Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio held a town hall meeting at the American Legion Post 34 Banquet Hall in Oskaloosa Tuesday morning.

Rubio spoke to just over 100 people, covering topics such as healthcare, immigration, and keeping America safe.

Rubio stated why he believes America is the greatest country in the history of the world.

“We were founded on an incredibly powerful principle. And that is the principle that our rights do not come from our government. Our rights come from God. Our rights come from our Creator,” Rubio said.

He said that both parties in Washington are out of touch about what people are facing. He went on to say that Democrats cannot lecture him about living paycheck to paycheck, student loans, and working families.

“They can’t lecture me about people living paycheck-to-paycheck, because I grew up paycheck to paycheck. They can’t lecture me about people with student loans. I’m the only Republican that talks about student loans. You know why? Because I had one. I had a student loan just three years ago. And they can’t lecture me about the plight of working families trying to raise children in the 21^st century. You know why? Because I’m raising four children in the 21^st century,” stated Rubio.

On the topic of immigration, he said he was going to keep ISIS out of America, and how he would regulate immigrants coming into the country.

“It’s a very straight-forward requirement. When I am President, if we don’t know 100{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b} for sure who you are or why you are coming, you are not going to get into the United States of America when I am its President,” said Rubio.

Rubio said that world is more dangerous than it was when Obama went into office. He said that ISIS isn’t just a bunch of people on the back of pick-up trucks.

“ISIS is the best funded, best organized, and most sophisticated, most sophisticated radical Jihadist group in the history of the world,” Rubio said.

After speaking for 30 minutes, Rubio answered questions from those in attendance.

When asked about healthcare concerning conditions not supported by insurance, Rubio said that it can be dealt with without Obamacare. He stated that he believes if a person has a serious condition that is uninsurable, high-risk pools by the government should be able to help.

Rubio was also asked about being energy independent, and not relying so much on foreign energy. He said America should be not only be energy independent, but energy diverse, and use what we have.

“I want America to be a world leader in biofuels, in renewables, in solar, in wind, we should lead in all of it. But we should also fully utilize the oil and the natural gas that we’ve been blessed with,” stated Rubio.

Oskaloosa was the first of three stops for the day in Iowa for Rubio. The campaign leads up to the Iowa Caucuses on February 1^st.

Story provided by George Henry

Republican Presidential Nominee Marco Rubio held a standing room only town hall event at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa on Monday.

Rubio began the visit describing America’s identity.

“This is the greatest nation in the history of the world…We were founded on this powerful principle that our rights don’t come from government, they come from our Creator,” said Rubio. “Based on that principle is why we have embraced free enterprise and individual liberty, and it made this the greatest nation in the history of all mankind.”

According to Rubio, this election is extremely important, and it will take someone who understands the problems that the average American is faced with to restore the American Dream.

“This is a time for urgency. If we get this election wrong, there may be no turning around for America,” according to Rubio. “We can’t afford to get it wrong, and we won’t. But that means we have to elect someone who understands the frustrations you have. And I do, because I’ve lived some of them. When I talk about student loans, it’s not because I read a book about student loans. It’s because I had a student loan.”

During his speech, Rubio began to list the immediate changes he would make should he be elected President.

“When I get to the Oval Office, we are going to immediately repeal every single one of Barack Obama’s unconstitutional executive orders,” said Rubio. “All these overreaches by the EPA, my first day in office, they’re gone. Any effort to force Common Core down our throats, are gone, and we’re going to put school districts back in charge of the curriculum. And this crazy deal with Iran…on my first day in office, that deal is cancelled.”

Rubio continued to outline the plans that he would implement as the Commander In Chief. He was even more decisive about the funding and use of the United States Military.

“When I’m President of the United States we are not reducing our military,” explained Rubio. “We are rebuilding our military. Because the world is safer and a better place when America has the strongest military in the world.”

Rubio would take questions for roughly a half hour before meeting the people, and departing for a campaign stops in Coralville and Bettendorf.

Rubio is currently in the top four of nearly every major poll in the Republican race. The campaign leads up to the Iowa Caucuses on February 1^st.

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio stopped by Smokey Row Coffee Shop in Oskaloosa Saturday morning. Oskaloosa was one of multiple stops for Rubio, as he continued his campaign swing through Iowa.

Rubio warmed up the crowd with a few jokes.

“Thank you so much for being here today. I thank you to come here, I mean, I know how hard it is. I know every time we get these snow storms in Miami, it’s hard to get to where we’re going” said Rubio.

Rubio then went on to explain why he’s running.

“I’m running for president because I want this to continue to be the kind of country where parents can do for their children what my parents did for me, and quite frankly what your parents did for you” said Rubio.

Rubio spoke about how he believes America needs leaders that will reinvigorate the economy. The candidate said that America needs a tax code to allow the US to be competitive around the globe. Rubio also pointed out how tax codes should be pro-growth and pro-family, so families can more easily raise their children.

Rubio also spoke about how the cause of America’s debt.

“The causes of our debt is not foreign aid, I know a lot of people point to that. Foreign aid is less than 1{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b} of our budget,” said Rubio, “The causes of our debt are the way social security and Medicare are structured for future generations.”

Rubio touched on multiple subjects, including America’s energy sources, vocational studies, student loan debt, the military, and foreign policies.

After speaking for around 35 minutes, Rubio fielded questions from the full house at the coffee shop for about 25 minutes. He was asked questions about outsourcing jobs, education, and Veterans Affairs.

Rubio spoke on the problems of the H1B Visa program.

“Under this program, you are supposed to attest, sign a piece of paper that says ‘We tried to hire Americans to do this work, but we couldn’t find anybody, and so therefore we hired this foreigner,’ Rubio said. “But all you have to do is sign this piece of paper, you don’t have to prove it, you just have to attest to it, and that’s not being enforced. Even if you could prove that the company’s not telling the truth, no one is enforcing it.”

Rubio is currently sitting in the top 5 of the national polls, behind GOP front-runner Donald Trump.

The campaign is running toward the Iowa Caucuses, which kicks off the nomination process, on February 1^st.

Story provided by George Henry