Thread: Martinez Sister? -Congressmen want inquiry on U.S. aid Cuba

I believe the woman -Miami Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen - is Mel Martinez's sister

Posted on Thu, Nov. 16, 2006

WASHINGTON | AID TO CUBAN DISSIDENTS

Congressmen want inquiry on U.S. aid to dissidents

Two congressmen criticized U.S. aid to Cuban dissidents after a report uncovered poor management of democracy grants.

By PABLO BACHELET
pbachelet@MiamiHerald.com

* On the web| USAID: Congressional Budget Justification 2006

WASHINGTON - Two congressmen who oppose sanctions on Cuba said Wednesday they will push for an investigation of U.S. programs to promote democracy on the island after a report uncovered poor oversight and indications of wastefulness.

''The conclusions are disturbing, to say the least,'' Rep. Bill Delahunt, D-Mass., said of a report by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress.

The GAO report said more than 95 percent of U.S. Agency for International Development programs for Cuba were handed out without any competitive bids and were then subject to only perfunctory reviews. It cites questionable purchases of items like cashmere sweaters and crab meat for dissidents on the island.

The Miami Herald on Wednesday published the first part of the results of its own lengthy investigation of the Cuba democracy aid programs' problems. The second part is running in today's newspapers.

Delahunt is set to become chairman of the Oversight and Investigations panel of the House Committee on International Relations when the Democratic-controlled Congress reconvenes early next year.

He also is co-chair with Arizona Republican Rep. Jeffrey Flake of the Cuba Working Group, a bipartisan caucus that opposes many U.S. sanctions against Cuba. The two lawmakers requested the GAO study.

Delahunt recognized that it was a ''challenge'' getting democracy-promotion material to Cuba given the communist dictatorship that operates there.

''But our concern is the program's efficacy,'' he said, ``in terms of what is occurring here in the United States, both in Washington and in Miami.''

Delahunt told a news conference Wednesday that he expected his subcommittee to convene hearings as soon as January and hoped to get testimony from U.S. government officials as well as grant recipients.

The U.S. government has spent more than $73 million on promoting democracy in Cuba since 1996, with the bulk of those funds being channeled through USAID. Flake said the problems highlighted by the GAO report show that the programs do little to advance democracy in Cuba.

''I simply don't know how we can continue with the current individuals who are running the programs and the current structure after this report,'' Flake said. ``Maybe this also calls for a change in policy.''

Defenders of the Cuba democracy programs say the report may actually help improve the initiatives.

''From what I understand, the report does not question our goal and overall policy to bring freedom and democracy to Cuba,'' said Miami Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. ``In fact, based on what I know of the report, I would argue it seeks to reinforce our efforts by providing recommendations on how to improve the process.''

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/ne ... 023384.htm

Sis
I couldn't find anything saying these persons are related. I read a lot of interesting sites though. There was a biography of Alberto Gonzales that stated his father was an "immigrant." So much for Alberto saying he didn't know his grandparents status, trying to make it seem he was third generation. Anchor Baby General

LOSERV
right here in the thread from yesterday:

<SNIP>
“THANKS, LITTLE SISTER”

As well as maintaining his seat in the Senate, Martínez will be the principal spokesperson for the party and number one fundraiser after Bush.

His rising career will now depend, more than ever, on the electoral fortunes of the imperial clan.

According to The Miami Herald, Martínez responded with the reply “thanks, little sister”, to a congratulatory e-mail sent to him by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who was obviously attempting to forget the disastrous election results for their party.

“Mel represents the future of our party because he’ll work very hard to extend our base,” Ros-Lehtinen told the daily. If the past is any guarantee of the future, members of the U.S. Republican Party could be prepared for many other emotional moments yet

I've read so much stuff over the past 48 hrs and she's popping up more often than expected. Odd places.

.

Well, we call you Sis. :P

Originally Posted by loservillelabor

Well, we call you Sis. :P

cute, very cute, lol

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