U.S. changes requirements for some Cuba trips

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Tuesday, 05.15.12
U.S. changes requirements for some Cuba trips

The U.S. changes on some ‘people to people’ visits come after pressure from Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

By Juan O. Tamayo
[email protected]

The U.S. Treasury Department has tightened a few of its restrictions on trips to Cuba by non-Cuban Americans on so-called “people to people” visits, saying that the revisions will “help to deter abuses.”

Complaints of abuses of such trips — they must be for “educational” purposes, never for tourism — have dogged the program since President Barack Obama approved it last year in a bid to increase Americans’ engagement with regular Cubans.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., drew laughter during a speech in Washington last year when he read the schedule for one such trip, showing salsa dancing sessions every night. Other tours have met with Cuban government ministers and even a daughter of ruler Raúl Castro.

Rubio put a block on Roberta Jacobson’s nomination as the top U.S. diplomat for Latin American until the Obama administration addressed some of the myriad complaints. Jacobson was sworn in earlier this month.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/15/2801235/us-changes-requirements-for-some.html#storylink=cpy

[Judi Lynn]

1. Marco Rubio's parents moved to the US BEFORE the Cuban revolution, he needs to butt out.

He shouldn't feel it's his right to make demands over which non-Cuban Americans do and don't get the chance to visit Cuba.

Butt out, Marco, you blob of goo.

[Art_from_Ark]

2. I wonder how many junkets the "honorable" Senator from Florida has taken

It would be interesting to find out.