We (the group formerly known as) the People...
Frances Morey
frances_morey@yahoo.com
Sat Feb 14 14:22:03 2004
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This administration seems to have no respect for the democratic process. That the democratic process didn't elect him in the first place seems like justification to strong arm as much as much legislation as possible through since they probably are a one term president, y no mas.
Frances
David Rubinson <rubinson@kab.com> wrote:
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004 00:38:06 -0500
To: (Recipient list suppressed)
From: David Rubinson
Subject: Parakeet Liners
Its not about Cuba.
This is what its about:
Both Houses of the US Congress passed legislative amendments that lifted the ban on travel to Cuba. ( see previous: "Desaparecido")
The will of Congress, and the overwhelming sentiment of We (The Group Formerly Known As) The People-
was clear- end the ban on American citizens travel to Cuba, and Cubans' travel to the USA--
and then lift the embargo and restrictions on trade and relations with Cuba.
Passed, done deal, Monte Cristos all around please.
But not in Bush's America.
Here the will of Congress, and especially the will of W(tgfka)T P-- is not only to be scorned but to be contravened.
Delay and Frist simply TOOK IT OUT of the final (Appropriations) Bill.
Out.
No debate, no vote, no notice.
That's what Bush's Democracy looks like.
This is a Government that rules by fiat and decree.
This is a Regime that went to War without a Constitutionally required declaration of War by Congress.
This is a Regime that imprisons whom it wants, where it wants, and treats the Geneva Convention and The US Constitution like parakeet cage liners.
We need to say ADIOS to these Gringos --- and we need to do it Pronto.
+++++++++++++
For more information on contacting your senators, see www.senate.gov ; or call
the capitol switchboard at (202) 225-3121.
---------------------------------
Thursday, February 12, 2004
Baucus Keeps Up Fight to Lift Cuba Travel Ban
Sens. Baucus, Craig, Dorgan, and Enzi Press for Senate Debate
http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2003press/prb110603.pdf
"... last year, both the Senate and the House passed amendments - overwhelmingly, I might add -
that would temporarily suspend enforcement the Cuba travel ban. I was outraged that
this issue was taken out of the final omnibus bill. It should not have been.
In stripping that provision, leadership broke the rules of conference - and
defied the will of the majority of both Houses. That is simply undemocratic..."
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) U.S. Senator Max Baucus was today joined by three of his
colleagues - Sens. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), and Mike
Enzi (R-Wyo.) - in pressing the Senate leadership to allow Senate floor
debate on their bill, "The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act," which would
permanently repeal the Cuba travel ban.
In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.)
and Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Baucus noted that "The Freedom to
Travel Act," which has 33 co-sponsors, was already approved by the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee last November by a 13-5 vote.
"There is demonstrated bipartisan, bicameral interest in the
Cuba travel legislation and we feel strongly that allowing floor
consideration of the free-standing bill is the right thing to do," the
Senators stated in the letter.
Last year, both the Senate and House voted overwhelmingly to
eliminate funding that goes toward the enforcement of the Cuba travel ban.
The provision was included in the fiscal year 2004 Treasury-Transportation
Appropriations bill, but was removed by congressional leadership despite the
will of Congress.
Today's letter to Senate leadership is just one in a series of
steps Baucus has recently taken to open doors between the U.S. and Cuba and
lift the embargo. In January, Baucus sent a letter to Secretary of State
Colin Powell, urging him to approve a visa for a Cuba veterinarian who is
needed in Montana to conduct routine inspections of live cattle intended for
sale to Cuba.
Baucus also spoke on the Senate floor last week to continue
raising these issues publicly (full floor statement follows release).
In addition, Baucus met yesterday - along with Sens. Dorgan,
Enzi, and Craig - with Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere
Roger Noriega to discuss the administration's failure to process legitimate
visas for Cuban agriculture buyers and travel licenses for U.S. farmers who
wish to visit Cuba for the purpose of exploring possible sales. Following
yesterday's meeting, Baucus sent another letter to Secretary Powell asking
the State Department to provide specific instructions on how to apply for
visas that are needed to facilitate agriculture sales, while also demanding
greater public transparency in the administration's policy regarding such
travel.
