UPDATE: Rep. Rivera responds, saying demonstrators "in no way represent the views of the Cuban-American community." See the jump for more ...
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About 100 people from Miami showed up at the Capitol this morning and angrily denounced a bill that would further restrict travel to Cuba. They demanded Gov. Charlie Crist veto the legislation.

"One of the things they said is they want travel to Cuba stopped because Cuba is a
terrorist country. Our families live in Cuba and our families are not terrorists. We need to visit them because they need us," said Gilda Alfonso, 60, who moved to Miami when she was 19. (click photo to enlarge)

The bill (CS/ SB 1310)
was sponsored by Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, and Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis, and would
require more disclosure and increase fees for "sellers of travel" that
cater to supposed terrorist countries. Critics say it will drive small
travel companies out of business and increase the cost of travel for
Cuban-Americans wanting to visit relatives.

"Mr. Rivera does not speak on behalf of the Cuban community," said Silvia Wilhelm, executive director of the Cuban-American Commission on Family Rights. "I think he has bargained, once again that doing this in an election year will give the Republican Party votes.

Under the bill, travel agencies would have to pay as much as $2,500 in registration fees and post a bond of up to $300,000 to book travel between Florida and Cuba and other countries deemed terrorist states.

"Help us Crist, help us Crist," the protesters chanted in the courtyard between the old and new Capitol. "Veto 1310. Veto 1310."

Rivera defended the bill. "It will help protect consumers from any fraudulent and abusive prartice that may be committed by both the travel agencies and their business partner, the Castro regime." He said he has gotten complaints that some agencies have not refunded deposits when people change travel plans. And he blamed Cuba for imposing fees that add to the cost of a ticket to Cuba.

Crist, he said, should sign the legislation. "No one understands the nature of the Castro dictatorship and its terrorist activities better than Gov. Crist. There is no reason travel agencies that do business with terrorist governments should have an exclusive exemption from state regulations."