Carlos Lopez-Cantera in 2016 FL Senate race

On Social Security: Preserve and protect Social Security and Medicare

Here's my commitment to Florida; I will preserve and protect Social Security and Medicare for those who are currently receiving benefits and for future retirees. We will not touch benefits for anyone who is currently in retirement or approaching retirement.

We know that Medicare and Social Security cannot continue in their current form. People of good faith know the question is how, not if, we reform these programs. We must make both programs solvent over the long term. We can't keep kicking the can down the road, hoping the next Congress or the next generation will have the political courage we lack.

Source: 2016 Florida Senate campaign website, CarlosForFlorida.com Oct 9, 2015

On Budget & Economy: As Lt. Governor: focus on job creation and tax reduction

Casting himself as an outsider, Carlos Lopez-Cantera offered a platform familiar to voters who paid attention to last year's gubernatorial campaign. Lopez-Cantera hit the same points as when he ran with Gov. Rick Scott--job creation and tax reduction.

Source: Miami Herald on 2016 Florida Senate race Jul 27, 2015

On Foreign Policy: Defend democracy in Cuba, Venezuela, & Israel

Lopez-Cantera touched on foreign-policy issues crucial to South Florida voters: defending democracy in Cuba and Venezuela and improving relations with Israel. "CLC!" chanted the largely Cuban-American crowd, using Lopez-Cantera's initials and legislative nickname.

Lopez-Cantera, 41, is running as an heir to Rubio--he sat on stage with the incumbent senator when Rubio launched his presidential bid--and cuts a similar campaign figure for a GOP hungry for diversity: a fresh-faced Cuban American with a young family. His wife, Renee, works in the Miami Herald's circulation department, where she does not come into contact with newsroom reporters or editors.

Source: Miami Herald on 2016 Florida Senate race Jul 27, 2015

On Immigration: FactCheck: Supports E-Verify, but not racial profiling

Lopez-Cantera was accused by Democrats of "voicing enthusiastic support for bringing an Arizona-style immigration law to Florida, calling the measure 'common sense.' " Is it true?

The 2010 Arizona law allows police to verify immigration status during other police stops. Lopez-Cantera said about the AZ bill in 2010, "I am concerned that this could jeopardize civil liberties."

In 2011, legislators introduced the Florida Immigration Enforcement Act--not identical to Arizona's law, but for immigrant advocates the legislation raised fears that it would increase racial profiling. Lopez-Cantera said, "This common sense legislation is designed to preserve employment opportunities through the use of the E-Verify system." Lopez-Cantera didn't vote on the bill.

He did voice support; he did call it common sense. But the Democrats cherry-picked one statement Lopez-Cantera made in favor of the bill while ignoring multiple statements he made opposing it. We rate the claim Mostly False.

Source: Tampa Bay Times PolitiFact.com on 2016 Florida Senate race Jul 26, 2015

On Foreign Policy: After Cuban "normalization," more beatings & more oppression

Because L▉ez-Cantera is of Cuban descent, it is fair to assume that he opposes President Obama's new U.S. policy with communist Cuba. "CLC," as he is known around the state of Florida, pointed out that since Obama announced the "normalization" of relations between Cuba and the U.S., "more beatings and more oppression" have occurred in Cuba, adding that if he were in the Senate, he would vote against any ambassador to Cuba the President selected. Source: Breitbart.com on 2016 Florida Senate race Jul 18, 2015

On War & Peace: No nuclear deal with Iran; support preemptive strike

L▉ez-Cantera railed against the new Iran nuclear deal, saying he would vote against the deal if he were in the Senate. When asked if he supported a possible Israeli preemptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, L▉ez-Cantera said he would support any move Israel made. Source: Breitbart.com on 2016 Florida Senate race Jul 18, 2015

The above quotations are from 2016 Florida Senate race: debates and news coverage. Click here for other excerpts from 2016 Florida Senate race: debates and news coverage. Click here for other excerpts by Carlos Lopez-Cantera. Click here for a profile of Carlos Lopez-Cantera.
*Carlos Lopez-Cantera on other issues:*
Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families Foreign Policy Free Trade	Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Jobs Principles Social Security Tax Reform Technology War/Peace Welfare
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Page last updated: May 11, 2020