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GOP Debate In Miami: Cuba, Sea-Level Rise and Foreign Worker Visas

Republican presidential candidates Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich stand up for the national anthem during the Republican presidential primary debate Thursday night at the University of Miami.
Pedro Portal
/
Miami Herald
Republican presidential candidates Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich stand up for the national anthem during the Republican presidential primary debate Thursday night at the University of Miami.

The Republican presidential candidates gathered at the University of Miami for its last debate before the Florida primary on Tuesday.

U.S.-CUBA RELATIONS

America’s changing relationship with Cuba was part of the discussion at last night’s Republican primary debate.

Donald Trump said he doesn’t agree entirely with President Barack Obama’s diplomatic openings with Cuba, but something needs to change.

“After 50 years, it’s enough time, folks," said Trump. But we have to make a good deal.”

Trump didn’t outline what a good deal might look like, but Marco Rubio offered his ideas.

“Here’s a good deal," said Rubio. "Cuba has free elections, Cuba stops putting people in jail for speaking out, Cuba has freedom of the press.”

JohnKasichsaid he wouldn’t do business with Cuba and Ted Cruz said he’d reverse the Obama administration’s approach to Cuba.

FOREIGN WORKER VISAS

Florida Senator Marco Rubio took shots at Disney for its use of foreign worker visas, or H-1B visas.

Disney is being sued by former workers for allegedly replacing them with cheaper immigrant labor.

Marco Rubio called it illegal.

“If there’s an American working at Disney, and they bring anH-1Bvisa to replace their direct job, that is a violation of the law,” said Rubio.

Donald Trump said that his own business shouldn’t have been allowed the use of the H-1B program the way it has.

“I’m a businessman and I have to do what I have to do, but it’s sitting there for you to use,” said Trump. “But it’s very bad.”

CLIMATE CHANGE

CNN moderator Jake Tapper conveyed a message from Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado to the GOP candidates.

The mayor wanted to know if the candidates acknowledge the “scientific consensus” on climate change – and how they’ll confront sea-level rise and flooding in cities like Miami.

Tapper put the question to Florida Senator Marco Rubio, whom Regalado endorses.

Rubio argued the climate has always been changing – and suggested it’s not a man-made problem.

Copyright 2020 WLRN 91.3 FM. To see more, visit .

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Tim Padgett is the Americas editor for Miami NPR affiliate WLRN, covering Latin America, the Caribbean and their key relationship with South Florida. He has reported on Latin America for almost 30 years - for Newsweek as its Mexico City bureau chief from 1990 to 1996, and for Time as its Latin America bureau chief in Mexico and Miami (where he also covered Florida and the U.S. Southeast) from 1996 to 2013.
Kate Stein can't quite explain what attracts her to South Florida. It's more than just the warm weather (although this Wisconsin native and Northwestern University graduate definitely appreciates the South Florida sunshine). It has a lot to do with being able to travel from the Everglades to Little Havana to Brickell without turning off 8th Street. It's also related to Stein's fantastic coworkers, whom she first got to know during a winter 2016 internship.Officially, Stein is WLRN's environment, data and transportation journalist. Privately, she uses her job as an excuse to rove around South Florida searching for stories à la Carl Hiaasen and Edna Buchanan. Regardless, Stein speaks Spanish and is always thrilled to run, explore and read.