Congress considers ban on U.S. military contracts for companies doing business in Cuba
Congress considers ban on U.S. military contracts for companies doing business in Cuba
By Doreen Hemlock, Sun Sentinel
9:11 a.m. EDT, July 11, 2012
South Florida companies active in Cuba are worried about a measure in Congress that would ban them from U.S. Defense Department contracts if they keep up business with the island.
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Because many big companies do more business with theU.S. militarythan they do to Cuba, the measure could effectively end their budding sales to the Caribbean's largest island nation — unless defense officials offer a waiver, according to lawyers and consultants specializing in Cuba business.
Those affected could include U.S. companies licensed to sell in Cuba such as food giants ADM, Cargill, Perdue and Tyson; U.S. shipper Crowley; plus foreign giants including Brazil'sconstruction leader Odebrecht. Crowley operates shipping routes to Cuba from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Odebrecht is building the $360 million Metrorail project to Miami airport.
Hard-liners in Florida recently pushed a similar law banning state and local contracts of $1 million or more to companies dealing with Cuba. But that law recently was blocked by a federal judge, who said U.S. foreign policy was the domain of the federal government, not the realm of a state.
More:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-cuba-business-lockout-20120710,0,6679028.story
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Last edited Fri Jul 13, 2012, 02:41 PM - Edit history (1)
That would make an interesting clash of the titans--South Florida hard-line emigres against outfits like Cargill, ADM, and Tyson, that have VERY strong links to farm-state Congressional reps. This might put a lot of congressional reps in the Senile Elephant Party in a d___ned-if-they-do, d____ned-if-they-don't quandary--vote to blackball major campaign contributors and employers and anger their contributors and the employees in their states, or risk the wrath of Diaz-Balart, Ros-Lehtinen, and Rivera by voting to squash the emigres' dumb idea. I look forward to the confusion with gleeful anticipation. 
Unfortunately, I don't think this idea is going away. Furthermore, the hardliners might get a new ally in the Senate if the non-voters and slackers in Texas behave in their usual fashion. Right-winger Tea-Party favorite (and of partial Cuban emigre parentage) Ted Cruz looks likely to win the Texas Republican senatorial primary to replace retiring Texas Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.
Here's hoping Paul Sadler turns Hutchison's seat Texas blue!
