Do Florida Republican lawmakers have nothing better to do?
Republican Congress members asked for an investigation by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control to look into why Jay Z and Beyoncé are in Cuba. (compliments of Florida taxpayers).
Written in the politicians request:
“We would like to respectfully request, within all applicable rules and guidelines, information regarding the type of licence that Beyoncé and Jay-Z received, for what purpose, and who approved such travel,” they wrote.
“If these individuals were given people-to-people licenses, we would like to bring to your attention the Cuba Travel Advisory issued by OFAC on July 25, 2011 which states, ‘OFAC only licenses People-to-People Groups that certify that all participants will have a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities that will result in meaningful interaction between the travelers and individuals in Cuba.’”
What? Are the Congress members ‘concerned’ or bored? There's more, but it seems like they're just digging. They’ve been reading, ‘How to get noticed by the GOP' and it’s just not working. Maybe this will do it.
According to this antiquated U.S. law, in order for Americans to visit Cuba, they must obtain a specific license. Citizens are not allowed to visit the country solely as tourists, but can go for academic, religious or journalistic reasons. Jay Z and Beyonce’ could be visiting for any of the permitted reasons, as well as celebrating their five-year wedding anniversary.
Is this investigation really necessary? What will it cost taxpayers? At most, the superstar couple will have to pay a fine if a proper documentation was not obtained. And if it was not, how did they get through US Customs? If any good comes from this, it will opening the Cuban Embargo discussion, and looking into possibly lifting the 53-year law - or at least understanding it better, though I don't think that's what these FL politicians had in mind, I don't.