United decision

S 2569 (2014)

Prohibiting tax credits for outsourcing expenses and creating a tax credit for insourcing expenses

S Amdt 3584 (2014)

Lowering the federal gas tax and giving states more control over transportation infrastructure funding

S 2280 (2014)

Authorizes the Keystone XL Pipeline

H J Res 59 (2013)

Continues the 2013 budget and delays the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (known as 'Obamacare')

S 815 (2013)

Prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity

HR 2775 (2013)

Extends the current budget and raise the debt ceiling until early 2014

S Amdt 711 (2013)

Establishes regulations on assault weapons

S 743 (2013)

Requires online retailers to collect sales tax for other states

S Amdt 715 (2013)

Requires background checks for all firearms purchases

S 47 (2013)
Reauthorizes the “Violence Against Women Act”
S 744 (2013)
“Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act,” which creates a path to citizenship for illegal/undocumented immigrants, increase border security, and reforms the visa system
HR 1911 (2013)

Matches the Stafford Direct Student Loan rates to the 10-year Treasury note rather than using a fixed rate

S Amdt 30 (2013)
Prohibits spending on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare”
S 2573 (2012)

Extends tax cuts established in 2001 and 2003

S Amdt 2153 (2012)

“Lamar Bill,” which extends current student loan interest rates; also repeals the Prevention and Public Health Fund established by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (commonly known as “Obamacare”)

S 3412 (2012)

Extends tax cuts from 2001 and 2003, except for certain high-income individuals

S 2343 (2012)

“Reid Bill,” which extends student loan interest rates

S 3240 (2012)

Continues farm subsidies and reforms SNAP (food stamps)

S Amdt 2310 (2012)

Requires labeling of genetically modified food (GMOs)

S 1925 (2012)
Reauthorizes the “Violence Against Women Act”
S Amdt 2172 (2012)

Gets rid of bonuses to states for administering SNAP (food stamps)

HR 3630 (2012)

Extends unemployment benefits, payroll tax cuts, and more

S Amdt 2174 (2012)

Limits eligibility for SNAP (food stamps)

HR 5949 (2012)

Reauthorizes electronic surveillance laws passed after 9/11

HR 1249 (2011)

Changes US patent issuance from "first to invent" to "first inventor to file"

S 365 (2011)

Raising the debt ceiling and enacting budget cuts

HR 514 (2011)

Extends certain expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005

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