Gov. Tim Pawlenty has vetoed the Legislature's resolution urging the president and Congress to end Cuban trade and travel restrictions. Many legislators figured the nonbinding resolution was a nice way to support state farmers and business people who'd like to see some economic opportunities with a nearby nation.

When we mentioned the possibility of a veto last Wednesday, there didn't seem to be a great chance it would happen. The governor's press people didn't even call back when I inquired.

But the Friday veto does put the governor in line with Sen. John McCain's position on Cuba: Support the embargo as a way to deny the Cuban government resources to continue its repression of the Cuban people.
 
Pawlenty called the resolution "inappropriate," the Associated Press reported, quoting from Pawlenty's veto letter: "It is unfortunate that the Legislature passed a bill that completely contradicts a long history of U.S. policy against a totalitarian nation." — Joe Kimball