Two days before the South Carolina primary, Senate Agriculture chairman Pat Roberts endorsed Marco Rubio for the Republican presidential nomination. The Topeka Capital-Journal said Roberts described Rubio as inspirational, “just the antithesis” of businessman Donald Trump, and “the best opportunity for Republicans to win in November, which is just absolutely crucial if we’re going to turn this country back to our more traditional and constitutional principles.” Kansas holds its caucuses on March 5. Roberts in the eighth senator to endorse Rubio, says race42016.com. Former Kansas Sen Bob Dole said Rubio was his second choice, behind former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, said Politico, citing a National Review interview.
Ballotpedia said that Rubio voted against the 2013 version of the farm bill, voted in 2013 in favor of limiting premium subsides for crop insurance offered to the largest U.S. farmers and voted in 2012 against reducing sugar subsidies. The Rubio campaign website says the Florida senator would “repeal burdensome regulations on farmers and ranchers” such as the EPA’s Waters of the United States regulation; would oppose carbon taxes or cap-and-trade programs; and “push for timely completion of trade agreements to boost exports for American farmers and ranchers.”
Rubio was one of the eight senators who sponsored a bipartisan immigration reform bill in 2013 that included an opportunity for citizenship for agricultural workers. He later distanced himself from the legislation. His campaign website says if elected president, he would focus on immigration security which would include “finishing all 700 miles of walls on our southern border,” installing $4 billion of cameras and sensors on the border” and mandate use of eVerify, an electronic system to check if job applicants are in the country legally.
Undocumented immigrants would be required to register with the government under Rubio’s plan for immigration reform. They could apply for temporary nonimmigrant visas which would require payment of a fee, going through a background check and learning English. “Once they receive this work permit, they would be allowed to work legally and travel.” After a decade, they could apply for permanent U.S. residency.
Farm groups backed comprehensive immigration reform as a way to assure a stable and legal workforce. Growers say the guest worker program is balky and unreliable to use.