Ana Ceballos
Lawmakers are trying to put into statute a Scott administration resolution that has blocked state funds from flowing into companies that do business with the Nicolas Maduro regime.
The House bill has rocketed through its committee assignments and is ready for a floor vote and a similar bill in the Senate is now starting its trek through its Senate stops with two committees remaining after a Senate panel advanced it through its first one on Tuesday.
Sen. Rene Garcia says his bill would ensure the state does not “facilitate” business that could fuel the economic and political crisis in Venezuela and would put “financial pressure on Maduro’s brutal regime.”
Gov. Rick Scott, who is widely expected to announce a run for the U.S. Senate this year, has closely monitored the beleaguered country and championed opposition to President Maduro.
“It’s disgusting what’s happening down there,” Scott said.
In response to the country’s political upheaval, Scott and his Cabinet passed a resolution last year that barred state money managers from making investments in organizations whose majority owners are the Venezuelan government and securities issued by the government.
“The governor would have the ability to bring an end to the bill itself if we find out the regime has changed,” Garcia said.
As Garcia’s bill moves ahead in the Senate, a Democrat already has a suggestion. Sen. Kevin Rader, a Broward County Democrat, wants to add language that includes banning all type of state contracts with the Latin American country.
“I don’t think the state should go into any sort of state contract,” Rader said. “We should not have any state contracts, county or city contracts, that do business with the regime.”
