House speaker Marco Rubio

then speaker-designate rubio, challenging house colleagues write 100 innovative ideas florida s future , september 2005

when chosen future speaker in 2005, rubio delivered speech house in asked members in desks, each found hardcover book titled 100 innovative ideas florida’s future; book intentionally blank, because had not yet been written, , rubio told colleagues fill in pages of ordinary floridians. in 2006, after traveling around state , talking citizens, , compiling ideas, rubio published book. national journal called book centerpiece of rubio’s speakership . 24 of ideas became law, while 10 partially enacted. among items 2006 book became law multiple-year car registrations, requirement high schools provide more vocational courses, , expanded voucher-like school-choice program. rubio s defenders, , critics, point out nationwide economic difficulties overlapped of rubio s speakership, , funding new legislative proposals became difficult.

at time rubio took office speaker, jeb bush completing term governor, , bush left office in january 2007. rubio hired 18 bush aides, leading capitol insiders speaker s suite governor’s office in exile. article in national journal described rubio s style being different bush s; bush assertive manager of affairs in tallahassee, article says, rubio s style delegate powers, relinquish others, , invite former political rivals inner circle. incoming speaker, decided open private dining room legislators, said give members more privacy, free being pursued lobbyists, though expense of doing led public relations problem.

rubio chairman of house select committee on private property rights, october 2005

in 2006, florida enacted law limitations upon authority of state government take private property, in response 2005 supreme court decision in kelo v. city of new london took broad view of governmental power take private property under eminent domain. state legislation had been proposed special committee chaired rubio prior speakership.

jeb bush succeeded charlie crist, moderate republican took office in january 2007. rubio , crist clashed frequently. sharpest clash involved governor s initiative expand casino gambling in florida. rubio sued crist bypassing florida legislature in order make deal seminole tribe. florida supreme court sided rubio , blocked deal.

rubio critic of crist s strategy fight climate change through executive order creating new automobile , utility emissions standards. rubio accused crist of imposing european-style big government mandates, , legislature under rubio s leadership weakened impact of crist s climate change initiative. rubio said crist’s approach harm consumers driving utility bills without having effect upon environment, , better approach promote biofuel (e.g. ethanol), solar panels, , energy efficiency.

rubio introduced plan reduce state property taxes 2001 levels (and potentially eliminate them altogether), while increasing sales taxes 1% 2.5% fund schools. proposal have reduced property taxes in state $40–50 billion. proposal passed house, opposed governor crist , florida senate republicans, said increase in sales tax disproportionately affect poor. so, rubio agreed smaller changes, , crist s proposal double state s property tax exemption $25,000 $50,000 (for tax reduction estimated crist $33 billion) passed. legislators called largest tax cut in florida s history until then. @ time, republican anti-tax activist grover norquist described rubio pro-taxpayer legislative leader in country.

rubio conferring democratic leader dan gelber in 2007

as speaker, rubio aggressively tried push florida political right, according nbc news, , clashed florida senate, run more moderate republicans, , then-governor charlie crist, centrist republican @ time. although conservative, behind scenes many democrats considered rubio whom work, according biographer manuel roig-franzia. dan gelber of miami, house democratic leader @ time of rubio s speakership, considered him true conservative not reflexive partisan, saying: didn t have objection working other side because other side. put bluntly, wasn t jerk. gelber considered rubio severe conservative, far right, talented spokesman severe right ever hope for.

while speaker of florida house, rubio shared residence in tallahassee florida state representative, david rivera, 2 co-owned. house later went foreclosure in 2010 after several missed mortgage payments. @ point, rubio assumed responsibility payments, , house sold.

house speaker rubio , senate president ken pruitt embrace after house s unanimous approval of senate s resolution formally express deep regret slavery. march 2008

in 2007, florida state senator tony hill (d-jacksonville), chairman of state legislature s black caucus, requested legislature apologize slavery, , rubio said idea merited discussion. following year, supportive rubio said such apologies can important albeit symbolic; pointed out in 2008 young african-american males believe american dream not available them . helped set council on issues facing black men , boys, persuaded colleagues replicate harlem children s zone in miami neighborhood of liberty city, , supported efforts promote literacy , mentoring black children , others.

in 2010 during rubio s senate campaign, , again in 2015 during presidential campaign, issues raised media , political opponents items charged rubio republican party of florida american express card during time house speaker. rubio charged $110,000 during 2 years, of $16,000 personal expenses unrelated party business, such groceries , plane tickets. rubio said paid american express more $16,000 these personal expenses. in 2012, florida commission on ethics cleared rubio of wrongdoing in use of party-issued credit card, although commission inspector said rubio exhibited level of negligence in not using personal mastercard. in november 2015, rubio released party credit card statements january 2005 through october 2006, showed 8 personal charges totaling $7,243.74, of had reimbursed, in instances next billing period. when releasing charge records, rubio spokesman todd harris said, these statements more 10 years old. , people ask them today liberal media , our political opponents. releasing them because marco has nothing hide.