NETHERCUTT FAILS IN BID TO GET SANCTION EXEMPTIONS

Rep. George Nethercutt failed Wednesday in his latest try to exempt food and medicine from the sanctions the United States imposes on countries it doesn't like.

In a close vote, the House Appropriations Committee rejected Nethercutt's proposed amendment to next year's farm spending bill.

"For us not to lift sanctions against those countries only hurts our farmers," Nethercutt, R-Spokane, told the committee during debate on his amendment. "If you want to have any changes in our sanctions policy, this is the place to do it." Lifting sanctions currently in place would increase exports of wheat and other farm products by $6 billion, helping farmers in Eastern Washington and the rest of the country, he said. Current sanctions forbid export of some American goods to nations such as Cuba, Iraq, Libya and Sudan. Support for Nethercutt's amendment crossed party lines, with some Democrats voting yes and some Republicans voting no. "If this administration is going to impose sanctions, why does it include food?" asked Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan. "The people in these countries still need to eat." Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, opposed the amendment, saying he was surprised to see it on the agenda. DeLay feared the amendment would ease restrictions on Cuba and accommodate Cuban leader Fidel Castro. At one point, DeLay proposed excluding Cuba from the amendment, but later dropped that plan. Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young, R-Fla., also opposed the amendment, saying he didn't want to change an established policy through an appropriations bill. Nethercutt countered criticism that his bill dealt more with foreign policy than spending. Food and medicine are agricultural issues, he argued. He was optimistic that Congress eventually will exempt food and medicine from sanctions, despite Wednesday's loss. "The closeness of the vote in full committee shows that Congress is ready and willing to get the ball moving on American sanctions reform," Nethercutt said. Opposition to his plan springs from a variety of factors, he said, including sensitivity over relations with Cuba and the desire by some members of Congress to include the White House and State Department in the decision. He will try to add the proposal to the farm spending bill when it's before the full House. That could happen as early as next week, he said.

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