Marco Rubio (R)

Con
Should Supreme Court Justice Scalia's Replacement Be Chosen by President Obama?

"I do not believe the president should appoint someone. And it's not unprecedented. In fact, it has been over 80 years since a lame duck president has appointed a Supreme Court justice.

And it reminds us of this, how important this election is. Someone on this stage will get to choose the balance of the Supreme Court, and it will begin by filling this vacancy that's there now.

And we need to put people on the bench that understand that the Constitution is not a living and breathing document. It is to be interpreted as originally meant."

Con
Should Any Federal Taxes Be Increased?

"The current tax code taxes too much, taxes unfairly, and conspires with our outmoded welfare system to trap poor families in poverty, rather than facilitate their climb into the middle class. Our reforms seek to simplify the structure and lower rates. How? By consolidating the many existing income tax brackets into two simple brackets—15% and 35%—and eliminating or reforming deductions, especially those that disproportionately benefit the privileged few at everyone else’s expense."

Con
Should There Be a Flat Tax on Income?

"I have gathered input from Americans of all economic backgrounds and engaged in discussions with leaders across the conservative movement to form a complete, pro-growth, pro-family tax reform agenda for the 21st century.

My plan is a significant departure from the old school tax reform ideas that so often come out of Washington. First, on the individual side, my plan reduces the number of brackets from seven to three: 15%, 25%, and 35%. The plan eliminates all exemptions and deductions, except for a charitable contribution deduction and a reformed home mortgage interest deduction. Taxpayers will instead receive a personal tax credit that phases out for higher-income Americans. This greatly simplified code will cut taxes for the vast majority of people."

Con
Should Social Security Be Privatized?

"HARWOOD: You want to raise the retirement age for Social Security? Do you agree with President [George W.] Bush on private accounts?

RUBIO: No, I think the time has passed for that. The traditional three stools of retirement—the defined benefit plan, Social Security and private savings—are all under stress. And I think that we do need to provide more flexibility on the personal side where people can find more vehicles for their own money. But Social Security itself, no, I don't think privatization is the right approach…

What I tell people my age and younger is, 'Our benefits (are) not going to grow as fast as our parents' grew. Especially if we've been financially successful.' These are not draconian changes for future generations. But here's the truth: Our Social Security and Medicare is going to be different than our parents' one way or the other."

Con
Should Felons Who Have Completed Their Sentences (Incarceration, Probation, and Parole) Be Allowed to Vote?

"I think there are certain categories of felonies that should permanently disqualify you from voting rights."

Con
Should US Election Campaigns Be Publicly Financed?

"I believe, that as long as it's being disclosed [campaign contributions], the people have a right to participate in our political process, and that includes firms that have an interest, and that includes individuals who have an interest."

Con
Is the Nuclear Arms Deal with Iran Good for America?

"I do think it is important, for the world, and especially for Iran to understand that as far as the American sanctions are concerned, this is a deal whose survival is not guaranteed beyond the term of the current President.

And, by the way, I personally hope the next President is someone who will remove the national security waiver and reimpose the congressional sanctions that were passed by Congress, because this deal is fundamentally and irreparably flawed. I believe it weakens our national security, and it makes the world a more dangerous place...

No matter what happens, Iran will keep the more than billions of dollars it is going to receive up front, basically as a signing bonus. Iran will be allowed to continue to develop long-range ballistic missiles, ICBMs, that know only one purpose, and that is for nuclear warfare...

On terrorism, this deal will provide billions, possibly hundreds of billions, to a regime that, according to Director of National Intelligence Clapper 'directly threatens the interests of the United States and our allies.'

And lastly, nothing in the deal holds Iran to account on human rights. Quite the opposite, the Iranian regime, is being rewarded for its atrocious human rights record...

I hope enough of my Democratic colleagues can be persuaded to vote against this deal and prevent the president from executing it."

Con
Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted?

"As Congress prepares to consider new gun control legislation, I stand firmly against any attempt to restrict the constitutional rights of responsible, law-abiding gun owners. As a concealed weapons permit holder, I value the freedom to exercise my Second Amendment right as protected by the Constitution and in accordance with gun laws designed to promote safe, responsible use. The right to bear arms is a unique and fundamental aspect of American liberty because, when exercised responsibly and in accordance with the laws in place, it makes our families and our property safer.

Last week, I announced I would join efforts to filibuster any gun control proposals that seek to restrict the rights of Americans who have never violated the law...

Current gun control proposals being discussed by Washington Democrats – by the admission of their own authors – would not have stopped the tragedies in Newtown or Aurora... any effective plan to deal with future violence must focus on addressing mental illness and identifying those Americans who should be forbidden to own guns."

