Democratic Control of Congress Could Lead to Big Changes in U.S. Cuba
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Vol. 14, No. 5 November 2006 www.cubanews.com In the News Democratic control of Congress could Shared interim lead to big changes in U.S. Cuba policy How will Fidel and Raúl fare under a “col- BY ANA RADELAT al agenda or allow Cuba legislation to languish lective leadership” scenario? ........Page 3 he Nov. 7 general elections may usher in in GOP-controlled committees. His likely re- the greatest opportunity to change U.S.- placement as leader of the House — Rep. Nancy Money talks T Cuba policy since President Bush Pelosi (D-CA) — is expected to allow votes on assumed office nearly six years ago. Cuba issues. Two Florida fund managers have potenti- If Democrats take over the House of Repre- Meanwhile, Ros-Lehtinen would have much ally big plans for Cuba ..................Page 4 sentatives and — though it’s less likely — the less clout to lobby for the embargo as a mino- Senate, lawmakers who have long sought an rity member of the House Foreign Relations Smith and Hays easing of the embargo would suddenly be in key Committee, and Lincoln Díaz-Balart would no longer be able to use his senior position on the Former U.S. diplomats Wayne Smith and positions of power. Meanwhile, Republicans who have used their House Rules Committee to outflank opponents Dennis Hays square off over Cuba policy clout in the majority, like House Speaker Dennis with parliamentary maneuvers. at a recent forum in Vermont .......Page 7 Hastert (IL) and Florida Cuban-American law- Alex Cruz, press secretary to Ros-Lehtinen, makers Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln and told CubaNews the lawmaker was “so swamped Mario Díaz-Balart, to block legislation that with reporters, questionnaires, etc. that she just Newsmakers can’t answer” our inquiries regarding a possible Phil Peters, vice-president of the Lexing- would ease the Cuba embargo would find their influence greatly curtailed. Democratic takeover. Cruz suggested contact- ton Institute, discusses his on-the-ground Hastert and the three Cuban exiles are expec- ing the Díaz-Balart brothers, neither of whom could be reached for comment. research projects in Cuba ............Page 8 ted to win re-election. But they may not like the But Daniel Griswold was happy to talk to us. jobs they have in the next Congress. Cabinet shakeup Hastert would no longer set the congression- See Democrats, page 2 Raúl Castro sacks transport minister and heads of Etecsa, Copextel ..........Page 10 Cuba’s Sugar Ministry looks to ethanol By the numbers Pew Hispanic Center takes a look at Cu- as home-grown fix for island fuel needs ban-American community ...........Page 11 BY VITO ECHEVARRÍA capacity to produce 180 million liters (48 million ots has been written about Cuba receiving gallons), though additional distilleries would Business briefs Venezuelan crude oil at preferential prices, have to be built to make up the shortfall. No doubt, this will change the dynamic of Sherritt plans nickel expansion; Russia ex- L and about Cuba encouraging foreign giants to explore for oil in the Gulf of Mexico. Cuba’s sugar sector, which has been stagnating tends $355 million credit ............Page 12 Less is known about the island’s efforts to in recent years, as sugar’s role in the countryís produce home-grown, sugar-based ethanol as a economy had been sidelined by Cuba’s boom- Provinces: Camagüey viable alternative to pricer crude oil, and even- ing tourism industry. In 2004-05, Cuba’s sugar harvest came to only 1.5 million metric tons — Cuba’s largest province in size and its 3rd- tually become a world player in the fast-growing ethanol industry. a fraction of previous production levels. largest in population.....................Page 14 That was the focus of this summer’s IX Inter- In response to growing global demand for national Congress on Sugar and Derivatives. ethanol, the Cuban government has created an Ecological disaster Luís Gálvez, director of the Cuban Research outfit called ZERUS, which is charged with su- pervising investment projects in Cuba’s sugar Juventud Rebelde says wire factory is con- Institute for Sugar Cane Derivatives (ICIDCA) said Cuba hopes to generate 500 million liters sector, the Washington Times recently reported. taminating Nuevitas Bay .............Page 15 (about 130 million gallons) of ethanol annually ZERUS Director José Rivera Ortíz said in an by 2010 — a five-fold increase from current pro- interview with the business magazine Opciones CubaNews (ISSN 1073-7715) is published monthly duction levels. that Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Investment has by Luxner News Inc. © 2006. All rights reserved. During the congress, Gálvez said that in already approved the group’s initiative to revive Subscriptions: $429 for one