Menendez Stops Cong. Hispanic Caucus on Cuba Legislation /Holds Up US Amb. to Mexico Nomination

[magbana]

CUBA CENTRAL

Menendez and Sires stop Congressional Hispanic Caucus from supporting Cuba legislation

Look at what Roll Call reported this week. Because of his opposition to changing Cuba policy, Senator Menendez is apparently blocking the ability of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus simply to debate legislation to end travel restrictions inside the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Is that democratic?

Caucus bylaws state that the group will take an official position on issues when there is a two-thirds majority vote to do so. However, when in comes to Cuba, that rule has been ignored to keep from upsetting Cuban-Americans Rep. Albio Sires (D-N.J.) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).

Roll Call reported that, "CHC leaders have decided that deference to the two Cuban-Americans, who are strongly opposed to sending U.S. dollars to a Castro-controlled Cuba, carries more weight than caucus rules or the reality that most Members in the group are ready to begin trading with the neighboring island."

It is unclear exactly how Caucus members would vote on lifting the ban since Cuba is "not at all" discussed in caucus meetings because of the difference of opinion among members, CHC Chairwoman Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) told Roll Call.

However, the last time the House voted on a Cuba measure in 2007, eight of the current 12 Hispanic caucus members voted in favor - exactly two-thirds.

You must be a Roll Call subscriber to access the story

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/54_136/news/35230-1.html

CUBA CENTRAL
June 19, 2009

Menendez delaying confirmation of ambassador to Mexico?

According to the Mexican newspaper Excelsior, the confirmation of President Obama's nomination for ambassador to Mexico, Carlos Pascual, is being delayed due to Senator Menendez's objections to a report on Cuba policy that Pascual helped commission at his former position at the Brookings Institution.

The nominations of Pascual and Arturo Valenzuela -- as under-secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere were officially received last Tuesday by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but the date of the confirmation hearings has not been signaled. The Excelsior cites a source from the committee, who say that Menendez's reluctance to confirm Pascual is due to the Brookings study, which advocated for a more open policy towards Cuba.

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WALTER LIPPMANN
Los Angeles, California
Editor-in-Chief, CubaNews
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
"Cuba - Un Paraíso bajo el bloqueo"
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