House passes resolution supporting trade with Cuba

State lawmakers are showing their support for re-establishing trade relations with Cuba.

The Minnesota House passed a resolution today calling on the United State Congress to end trade, financial and travel restrictions with Cuba. The vote was 86 to 9 with many representatives not voting.

Rep. Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar, recently traveled to Cuba as part of a state trade delegation. Juhnke said Cuban officials were watching the Minnesota vote.

"And they have requested a certified copy of this resolution once it's passed be sent down to their minister of trade, so they can understand the friendship and the support that they have from Minnesota. So don't think that this is just a piece of paper going to an abyss in Washington," Juhnke said.

House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, questioned the value of spending time on a memorial resolution when the state's budget deficit still isn't resolved.

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