"Opening Cuba to trade and travel has always been an important
goal of mine, but after traveling to Cuba last year and seeing first hand
the benefits we could achieve for both the Cuban and American people, it has
become front and center on my agenda," Baucus added. "We deserve to have the
issue fully debated on the Senate floor and I urge the leadership to heed
our call."
Full text of letter and Sen. Baucus's Jan. 5 floor statement follows:
February 11, 2004
The Honorable Bill Frist
The Honorable Tom Daschle
Dear Senators Frist and Daschle,
The time has come for full Senate debate on the Cuba travel ban. We would
appreciate your agreement to schedule floor consideration of S.950, which
would permanently repeal the travel ban.
Last year, Congress made great progress on this issue. In September, for
the fourth year in a row, a clear majority in the House voted on an
amendment that would loosen Cuba travel restrictions. The Senate followed
suit in October by a strong, bipartisan majority vote on identical language.
We were very disappointed that the language passed by both chambers was
removed from the final Omnibus Appropriations bill in December, but we are
resolute in our determination to redress travel restrictions on Cuba this
year.
Only a few weeks after the Cuba amendment passed both chambers, Senator
Lugar held a hearing and a markup of S.950, the Freedom to Travel to Cuba
Act, which would end all restrictions on travel to Cuba. S.950 was voted
out of the Foreign Relations Committee overwhelmingly - 13 to 5 -- and has
since amassed 33 cosponsors in the Senate. There is demonstrated
bipartisan, bicameral interest in the Cuba travel legislation and we feel
strongly that allowing floor consideration of the free-standing bill is the
right thing to do.
We appreciate your consideration of this important issue.
Sincerely,
Senator Max Baucus
Senator Larry Craig
Senator Byron Dorgan
Senator Mike Enzi
*****
Senate Floor Statement of U.S. Senator Max Baucus
January 5, 2004
"Mr. President, I want to spend some time today talking about
the issue of Cuba. This was an issue that the Senate spent a lot of time on
last year, and I am here today to tell my colleagues that we are just as
committed this year.
Last year, as most people know, we made tremendous progress
toward eliminating the Cuba travel ban and easing the four-decade-old
embargo. As a part of the appropriations process last year, both the Senate
and the House passed amendments - overwhelmingly, I might add - that would
temporarily suspend enforcement the Cuba travel ban. I was outraged that
this issue was taken out of the final omnibus bill. It should not have been.
In stripping that provision, leadership broke the rules of conference - and
defied the will of the majority of both Houses. That is simply undemocratic.
While disappointed, I want to emphasize today that the majority
of us who favor ending this embargo will work hard this year to pass this
legislation - one way or another. Senators Enzi, Dorgan, and I have
introduced legislation that would permanently end the travel ban. Last year,
that legislation passed out of the Foreign Relations Committee by a 13 to 5
vote. That bill has 33 co-sponsors and is now ready for floor consideration.
I respectfully ask the Majority and Minority Leaders that they make floor
time available to consider this legislation.
Mr. President, the fight to end the Cuba travel ban is not over.
It has only begun. It is ironic that we finally face this moment at the same
time that we are scrutinizing both the War on Terrorism and the stretched
federal budget - because enforcing the Cuba travel ban means the use of
scarce federal resources. I think it's important for Senators to understand
that the Cuba travel ban is enforced by the same federal agency - the Office
of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC - that also is charged with rooting out
the sources of international terrorist financing and stopping the spread of
weapons of mass destruction. Somewhere overseas, a massive international
financial network routes millions of dollars to Osama bin Laden and other
terrorists. Their access to dollars is their lifeline - their sole means of
attacking our citizens and our soldiers. Rooting out this network and
shutting it down is one of our nation's top priorities.
Yet, the very agency that is charged with this crucial task must
divert valuable resources to enforce an absurd travel ban that a clear
majority of Congress has already voted to terminate. By its own estimate,
OFAC diverts one-sixth of its employee resources to enforcing the Cuba
travel ban. One-sixth. How can we justify diverting one dollar of this
limited budget? Let alone one sixth of resources.
Just as disturbing, late last year the Department of Homeland
Security announced that it, too, would divert some of its resources to
monitoring U.S. citizens who might have traveled to Cuba. In a post-9/11
world, I just don't understand the Administration's priorities here. Mr.
