New Poll Finds Cuban-American Democrats Support Sanctions Against the Cuban Regime

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cuban-American voters from both political parties strongly support U.S. trade and travel sanctions against the Cuban regime, according to a new poll conducted by McLaughlin & Associates.

Overall, the poll found that 72% of Cuban-Americans support the continuation of the current U.S. trade embargo and 69% support the prohibition of tourist travel to the island. Amongst Cuban-American Democrats -- which the poll specifically over-sampled -- a near majority, 49%, support the continuation of the trade embargo and a majority, 58%, support current prohibitions on travel.

"The message to lawmakers and the Administration is clear: the Cuban-American community favors the continuation of U.S. sanctions towards the Cuban regime until a process of democratic reform begins," said Mauricio Claver-Carone, Executive Director of Cuba Democracy Public Advocacy, Corp., which commissioned the poll. "Support for freedom and democracy in Cuba is non-partisan. Whether Republican, Democrat or Independent, the Cuban-American electorate continues to speak with one voice when it comes to Cuba policy," added Claver-Carone.

Other results of the poll include:
-- 80% of Cuban-American voters do not think Raul Castro will make
democratic reforms in Cuba. Among Democrats 65% do not think he will
make reforms.
-- 69% think that U.S. tourism should not be authorized to vacation in
Cuba until the Cuban regime releases all political prisoners, respects
basic human rights and schedules free elections. Among Democrats a
majority (58%) agree that U.S. tourism should not be authorized.
-- 69% of Cuban-American voters believe that the Cuban regime should
remain on the U.S. government's list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Among Democrats 52% believe that the Cuban regime should remain on the
list.


The poll was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates on January 25-26, 2009 among 500 Cuban-American registered voters throughout Florida and has a margin of error of +/- 4.5%. The majority of Cuban-American voters reside in South Florida.

This poll is the most recent action in a broader campaign that began with a letter to President Barack Obama published in the Special Inaugural edition of a leading Washington, D.C. publication. The letter encourages President Obama's advocacy on behalf of Cuban political prisoners and highlights the conditions in U.S. law prior to modifications in U.S. policy, such as the legalization of political parties, an independent media and labor unions by the Cuban authorities.

Pelosi-Backed Loophole for Venture Capitalists Will Damage Middle Class Economy

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D - CA) is leading congressional support for a new loophole in federal contracting law that will allow some of the wealthiest venture capitalists in America to receive federal contracts set-aside for small businesses.

The new loophole could divert billions of dollars in federal small business contracts away from middle class firms and into the hands of wealthy investors. If Congress does adopt legislation that allows venture capitalists to participate in federal small business contracting programs, thousands of middle class jobs could be lost as legitimate small businesses struggle to compete head-to-head with firms owned and controlled by billionaire investors.

In 2008, Speaker Pelosi backed H.R. 3567 and H.R. 5819, both of which would have allowed individual venture capitalists and even some of the nation's largest venture capital firms to take contracts meant for small businesses.

After leading the opposition against H.R. 3567, the American Small Business League (ASBL) was joined by the Small Business Administration (SBA), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Government Contractors, the National Small Businesses Association, and the Bush White House.

The key element of the Pelosi-backed legislation is a change in the longstanding definition of a small business, which is defined in the Small Business Act as a firm that is "independently owned." Pelosi would like to see the definition changed to include firms that are not "independently owned" but actually owned and controlled by well-heeled venture capitalists.

Many of the top venture capital firms in America are located in or near Speaker Pelosi's 8th congressional district and according to MAPLight.org, from January 2005 to May 2008, Speaker Pelosi received a combined $108,400 from venture capital giant, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers; pharmaceutical giant, Amgen Inc; and lobbyist, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.

The ASBL predicts that Speaker Pelosi may try to include a loophole for venture capitalists in any up-and-coming economic stimulus plan coming out of the House of Representatives, under the guise of "increasing access to capital" for small businesses.

In the past, the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) has used the term "increasing access to capital" for small business to disguise legislation and policies designed to allow its members to take federal contracts earmarked for legitimate small businesses.

President-elect Barack Obama has also received significant contributions from the venture capital industry. His appointment of Karen Mills, a venture capitalist, as Administrator of the SBA is seen as a clear signal he will support legislation that will likely divert billions of dollars in federal infrastructure funds away from middle class firms, and into the hands of some of the nation's wealthiest investors.