In the minority Marco Rubio

shortly after taking office in 2011, rubio said had no interest in running president or vice president in 2012 presidential election. in march 2012, when endorsed mitt romney president, rubio said did not expect or want selected vice presidential running mate, vetted vice president romney campaign. former romney aide beth myers has said vetting process turned nothing disqualifying rubio.

upon taking office, rubio hired cesar conda chief of staff. conda, former adviser vice president dick cheney, , former top aide sens. spencer abraham (r-mich.) , robert kasten (r-wis.), succeeded in 2014 rubio s chief of staff deputy, alberto martinez, conda remained part-time adviser.

during first year in office, rubio became influential defender of united states embargo against cuba, , induced state department withdraw ambassadorial nomination of jonathan d. farrar, chief of mission of united states interests section in havana 2008 2011. rubio believed farrar not assertive enough toward castro regime. in 2011, invited visit reagan library, during gave well-publicized speech praising namesake, , rescued nancy reagan falling.

meeting in february 2013 israeli president shimon peres during trip jordan , israel.

in march 2011, rubio supported u.s. participation in military campaign in libya oust libyan leader muammar gaddafi. urged senate leaders bring bi-partisan resolution senate floor authorizing president s decision participate in allied military action in libya . administration decided no congressional authorization needed under war powers resolution; senator joe lieberman (i-ct) joined rubio in writing opinion piece wall street journal in june 2011 again urging passage of such authorization. in october 2011, rubio joined several other senators in pushing continued engagement libya lay foundation sustainable security. after gadhafi ousted, rubio warned there serious threat posed spread of militias , weapons, , called more u.s. involvement counter threat.

rubio voted against budget control act of 2011, included mandatory automatic budget cuts sequestration. later said defense spending should never have been linked taxes , deficit, calling policy terrible idea based on false choice.

the following month, rubio , senator chris coons, democrat of delaware, co-sponsored american growth, recovery, empowerment , entrepreneurship act (agree act), have extended many tax credits , exemptions businesses investing in research , development, equipment, , other capital; provided tax credit veterans start business franchise; allowed increase in immigration types of work visas; , strengthened copyright protections.

in 2012, rubio introduced bill, co-sponsored joe manchin, democrat of west virginia, allow employers exempted newly mandated coverage contraception based on religious or moral grounds, not adopted in senate.

rubio voted against 2012 fiscal cliff resolutions. although received criticism position, responded: thousands of small businesses, not wealthy, forced decide how ll pay new tax, and, chances are, ll firing employees, cutting hours , benefits, or postponing new hires looking make. , make matters worse, nothing bring our dangerous debt under control.

touring us-mexican border in november 2011 border patrol officials

in 2013, rubio part of bipartisan gang of 8 senators crafted comprehensive immigration reform legislation. rubio proposed plan providing path citizenship undocumented immigrants living in united states involving payment of fines , taxes, background checks, , probationary period; pathway implemented after strengthening border security. bill passed senate 68 32 support, rubio signaled bill should not taken house because other priorities, repealing obamacare, higher priority him; house never did take bill. rubio has since explained still supports reform, different approach instead of single comprehensive bill.

about give response state of union address in february 2013

rubio chosen deliver republican response president obama’s 2013 state of union address. marked first time response delivered in english , spanish. rubio s attempt draw strong line against looming defense sequestration undercut fellow republican senator rand paul s additional response obama s speech called sequester carried out.

in april 2013, rubio voted against expansion of background checks gun purchases, contending such increased regulatory measures little capture criminals.

in may 2013, rubio proposed regulation costs small businesses act have required small business administration conduct annual study estimate total cost of regulations on small businesses.

in july 2013, rubio , senator ben cardin, democrat of maryland, introduced foreign aid transparency , accountability act of 2013. bill require federal agencies monitor , regularly report on performance of foreign assistance programs based on specified goals , metrics. reports published publicly. according rubio: america’s foreign assistance programs need greater transparency ensure advancing our values , interests overseas.

in 2014, rubio co-sponsored legislation senator mark warner, democrat of virginia, revise process calculating , collecting student loans. legislation base student loan payments on student s subsequent income , automatically collect payments paychecks in order simplify process , eliminate loan servicer fees.