Unneeded regulations on travel to Cuba
The
following editorial appeared Wednesday, May 14, in The Tampa (Fla.)
Tribune.
Rep.
David Rivera, R-Miami, made a name for himself by drafting a law that
prohibits professors at Florida’s public universities from traveling
to Cuba.
Now
he’s done it again.
This
time Rivera passed legislation that will further curb the ability of
Cuban-Americans to visit family members left behind.
If
signed by Gov. Charlie Crist, the legislation would have Florida
regulating the few travel agencies licensed by the U.S. State
Department to provide travel services to Cuba and other nations
designated as terrorist states. Rivera says the regulations will
fight terrorism, but absent proof of a problem, the only people he’s
hurting are the families who hope to see their relatives.
Crist
should see the legislation for what it is – an unnecessary regulation
of business. A veto is in order.
Under
the legislation, which sailed through the state Senate and House in
the waning days of the session, Florida-based travel agents who
handle trips to Cuba or any of the countries designated as terrorist
nations – Iran, North Korea, Syria and Sudan – will have to pay a
$2,500 registration fee and post a $250,000 bond.
The
following editorial appeared Wednesday, May 14, in The Tampa (Fla.)
Tribune.
Rep.
David Rivera, R-Miami, made a name for himself by drafting a law that
prohibits professors at Florida’s public universities from traveling
to Cuba.
Now
he’s done it again.
This
time Rivera passed legislation that will further curb the ability of
Cuban-Americans to visit family members left behind.
If
signed by Gov. Charlie Crist, the legislation would have Florida
regulating the few travel agencies licensed by the U.S. State
Department to provide travel services to Cuba and other nations
designated as terrorist states. Rivera says the regulations will
fight terrorism, but absent proof of a problem, the only people he’s
hurting are the families who hope to see their relatives.
Crist
should see the legislation for what it is – an unnecessary regulation
of business. A veto is in order.
Under
the legislation, which sailed through the state Senate and House in
the waning days of the session, Florida-based travel agents who
handle trips to Cuba or any of the countries designated as terrorist
nations – Iran, North Korea, Syria and Sudan – will have to pay a
$2,500 registration fee and post a $250,000 bond.
Travel
agents who argued against the measure in Tallahassee say those
measures will put most of them out of business.
Rep.
Michael Scionti, D-Tampa, made a valiant effort to stop the measure
in the House, but few of his fellow lawmakers listened.
Scionti
rightly argued that the people who will pay the trickle-down price
for this regulation are working-class families who can barely afford
to travel to Cuba as it is now – trips that the U.S. government
already limits to once every three years.
Added
state regulations are unnecessary. And it’s inconsistent with
conservative principles for government to use regulation as a way to
drive small businesses under.
No
one begrudges the effort of Miami’s Cuban-American community to fight
the island’s repressive regime. But in this case, lawmakers would
penalize the wrong people.
