By Rafael Lorente Sun-Sentinel.
Web-Posted: 10:03 P.M. Sep. 28, 2000
WASHINGTON -- Legislation in Congress easing the U.S. embargo against Cuba
could come to a vote as soon as Monday, paving the way for a partial lifting of
sanctions that have been in effect for four decades.
But the deal, finalized by House and Senate negotiators this week, could
still fall apart because of opposition from embargo opponents who say it does
not go far enough and in fact is worse than current law.
Struck between embargo opponent Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Washington, and
embargo supporters such as Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, the measure allows
for the sale of food and medicine to Cuba as long as the deals are not financed
by U.S. banks or secured with U.S. government-backed credits. Financing by
third-country banks or cash deals would be allowed.
The legislation also bans imports from Cuba and prevents future
presidents from expanding American travel to Cuba without the consent of
Congress. Embargo supporters such as Diaz-Balart say those restrictions make the
deal a victory for their side.
Many embargo opponents, particularly in the Senate, say they will oppose
the measure because it is worse than current law. Their threat to filibuster
could spell doom for the proposal, which will die if it does not pass before
Congress adjourns in early October.
A failure by embargo opponents this year would be surprising because
early in the summer they seemed to have public opinion and a majority of
Congress on their side -- the closest they have come in years of trying to
weaken the sanctions.
The Elián González case caused a public opinion backlash
against the usually powerful Cuban-American lobby and provided political cover
for farm-state members of Congress to push for eliminating restrictions on the
sales of food and medicine to the island. A big push from the farm and business
lobbies helped, too.
But as the elections get closer, they have become more of a factor. In
the past few weeks, the race for president has tightened, especially in
voter-rich Florida, where Cuban-Americans are a force. Leaders in the House and
Senate are trying to avoid a public fight over the issue for fear of tipping the
election in the state. That has forced Republican leaders to walk a tightrope
between some of their own who want to keep the embargo and farm-state members
who want to end it.
"Florida is in play and nobody wants to tip even a small percentage
of votes, meaning the Cuban community," said William LeoGrande, a professor
at American University and a Cuba expert.
Several pieces of legislation have been introduced in Congress this year
to weaken the embargo. Two versions, including the one sponsored by Nethercutt,
were initially amendments to the Agriculture Department appropriations bills in
the House and Senate. The Senate version would allow food and medicine sales to
Cuba, but does not include the restrictions in the Nethercutt deal with
Diaz-Balart.
Another version was attached to the House appropriations bill that funds
the Treasury Department and U.S. Postal Service. But in a flurry of
parliamentary wrangling, it was stripped from the bill this month.
Diaz-Balart counts the agreement with Nethercutt as a victory because it
would tighten the travel rules while making it difficult for Cuba to actually
buy food or medicine from the United States. He wants either the tighter
restrictions or no change at all.
"There's a better-than-even chance that we'll get my deal with
Nethercutt," Diaz-Balart said. "And if not, there will be nothing."
Nethercutt, in a tough re-election battle in a heavily agrarian district
in Washington, also hopes the bill passes this year. His position is that the
change is a good first step at allowing sales of food and medicine to Cuba, as
well as Iran, Libya, North Korea and Sudan.
"It's our goal to make sure that farmers are able to sell to the
five markets we targeted before the end of the year," said Rob Neal, a
spokesman for Nethercutt.
Both Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush have said they
support the embargo, and neither is likely to say anything different before the
election. But embargo supporters fear that Gore in particular might be amenable
to further easing the embargo after the election.
Embargo supporters think they will have a stronger ally in the White
House if Bush wins.
This month, the chief Cuban diplomat in Washington, Fernando Remirez,
spoke about the embargo before a hearing of the International Trade Commission,
which is assessing the impact of the embargo on the United States and Cuba. And
a delegation of Cuban officials, visiting Washington at the invitation of the
Congressional Black Caucus, tried to make their case with members of Congress,
the media and others that the sanctions are cruel and on a par with war crimes
against the Cuban people.
Rafael Lorente can be reached at rlorente@sun-sentinel.com or
202-824-8225 in Washington.
Copyright 1999, Sun-Sentinel Co. & South Florida
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