Latin America

Mika

(17,751 posts) Tue Apr 28, 2015, 03:51 PM Apr 2015

House GOP bill blocks new air flights, cruise ship travel to Cuba

House GOP bill blocks new air flights, cruise ship travel to Cuba

The provision by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Cuban-American from Florida, would block new flights and cruise ship travel to Cuba. The provision was attached to a must-pass transportation spending bill that the House will consider next month.

Diaz-Balart's move comes in response to new rules issued by the administration in January that would significantly ease travel restrictions to Cuba and permit regularly scheduled flights for the first time, the result of a rapprochement after a half century of Cold War animosity.

Diaz-Balart said that the Obama administration is skirting U.S. law, which bans tourist travel to Cuba.

"The expansion of regularly scheduled flights to Cuba is an obvious attempt to circumvent the tourism ban," Diaz-Balart said in a statement. "Similarly, allowing cruises to dock in Cuba would violate both the spirit and the letter of U.S. law. Increased travel to Cuba directly funds the individuals and institutions that oppress the Cuban people."

Rest of article here.

5 replies

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Highlight:

House GOP bill blocks new air flights, cruise ship travel to Cuba (Original Post) Mika Apr 2015 OP

Doofus...he is. TheNutcracker Apr 2015 #1

Cuba-US relations: House Republicans reveal legislation to continue travel restrictions to Cuba Judi Lynn Apr 2015 #2

But Big Biz is salivating at the chance to exploit that virgin market. procon Apr 2015 #3

Does anyone know what the Republican agenda is? ladjf Apr 2015 #4

Its not all Repugs. Many big ag red state Governors have been promoting trade w/Cuba for a long time. Mika Apr 2015 #5

TheNutcracker

(2,104 posts)

1. Doofus...he is.

Reply to Mika (Original post)

Tue Apr 28, 2015, 03:56 PM

Apr 2015

Judi Lynn

(160,545 posts)

2. Cuba-US relations: House Republicans reveal legislation to continue travel restrictions to Cuba

Reply to Mika (Original post)

Tue Apr 28, 2015, 04:21 PM

Apr 2015

Cuba-US relations: House Republicans reveal legislation to continue travel restrictions to Cuba
Payton Guion
New York
Tuesday 28 April 2015

Republicans in the US House of Representatives have introduced legislation aimed at blocking recent efforts by President Barack Obama to ease travel restrictions between the US and Cuba.

The legislation, which was sponsored by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, would block new flights and cruises to Cuba from the US, the Associated Press reported. It has been tacked onto a crucial transportation spending bill that the House will take on next month.

Mr Diaz-Balart, himself a Cuban-American, has introduced the legislation after months of thawing relations between the US and the communist Caribbean country. In January, the Obama administration announced plans to ease travel restrictions to Cuba and to allow regular flights for the first time.

“Under these circumstances, Congress cannot remain idle,” Rep. Diaz-Balart said. “The expansion of regularly scheduled flights to Cuba is an obvious attempt to circumvent the tourism ban. Similarly, allowing cruises to dock in Cuba would violate both the spirit and the letter of US law.

More:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/cubaus-relations-house-republicans-reveal-legislation-to-continue-travel-restrictions-to-cuba-10211093.html

procon

(15,805 posts)

3. But Big Biz is salivating at the chance to exploit that virgin market.

Reply to Mika (Original post)

Tue Apr 28, 2015, 05:46 PM

Apr 2015

Republicans say they love small government, zero regulations, business, capitalism and free markets, but here they are doing the exact opposite. Republicans are now the Big Government party that is stifling growth and interfering with businesses that just want to make money.

Who knew that Republicans aren't very truthful? LOL

ladjf

(17,320 posts)

4. Does anyone know what the Republican agenda is?

Reply to Mika (Original post)

Tue Apr 28, 2015, 05:52 PM

Apr 2015

Why are they so hell bent on continuing the break with Cuba?

Mika

(17,751 posts)

5. Its not all Repugs. Many big ag red state Governors have been promoting trade w/Cuba for a long time.

Reply to ladjf (Reply #4)

Tue Apr 28, 2015, 06:28 PM

Apr 2015

The Cuba sanctions, both pro and con, have always been a mixed bag of Rs and Ds. Whichever position reaps the greatest campaign contributions is the path taken by most all pols.

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