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