House Overturns Ban on Sending Goods to Cuba

[Rose Siding]

In a sharp blow to President Bush's stringent new Cuba policy, 46 Republicans in Congress joined Democrats to declare that rules banning the personal shipment of such items as clothing, deodorant and seeds to the island went too far.

By a vote of 221 to 194, the House decided late Wednesday to block the Bush administration from enforcing the new rules. Opponents argued that the regulations would do more to hurt ordinary Cubans than to squeeze Fidel Castro's one-party government.

"There will be an impact, and there is no question that Cuban families will suffer," said Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo). "The Cuban people have experienced enough oppression. Let us not fund policies that cut them off from their families, intensifying their hardship."

State Department officials said the rules will be modified to permit the sending of toiletries to Cuba, although the frequency of the mailings and the range of recipients will be cut from the levels preceding June 30, when the new rules took effect. An official described a "continued effort to achieve the right balance."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37648-2004Jul8.html

[Mika]

1. This repeal will be killed in committee..

.. with the usual git tough on Castro rhetoric, and nothing but mewlings from the Dems.

Kerry's stated policy on Cuba:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/8848574.htm

Under a Kerry administration Cuba will remain under US sanctions

Under a Kerry administration we will still be travel banned unless our travel is deemed politically worthy by US gov jackboots

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Mr Kerry, Tear down the wall!