President, I hope that this year we can finally change this policy, and I
hope the Senate will have a chance to fully debate this issue. Thank you."
###
*************************************
Laura Hayes
Communications Director
U.S. Senate Finance Committee - Minority
Senator Max Baucus, Ranking Member
202-224-4351
David Rubinson
,,,, ,,,,
\\\ ///
~~~~~~~~~~{ô¿ô}~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~( . ) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
:::::::::::::::::: ooo:::ooo :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::: ( ) :::( )::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
( ) ( )
in J A M A I C A
YAH !! MON !!
Quote of The Day:
I believe in the doctrine of non-violence as a weapon of the weak.
I believe in the doctrine of non-violence as a weapon of the strongest.
I believe that a man is the strongest soldier for daring to die unarmed.
- Mahatma Gandhi
---------------------------------
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<DIV>
<DIV>This administration seems to have no respect for the democratic process. That the democratic process didn't elect him in the first place seems like justification to strong arm as much as much legislation as possible through since they probably are a one term president, y no mas.</DIV>
<DIV>Frances<BR><BR><B><I>David Rubinson <rubinson@kab.com></I></B> wrote:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004 00:38:06 -0500<BR>To: (Recipient list suppressed)<BR>From: David Rubinson <RUBINSON@KAB.COM><BR>Subject: Parakeet Liners<BR><BR>Its not about Cuba.<BR>This is what its about:<BR>Both Houses of the US Congress passed legislative amendments that lifted the ban on travel to Cuba. <FONT size=2>( see previous: "Desaparecido")<BR></FONT>The will of Congress, and the overwhelming sentiment of We (The Group Formerly Known As) The People-<BR>was clear- end the ban on American citizens travel to Cuba, and Cubans' travel to the USA--<BR>and then lift the embargo and restrictions on trade and relations with Cuba.<BR>Passed, done deal, Monte Cristos all around please.<BR>But not in Bush's America.<BR>Here the will of Congress, and especially the will of W(tgfka)T P-- is not only to be scorned but to be contravened.<BR>Delay and Frist simply TOOK IT OUT of
the final (Appropriations) Bill.<BR>Out.<BR>No debate, no vote, no notice.<BR>That's what Bush's Democracy looks like.<BR>This is a Government that rules by fiat and decree.<BR>This is a Regime that went to War without a Constitutionally required declaration of War by Congress.<BR>This is a Regime that imprisons whom it wants, where it wants, and treats the Geneva Convention and The US Constitution like parakeet cage liners.<BR>We need to say ADIOS to these Gringos --- and we need to do it Pronto.<BR>+++++++++++++<BR>For more information on contacting your senators, see <A href="http://www.senate.gov/" target=_blank eudora="autourl">www.senate.gov</A> ; or call<BR>the capitol switchboard at (202) 225-3121.<BR>
<HR>
<FONT size=3><B>Thursday, February 12, 2004<BR><BR>Baucus Keeps Up Fight to Lift Cuba Travel Ban<BR>Sens. Baucus, Craig, Dorgan, and Enzi Press for Senate Debate<BR><A href="http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2003press/prb110603.pdf" target=_blank eudora="autourl">http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2003press/prb110603.pdf<BR><BR></A></B>"...<B> last year, both the Senate and the House passed amendments - overwhelmingly, I might add - <BR>that would temporarily suspend enforcement the Cuba travel ban. I was outraged that<BR>this issue was taken out of the final omnibus bill. It should not have been.<BR>In stripping that provision, leadership broke the rules of conference - and<BR>defied the will of the majority of both Houses. That is simply undemocratic..."<BR><BR></B>(WASHINGTON, D.C.) U.S. Senator Max Baucus was today joined by three of his<BR>colleagues - Sens. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), and Mike<BR>Enzi (R-Wyo.) - in pressing the Senate leadership
to allow Senate floor<BR>debate on their bill, <B>"The Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act," which would<BR>permanently repeal the Cuba travel ban.<BR></B> In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.)<BR>and Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Baucus noted that<B> "The Freedom to<BR>Travel Act," which has 33 co-sponsors, was already approved by the Senate<BR>Foreign Relations Committee last November by a 13-5 vote.<BR></B> <B>"There is demonstrated bipartisan, bicameral interest in the<BR>Cuba travel legislation and we feel strongly that allowing floor<BR>consideration of the free-standing bill is the right thing to do," the<BR>Senators stated in the letter.<BR></B> <B>Last year, both the Senate and House voted overwhelmingly to<BR>eliminate funding that goes toward the enforcement of
