BY LESLEY CLARK

A bill that would ease restrictions on travel to Cuba has opened a rift between President Barack Obama and the Senate's only Cuban American Democrat.

New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez -- who reportedly is blocking two presidential nominees to protest the change to U.S.-Cuba policy contained in a massive spending bill -- refused Tuesday to discuss the ''holds'' that were first reported in the Washington Post. But he told The Miami Herald that he was disappointed Obama hadn't raised objections to the change in Cuba policy.

''The White House says they had nothing to do with it, but it's quite amazing,'' said Menendez. ``I'm sure if we were making significant foreign policy changes about our policy toward Venezuela, or Israel or Africa, the administration would be up in arms about having foreign policy changes made without their input.''

The provision was tucked into a $410 billion spending bill that keeps the federal government running through September, leaving little room for debate, Menendez said.

''The bottom line is, it's a horrid process to start going down the road on,'' he said. ``It means a handful of members can change the foreign policy of the United States and the president is bound to keep the government open and signs it and now he's got foreign policy changes he didn't engage in and the [Congress] didn't engage in.''

The Post reported that Menendez, to press his point on Cuba, is holding up confirmation of Obama's picks for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The White House declined to comment.

Senate President Harry Reid said Tuesday that the provisions won't be removed. The current legislation that funds the federal government expires Saturday and Reid is hoping to send to Obama the same bill the House passed last week.

''We're not going to be able to change at this stage unless there's enough votes,'' Reid said. ``But I'm happy to work with those people that are concerned about Cuba.''

Obama promised on the campaign trail to relax travel restrictions to allow Cuban Americans to visit family on the island. But Menendez, who was born in New York after his parents left Cuba, implored Obama Monday not to sign the bill.

''If the omnibus bill is signed by the president as is,'' Menendez warned, ``he will be extending a hand while the Castro regime maintains its iron-handed clenched fist.''

Florida Republican Sen. Mel Martinez echoed the remarks, saying the legislation fails to require Cuba to change its behavior.

''We don't ask for any signs of positive behavior,'' Martinez said. ``We just lay the change out there and hope for the best. That's not the way we ought to approach a regime that has rebuffed our overtures for normal relations, humanitarian aid, and instead seeks to undermine our alliances in the region.''

The National Foreign Trade Council Tuesday hailed the changes, noting the language in the bill would authorize travel to Cuba for the agriculture community.