Florida Politics, Sept. 7, 2016 – An outspoken critic of the Obama administration may be one of the key ways to describe Rubio, and it’s a position he’s taking to heart this week. Rubio penned an op-ed for the Tampa Bay Times this week, unveiling legislation aimed at stopping ransom payments.
The bill, called “The No Ransom Payment Act, would “forbid any future ransom payments for hostages,” require Iran to return $1.7 billion it received from the Obama administration, and forbid future settlements of “Iranian claims until Iran first pays the more than $55 billion awarded by U.S. courts to American victims of Iranian-backed terror, and to the Americans held hostage by Iran in 1979.”
“Congress has a responsibility to act on this matter. If it does not, it would send a signal to America’s enemies that our government no longer takes seriously its longstanding refusal to pay ransom for hostages,” wrote Rubio in the op-ed. “That’s a disturbing thought. As a senator, I have worked to help many families whose loved ones have been taken hostage by foreign governments or terrorist groups. The No Ransom Payments Act will prevent this president or any future president from paying ransoms and ensure that American victims of Iranian terrorism are paid first, before the regime in Tehran can claim settlements.”
Rubio is running for re-election, and faces Rep. Patrick Murphy in the November general election. The race is expected to be close, and a new Public Policy Polling survey shows Rubio is leading with 40 percent of the vote. Murphy, the poll found, is at 37 percent.