the Cuba travel ban.<BR>The provision was included in the fiscal year 2004 Treasury-Transportation<BR>Appropriations bill, </FONT><FONT size=4>but was removed by congressional leadership despite the<BR>will of Congress.<BR></B></FONT><FONT size=3> Today's letter to Senate leadership is just one in a series of<BR>steps Baucus has recently taken to open doors between the U.S. and Cuba and<BR>lift the embargo. In January, Baucus sent a letter to Secretary of State<BR>Colin Powell, urging him to approve a visa for a Cuba veterinarian who is<BR>needed in Montana to conduct routine inspections of live cattle intended for<BR>sale to Cuba.<BR> Baucus also spoke on the Senate floor last week to continue<BR>raising these issues publicly (full floor statement follows release).<BR> In addition,
Baucus met yesterday - along with Sens. Dorgan,<BR>Enzi, and Craig - with Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere<BR>Roger Noriega to discuss the administration's failure to process legitimate<BR>visas for Cuban agriculture buyers and travel licenses for U.S. farmers who<BR>wish to visit Cuba for the purpose of exploring possible sales. Following<BR>yesterday's meeting, Baucus sent another letter to Secretary Powell asking<BR>the State Department to provide specific instructions on how to apply for<BR>visas that are needed to facilitate agriculture sales, while also demanding<BR>greater public transparency in the administration's policy regarding such<BR>travel.<BR> "Opening Cuba to trade and travel has always been an important<BR>goal of mine, but after traveling to Cuba last year and seeing first hand<BR>the benefits we could achieve for both the Cuban and American people, it
has<BR>become front and center on my agenda," Baucus added. "We deserve to have the<BR>issue fully debated on the Senate floor and I urge the leadership to heed<BR>our call."<BR><BR>Full text of letter and Sen. Baucus's Jan. 5 floor statement follows:<BR><BR>February 11, 2004<BR><BR>The Honorable Bill Frist<BR>The Honorable Tom Daschle<BR><BR>Dear Senators Frist and Daschle,<BR><BR>The time has come for full Senate debate on the Cuba travel ban. We would<BR>appreciate your agreement to schedule floor consideration of S.950, which<BR>would permanently repeal the travel ban.<BR><BR>Last year, Congress made great progress on this issue. In September, for<BR>the fourth year in a row, a clear majority in the House voted on an<BR>amendment that would loosen Cuba travel restrictions. The Senate followed<BR>suit in October by a strong, bipartisan majority vote on identical language.<BR>We were very disappointed that the language passed by both chambers was<BR>removed from
the final Omnibus Appropriations bill in December, but we are<BR>resolute in our determination to redress travel restrictions on Cuba this<BR>year.<BR><BR>Only a few weeks after the Cuba amendment passed both chambers, Senator<BR>Lugar held a hearing and a markup of S.950, the Freedom to Travel to Cuba<BR>Act, which would end all restrictions on travel to Cuba. S.950 was voted<BR>out of the Foreign Relations Committee overwhelmingly - 13 to 5 -- and has<BR>since amassed 33 cosponsors in the Senate. There is demonstrated<BR>bipartisan, bicameral interest in the Cuba travel legislation and we feel<BR>strongly that allowing floor consideration of the free-standing bill is the<BR>right thing to do.<BR><BR>We appreciate your consideration of this important issue.<BR><BR>Sincerely,<BR><BR>Senator Max Baucus<BR>Senator Larry Craig<BR>Senator Byron Dorgan<BR>Senator Mike Enzi<BR><BR>*****<BR>Senate Floor Statement of U.S. Senator Max Baucus<BR>January 5,
2004<BR><BR> "Mr. President, I want to spend some time today talking about<BR>the issue of Cuba. This was an issue that the Senate spent a lot of time on<BR>last year, and I am here today to tell my colleagues that we are just as<BR>committed this year.<BR><BR> Last year, as most people know, we made tremendous progress<BR>toward eliminating the Cuba travel ban and easing the four-decade-old<BR>embargo. As a part of the appropriations process<B> last year, both the Senate<BR>and the House passed amendments - overwhelmingly, I might add - that would<BR>temporarily suspend enforcement the Cuba travel ban. I was outraged that<BR>this issue was taken out of the final omnibus bill. It should not have been.<BR>In stripping that provision, leadership broke the rules of conference - and<BR>defied the will of the majority of both Houses. That is simply
