Senate Votes YES to Cuba Tourism

[JMHX]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate joined the House on Thursday in striking at the four-decade-old policy of making travel to Cuba a criminal act, putting Congress on a collision course with Bush administration efforts to step up enforcement of travel restrictions.

``The travel ban does nothing to hurt Fidel Castro,'' said Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. ``It only harms Americans.'' He was co-sponsor of the measure, passed 60-34, that bars use of government money to enforce current travel restrictions.

Last month, the House approved identical language in its version of a $90 billion bill to fund Transportation and Treasury department programs in the budget year that started Oct. 1.

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Any comments on this historic vote?

[Adept-Omega]

About time! o_o;

I'm glad this happened. I always thought banning tourism to Cuba was a stupid thing to begin with.

[NoMilkToday]

At 10/23/03 09:39 PM, Adept_Omega wrote: About time! o_o;

I'm glad this happened. I always thought banning tourism to Cuba was a stupid thing to begin with.

Trying to ban travel ANYWHERE is a ridiculus thing ;)

[Alejandro1]

While they're at it, why don't they remove the entire embargo altogether. I mean, we're only hurting ourselves with the embargo, since Europe is trading with them.

Did the embargo flop Castro's government like it was supposed to? Nope. Why don't we get into action?

[JMHX]

I'm glad this received bi-partisan legislation. It's good to see that not all Republicans march in line when President Bush tells them to.

[karasz]

At 10/23/03 10:42 PM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote: I'm glad this received bi-partisan legislation. It's good to see that not all Republicans march in line when President Bush tells them to.

listen to the debate on giving the 87 billion to Iraq... there was huge discussion on the 20 billion to rebuild the country (the other 67 billion went to the troops and better equipment, etc...) some senators wanted 10 billion to be a loan... BUSH is against it... and has threatened veto if that is in the bill that he gets...

there are some big name republican senators that support that idea...

[aviewaskewed]

At 10/23/03 09:39 PM, Adept_Omega wrote:

I'm glad this happened. I always thought banning tourism to Cuba was a stupid thing to begin with.

Especially when you consider that we don't ban travel to other Communist countries. I hope this paves the way for the lifting of that ridicolous embargo as well...I mean...Bush needs to learn not everybody is as willing to shoot at us as he is to shoot at them.

[gerbilfromhellll]

60-34? DAMMIT! that's SO close to getting the votes needed to override bush's veto (assuming he veto's it... which he probably will. fucker.)

still though, whether it's vetoed or not, it's a step in the right direction