Fla. Gov. Rick Scott signs Cuba-crackdown bill, but event turns into a public relations fiasco [View all]
Source: Miami Herald
Posted on Tuesday, 05.01.12
Fla. Gov. Rick Scott signs Cuba-crackdown bill, but event turns into a public relations fiasco
By Marc Caputo and Patricia Mazzei
mcaputo@MiamiHerald.com
Gov. Rick Scott began Tuesday morning as the darling of Miami’s Cuban exile community, but by day’s end he was being vilified for the way he handled a bill cracking down on companies that do business with Cuba and Syria.
Shortly after praising their fellow Republican for signing the law at the historic Freedom Tower, Cuban-American lawmakers at the event learned Scott issued a letter that essentially declared the law unenforceable.
The lawmakers — members of Congress, legislators and local commissioners — said Scott blindsided them and undermined the legislation, which prohibits state and local taxpayers from hiring firms that do work in Cuba and Syria. Multi-national firms and the Florida Chamber of Commerce worry about the law’s potential impact.
After a heated telephone conversation with Scott, Congressman David Rivera said he was ready to take the governor to court.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/01/2777969/fla-gov-rick-scott-signs-cuba.html#storylink=cpy
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