undemocratic.<BR><BR></B> While disappointed, I want to emphasize today that the majority<BR>of us who favor ending this embargo will work hard this year to pass this<BR>legislation - one way or another. Senators Enzi, Dorgan, and I have<BR>introduced legislation that would permanently end the travel ban. Last year,<BR>that legislation passed out of the Foreign Relations Committee by a 13 to 5<BR>vote. That bill has 33 co-sponsors and is now ready for floor consideration.<BR>I respectfully ask the Majority and Minority Leaders that they make floor<BR>time available to consider this legislation.<BR><BR> Mr. President, the fight to end the Cuba travel ban is not over.<BR>It has only begun. It is ironic that we finally face this moment at the same<BR>time that we are scrutinizing both the War on Terrorism and the stretched<BR>federal budget - because
enforcing the Cuba travel ban means the use of<BR>scarce federal resources. I think it's important for Senators to understand<BR>that the Cuba travel ban is enforced by the same federal agency - the Office<BR>of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC - that also is charged with rooting out<BR>the sources of international terrorist financing and stopping the spread of<BR>weapons of mass destruction. Somewhere overseas, a massive international<BR>financial network routes millions of dollars to Osama bin Laden and other<BR>terrorists. Their access to dollars is their lifeline - their sole means of<BR>attacking our citizens and our soldiers. Rooting out this network and<BR>shutting it down is one of our nation's top priorities.<BR><BR> Yet, the very agency that is charged with this crucial task must<BR>divert valuable resources to enforce an absurd travel ban that a clear<BR>majority of Congress has already voted to terminate.
By its own estimate,<BR>OFAC diverts one-sixth of its employee resources to enforcing the Cuba<BR>travel ban. One-sixth. How can we justify diverting one dollar of this<BR>limited budget? Let alone one sixth of resources.<BR><BR> Just as disturbing, late last year the Department of Homeland<BR>Security announced that it, too, would divert some of its resources to<BR>monitoring U.S. citizens who might have traveled to Cuba. In a post-9/11<BR>world, I just don't understand the Administration's priorities here. Mr.<BR>President, I hope that this year we can finally change this policy, and I<BR>hope the Senate will have a chance to fully debate this issue. Thank you."<BR><BR>###<BR><BR><BR><BR>*************************************<BR>Laura Hayes<BR>Communications Director<BR>U.S. Senate Finance Committee - Minority<BR>Senator Max Baucus, Ranking Member<BR>202-224-4351<BR><BR><X-SIGSEP>
<P></X-SIGSEP> </FONT><FONT face="Lucida Handwriting" size=3><B>David Rubinson<BR></B></FONT> <B>,,,, ,,,,<BR></B> \\\ ///<BR><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>~~~~~~~~~~</FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=3><B>{</FONT><FONT size=3>ô</FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=3>¿</FONT><FONT size=3>ô</FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=3>}</B></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR>~~~~~~~~~~</FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=4><B>( . )</B></FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=3> </FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<BR> :::::::::::::::::: </FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=2><B>ooo</B></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>:::</FONT><FONT color=#800000
size=2><B>ooo</FONT><FONT size=2> </B></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::<BR> :::::::::::::::::: </FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=2><B>( )</FONT><FONT size=2> </B></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>:::</FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=2><B>( )</B></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=3>::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::<BR></FONT><FONT size=3> </FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=2><B>( )</B> </FONT><FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT color=#800000 size=2><B>( )<BR><BR> <BR></FONT><FONT size=4> in J A M A I C A <BR> YAH !! MON !!</B></FONT><FONT size=3>
<BR><BR>Quote of The Day:<BR><BR><B>I believe in the doctrine of non-violence as a weapon of the weak.<BR>I believe in the doctrine of non-violence as a weapon of the strongest.<BR>I believe that a man is the strongest soldier for daring to die unarmed.<BR> - Mahatma Gandhi<BR></FONT></B></P></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><p><hr SIZE=1>
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