Reply #24: Could this be substantial? [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

UPDATE 1-U.S. Senate votes to deny Cuba travel ban funding
Thu October 23, 2003 04:00 PM ET
(Adds two senators' comments on Bush veto threat)
By Pablo Bachelet

WASHINGTON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Defying a White House veto threat, the U.S. Senate on Thursday approved a measure that eliminates funding to enforce a travel ban to communist Cuba.

The approval came in a voice vote after senators voted 59-36 to overcome a procedural motion that would have effectively killed the initiative.

The vote marked a victory for travel ban opponents, who argued that the long-standing U.S. travel ban had failed to oust Cuban President Fidel Castro and was unfair to Americans, who can travel to North Korea but not Cuba.

(snip) The Senate vote is significant because supporters of the travel ban had previously managed to prevent the funding measure from coming to a vote in the Senate. The House of Representative passed an identical amendment on Sept. 9, by a 227-188 vote.

Travel ban opponents say the fact that both houses of Congress have the same language makes it harder to strip out the measure, an amendment included in a larger Transportation and Treasury appropriation bill, once it goes to conference committee. (snip/...)

http://www.reuters.com/financeNewsArticle.jhtml?type=bondsNews&storyID=3679052