Thursday, March 21, 2013

Court hears Fla. appeal of Cuba contracts law

Posted on Thursday, 03.21.13

Court hears Fla. appeal of Cuba contracts law
By CURT ANDERSON
AP Legal Affairs Writer

MIAMI -- A federal court is hearing Florida's appeal of a ruling that
struck down a state law barring governments from contracting with
companies also doing business in Cuba or Syria.

The 2012 law was invalidated after a legal challenge from Coral
Gables-based Odebrecht Construction Inc. A judge agreed the law is
unconstitutional because foreign policy power rests solely with the
federal government.

Odebrecht is making a similar argument Thursday to the appeals court.

The state contends Florida is not enacting its own foreign policy and
that Odebrecht hasn't shown it will suffer harm under the law.

Odebrecht's parent company in Brazil has a subsidiary working to expand
Cuba's port of Mariel. At stake are bids on billions of dollars in
Florida state and local government contracts.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/21/3297918/court-hears-fla-appeal-of-cuba.html#storylink=misearch

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