Davis voices support for increased diplomatic relations with Cuba

Posted on December 18, 2014

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) meets with the media at Uptown Station in Normal Thursday. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)

By Joe Ragusa

NORMAL – President Barack Obama is ending what he considers an outdated policy in regards to relations with Cuba.

That includes expanding economic ties with Cuba and reviewing that country's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) said he likes the plan because it will help Cuba's economy grow and weaken the communist Castro regime.

"I'm not a fan of the Castros. I want to do everything I can to make sure the communist government and dictatorship in Cuba does not remain in power," Davis said. "Frankly, what we've been doing the last 50 years has not taken that power away from them, and has actually created a generation of Cuban government officials that only know communism."

The U.S. is also easing restrictions on travel to Cuba, but tourist travel will still be banned.

Davis said he wasn't happy with everything about Obama's announcement Wednesday.

"While I'm happy that Alan Gross is home, I do not condone prisoner exchanges because I think what that does is it encourages our enemies to try to use those same methods to gain leverage against the United States," Davis said.

Gross was exchanged for three Cuban prisoners convicted of espionage and other charges in the U.S.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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