Tampabay.com
MARCH 17, 2008

Castro med school scholarships targeted

The controversy of Cuba-Castro politics is never far from Florida, and tomorrow the debate comes to the Legislature.

Hialeah Republican Rep. Eddy Gonzalez wants to ban U.S. residents or citizens who receive their medical degrees through a Castro-sponsored scholarship program from practicing medicine in Florida.

Fidel Castro now offers 500 scholarships for U.S. nationals to obtain their medical degrees in communist Cuba through what Gonzalez's office described as a "cultural exchange loophole."

Gonzalez also said the Florida Medical Association has expressed support for his proposed legislation, HB685. Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, is sponsoring matching legislation. (SB 2866)

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Rebecca Catalanello covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail her: rcatalanello@tampabay.com.

Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@tampabay.com.

Marlene Sokol covers Hillsborough County schools. E-mail her: sokol@tampabay.com.

Ron Matus covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail him: matus@tampabay.com.

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Kim Wilmath covers the University of South Florida. E-mail her: kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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