ACLU Against New Law Banning Taxpayer Funded Travel To Terrorist States

Posted on May 30, 2006

A civil rights group criticized a new law, signed Tuesday by Gov. Jeb Bush, that restricts colleges and universities from using state funds for travel to countries classified as terrorist states by the U.S. government.

Legislators passed the bill in May. The countries on the terrorist list are Cuban, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria.

“This will be another embarrassing mark on Florida’s reputation,” said Howard Simon, executive director of the Florida American Civil Liberties Union.

The law will stifle research in countries that Americans need to know about in order to improve security, Simon said. He said it also could get in the way of academic and humanitarian projects in other countries.

One of the measure’s sponsors, Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, said the law will protect Americans.

“We are at war,” he said. “A lot of people don’t like to admit it, but we are at war. We don’t want to put Americans – especially not using taxpayer money – in harm’s way where they can be held hostage, a multitude of things.”AP

The ACLU are suddenly interested in improving security? This law is straight up common sense, and if the ACLU were truly concerned for the security of Americans they would be applauding it. The law does not prevent anyone from actually travelling to these countries, it only prohibits taxpayer funds from paying for it. If professors and students want to travel to these dangerous countries they can do it at their own risk, and their own dime. Perhaps the ACLU are disappointed that the taxpayer will not be paying their fare to visit their clients? If so, I’m sure they have plenty enough duped supporters that would gladly donate.

Share on Facebook

Tweet This Post

» Filed Under ACLU, News, War On Terror

Trackback URL

Comments

One Response to “ACLU Against New Law Banning Taxpayer Funded Travel To Terrorist States”

kerwin_brown on May 31st, 2006 12:32 pm

I see the ACLU wants to dictate how the government spends it’s money? I guess they just want to run the government as they will do a better job than anyone else. NOT!!!