Con
Should Abortion Be Legal?

"KELLY: You don't favor a rape and incest exception?

RUBIO: I have never said that. And I have never advocated that. What I have advocated is that we pass law in this country that says all human life at every stage of its development is worthy of protection. In fact, I think that law already exists. It is called the Constitution of the United States...

And let me go further. I believe that every single human being is entitled to the protection of our laws, whether they can vote or not. Whether they can speak or not. Whether they can hire a lawyer or not. Whether they have a birth certificate or not. And I think future generations will look back at this history of our country and call us barbarians for murdering millions of babies who we never gave them a chance to live."

Con
Is Obamacare Good for America?

"I disagree with the Court's ruling [upholding the Obamacare subsidies] and believe they have once again erred in trying to correct the mistakes made by President Obama and Congress in forcing Obamacare on the American people.

Despite the Court's decision, ObamaCare is still a bad law that is having a negative impact on our country and on millions of Americans. I remain committed to repealing this bad law and replacing it with my consumer-centered plan that puts patients and families back in control of their health care decisions. We need Consumer Care, not ObamaCare."

Con
Should Planned Parenthood Receive Federal Funding?

"The cruel and callous language used by senior Planned Parenthood officials is sickening, shows a complete disregard for innocent unborn life, not to mention Planned Parenthood's clients, and speaks to an organization that is morally bankrupt. There is simply no justification for an organization that fosters this kind of culture to receive a penny of taxpayer funding..."

Con
Should Sanctuary Cities Continue to Receive Federal Funding for Law Enforcement?

"One of the things we talked about in the past, and we tried to get included with negotiations with Democrats in the past, is the idea of getting rid of the sanctuary city situation. Saying to these localities, if you are not going to participate in helping us to enforce these laws, they you are not going to be eligible for the federal funding that you are receiving.

It's an outrageous situation where you have these localities [sanctuary cities] that basically decide that because they have got a political agenda, or a view of immigration law, they can somehow ignore the enforcement of these laws...

In this case you have political elected officials, and an ultra-liberal government, who refuses to comply with the law because they don't agree with the law, and that is just completely unacceptable."

Con
Should the Federal Minimum Wage Be Increased?

"I want people to make a lot more than $9. Nine dollars is not enough. The problem is that you can't do that by mandating it in the minimum wage laws. Minimum wage laws have never worked in terms of helping the middle class attain more prosperity...

I don't think a minimum wage law works."

Con
Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legal?

"I'm not in favor of legalizing marijuana. I'm not. I never have been."

Con
Should the United States Close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp?

"You wake up this morning to the news that the president is planning to close Guantanamo — maybe even giving it back to the Cuban government. This makes no sense to me. No. 1, we're not giving back an important naval base to an anti-American communist dictatorship.

No. 2, we're not going to close Guantanamo. In fact, we shouldn't be releasing the people that are there now. They are enemy combatants...

These are literally enemy combatants. In essence, soldiers — though not soldiers — terrorists of foreign terrorist organizations, many of whom as soon as you release them, they rejoin the fight against us."

Con
Should Genetically Modified (GMO) Foods Have Mandatory Labeling?

"Over the past twenty years, advances in biotechnology have led to the increased use of genetic engineering to produce many of the food products consumed by Americans. Originally, genetic engineering was used to enhance the production yield and resiliency of field crops, like tomatoes and corn, but modern techniques have expanded the use of genetic engineering to a wide range of commercially available food products, like dairy, fish, and meat. Although genetically engineered food products have been approved and regulated by various federal agencies, their safety, as well as the environmental and economic impact of their use, continues to be debated among agricultural, environmental, and consumer groups.

As you may know, on May 23, 2013 the Senate voted down, 27-71, an amendment to S. 954, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013, offered by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) which would have permitted states to require that any food offered for sale have a label indicating that the food contains a genetically engineered ingredient...

I believe common-sense, market-oriented solutions based on sound science are the best approach to protecting consumers."

Con
Was the US Supreme Court Decision Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage a Good Decision?

"I believe that marriage, as the key to strong family life, is the most important institution in our society and should be between one man and one woman. People who disagree with the traditional definition of marriage have the right to change their state laws. That is the right of our people, not the right of the unelected judges or justices of the Supreme Court. This decision short-circuits the political process that has been underway on the state level for years.

While I disagree with this decision, we live in a republic and must abide by the law...

A large number of Americans will continue to believe in traditional marriage, and a large number of Americans will be pleased with the Court's decision today. In the years ahead, it is my hope that each side will respect the dignity of the other."