year, $800 for two years. order for Cuba to meet this goal, it would have the sugar industry — with an eye on ethanol. For editorial inquires, please call (954) 970-4518 Now, with sugar commanding prices 13-14 or send an e-mail to: [email protected]. to modernize 11 of the country’s 17 pre-existing distilleries. Together, those 17 would have the See Ethanol, page 6 2 CubaNews ❖ November 2006 head the powerful Ways and Means Commit- fashion, and the issue of remittances. We Democrats — FROM PAGE 1 tee, which has authority over the tax code, need a policy that forces Cuba to recalculate “All the ingredients will be there for major government programs like Medicare on a daily basis. The United States also needs approval of new [Cuba] legislation,” said and Social Security — and the embargo- to do the same thing. Cuba policy has become Griswold, director of the Cato Institute’s Cen- enforcing Treasury Department. too easy because it’s strictly rhetorical.” ter for Trade Policy Studies in Washington. Rangel has for years introduced legislation Doing things like easing restrictions on But he said the Bush administration, even that would scrap the embargo, but failed to Cuban-American travel and allowing mail to as it operates as a lame duck for the next two win majority support for his bills. Cuba “would remove some of the vitriol of the years, is likely to continue its veto threat of Another working group winner would be Cuban-American lawmakers in the House and any bill that would weaken U.S. trade sanc- Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), who is likely to allow [Bush] to negotiate with more moder- tions against the Castro government. be the next Democratic chairman of the ate people,” García told CubaNews. He added that President Bush will keep House Agriculture Committee. talking tough on Cuba in an effort to shore up Peterson would replace Rep. Bob Goodlatte EXILE ATTITUDES CHANGING? GOP support strong among the nation’s (R-VA) as head of the committee. Goodlatte is A recent NDN survey showed that most Cuban exile community for the 2008 presi- one of the few members of the agriculture recent immigrants from Cuba and the chil- dential elections, but that “there’s likely to be panel who doesn’t support easing restrictions dren of exiles who came to the United States more legislative action and more of a willing- on the sale of U.S. agriculture products to Cu- in the ‘60s and ‘70s want to end the embargo. ness to challenge the president on a failed ba, despite pressure from U.S. farm groups. Garcia cited the poll as evidence that exile Cuba policy, and that’s going to bring about a Other Democrats who have challenged the positions on sanctions are changing, and that healthy discussion.” embargo may also be elevated to key posi- the White House should take notice. tions. These include Rep. George Miller (CA), Democratic control of the House would DEMOCRATS LIKELY TO WIN CONTROL OF HOUSE who’s likely to become chairman of the also result in pressure to wrest control of According to Griswold, determined Demo- House Education and Workforce Committee; Radio and TV Marti — U.S. government prop- crats are far more willing to ease sanctions on Rep. John Conyers (MI), who’s in line to chair aganda broadcasts to Cuba — from anti- travel to and trade with the island. He said the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Castro exiles, as well as revamp a U.S. 25% of House Republicans and 90% of House Bennie Thompson (MS), who could assume Agency for International Development pro- Democrats have voted for to ease sanctions. control of the House Homeland Security gram that funnels millions of dollars to hard- Because some Republicans were willing to Committee. line exile groups. If the GOP loses the Senate, the push to defy their pro-embargo leadership on the NDN’S GARCÍA ADVOCATES ‘CALIBRATED STEPS’ issue, some legislation that would chip away change Cuba policy would garner even more at the embargo was approved in the House. Joe García, executive vice-president of the political strength, as embargo critics are pro- But House GOP leaders always managed to centrist NDN (formerly the New Democrat moted to head key committees. strip it out of final bills. Network) and former executive director of They include Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), who That could change after Nov. 7. the Cuban American National Foundation, would head the Agriculture Committee; Sen. Political experts say it’s likely Democrats said a Democratic takeover would give the Chris Dodd (D-CT), who would head the will win at least the 15 seats they need to take White House a chance to take “calibrated Banking Committee; Sen. Patrick Leahy (D- over the House and may win the six seats steps” towards Cuba, especially since an ail- VT), who would become the new chairman of needed to seize control of the Senate.