Rubio campaign fined for improper contributions The Senate campaign of Florida Republican Marco Rubio has agreed to pay an $8,000 fine for accepting slightly more than $210,000 in improper contributions. Considered a top candidate for the vice presidential spot on the Republican ticket this fall, Rubio won his Senate seat from Florida in 2010 in a race against independent candidate Charlie Crist and Democrat Kendrick Meek. In a settlement with the Federal Election Commission, the Rubio campaign acknowledged receiving the improper contributions and paying a civil penalty of $8,000. The FEC describes the $210,000 as "prohibited, excessive and other impermissible contributions." The FEC and the Rubio campaign reached the agreement in March. The release of the information on the FEC website was first reported Friday by Politico.