U.S. Politics: The House Republicans and Latin America

From our partners at Just the Facts, an analysis of what Republican control of the House may mean for U.S. actions regarding Latin America.

The House Republicans and Latin America | Just the Facts: "Before losing their majority in 2006, House Republicans were among the most energetic advocates of “Plan Colombia” and similar mostly military-and-police aid programs in the hemisphere. Later, from the minority, they strongly supported the Bush administration’s mostly military-and-police “Merida Initiative.”

Key Republicans are likely to call loudly for more military and police aid to both countries to fight drug production and transshipment, and may perhaps seek to weaken human rights contitions applying to this aid. They will probably not succeed in increasing dollar amounts by much. The House leadership appears committed to shrinking the overall foreign aid budget substantially, leaving little room for “Drug War” aid increases." Nov. 3, 2010