THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 18, 1995 TAG: 9510180407
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
A Senate Republican effort to tighten economic pressure on Cuban President Fidel Castro fell just short Tuesday on a procedural vote, the second such setback in five days.
Supporters needed 60 votes to end debate on the bill but lost out in a 59-36 cliffhanger, handing a victory to the Clinton administration and Democratic allies in Congress. Opponents contended the bill would impair a peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba.
Contributing to the defeat of the proposal were the defections of Sens. Nancy Kassebaum, R-Kan., and Jim Jeffords, R-Vt., both of whom voted ``yes'' last Thursday and switched on Tuesday.
Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan., a strong supporter of the legislation, said yet another cloture vote will be held today. An aide noted that the one-vote defeat could be reversed if Sen. Mark Hatfield, R-Ore., who was absent Tuesday, supports the majority today.
The bill is aimed at deterring foreign investment in Cuba by allowing Cuban-Americans and other U.S. citizens whose property in Cuba was confiscated decades ago to sue anyone who traffics in such property in U.S. courts.
Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., led the opposition to the measure, saying it could trigger 430,000 lawsuits and aggravate already overburdened federal courts at an extra cost to taxpayers of $2 billion for court expenses. Supporter of the measure said Dodd's figures were highly exaggerated.
Dodd said the provision would give Cuban-Americans legal recourse not enjoyed by Polish-Americans, Chinese-Americans and others who lost property in their native lands through uncompensated expropriation.
Castro has been counting on foreign investment to help reverse the economic decline that has afflicted Cuba since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the island's erstwhile benefactor.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jesse Helms, R-N.C., chief sponsor of the legislation, said he has received communications from scores of Cuban citizens appealing for its passage.
``I simply cannot be a party to our turning our backs on them,'' Helms said.
Secretary of State Warren Christopher has warned of a possible presidential veto of a similar House-passed measure but he issued no similar warning concerning the Senate bill. Aides said he was less adamant about the Senate bill because some of the more objectionable language had been modified. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
HOW THEY VOTED
A ``yes'' vote was a vote to end debate, and a ``no'' vote was a
vote to continue it.
Virginia
Robb (D) Yes; Warner (R) Yes.
North Carolina
Faircloth (R) Yes; Helms (R) Yes.
by CNB