House votes to ease limit on trips to Cuba

In a rebuke against President Bush, the House last night voted to reverse a new administration policy that limits travel by Cuban-Americans to visit their families in Cuba. The 225-174 vote is not expected to survive the legislative process; the Senate version of the bill is still in committee and even if both chambers keep the amendment on the final transportation appropriations bill, Republican leaders said they believe Bush would veto it. But the vote was viewed as a slap at Bush as he battles to keep his historic domination of the Cuban-American vote in Florida. ''It was a huge win -- a total repudiation of the administration. The family won today in America," said Representative Bill Delahunt. The administration this summer changed travel rules to limit Cuban-Americans to one trip every three years to visit their families on the communist island, instead of the previous, once-a-year rule. [more ]