If Chuck DeVore’s no-terrorism-apologists-in-the-classroom legislation isn’t enough to make the left cringe this session (see blogdevore), Joel Anderson is now putting the screws to CalPERS, wanting to divest retirement funding in terrorism, specifically businesses investing in Iran. Joel announced AB 221 Monday and will hold a press conference on the bill this morning.
As well, his op-ed on the subject appears in the Union-Trib this morning. Anderson writes:
Given (the existing) legal restrictions, and the laser-like focus of America on fighting terror since Sept. 11, how can public employee retirement systems in the United States continues to invest hundreds of billions of public employees’ taxpayer-funded retirement funds in corporations doing business with countries that support terrorist groups? Why do we not do everything we can to assist our government in unplugging the life support of terrorist regimes?
I believe that California’s citizens and public employees will be appalled to learn that Iran, which is being sanctioned by the United Nations for pursuing nuclear weapons technology, and supports terrorists, is being aided by California’s taxpayers.
Yesterday, I introduced Assembly Bill 221 to stop California’s investments in Iran. It would require CalPERS and CalSTRS:
-To sell or transfer any investments in a company with business operations in Iran.
-To provide annual reports to the Legislature from the retirement systems on the status of their investments in any company with business operations in Iran.
Read the piece in its entirety. Below is info on this morning’s press conference:
Anderson to hold Press Conference to announce terrorism divestment legislation
Anderson to Call for Ending California Investments in Iran
Public Retirement Funds to be Targeted
Today, Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) introduced Assembly Bill 221 to divest California’s public retirement funds from businesses that invest in Iran. The legislation is inspired by late 1980s, early 1990s anti-apartheid legislation, and modeled after 2006 legislation by former Democrat Assemblyman Paul Koretz, which divested California’s retirement funds from Sudan, whose government has been involved in genocide against its own people. Tomorrow he will hold a press conference to discuss his legislation.
WHO: Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon)
WHAT: Press Conference to announce terrorism divestment legislation
WHEN: Tuesday ~ January 30, 2007 ~ 10:30 AM
WHERE: Assemblyman Anderson’s District Office, 500 Fesler Street – Suite 201, El Cajon, CA 92020
Media advisory.
January 30th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Glad to see a new guy has some guts!
January 30th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Damn right…. go
Joel!
January 30th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Amen!
January 30th, 2007 at 12:00 am
I agree with Joel. However, depending on how they are drafted, these laws are sometimes unconstitutional. Check out this U.S. Supreme Court case: Crosby v. Nat’l Foreign Trade Council, 530 U.S. 363 (2000)