Florida could boycott companies that boycott Israel

[King_David]

Companies that refuse to invest in Israel will see Florida refuse to invest in them under a bill that is on its way to the floor of the Florida Senate.

The bill would mandate that the state's pension funds not invest in companies that support the BDS movement, which calls for the boycott, divestment and sanctioning of Israel. Florida would also not be allowed to make purchases over $1 million from any company that supports boycotting or sanctioning Israel.

"What the bill says is simply that if you discriminate against Israel, then Florida doesn't want to do business with you," said state Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, sponsor of the bill.



http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-boycott-israel-companies-20151119-story.html

[King_David]

1. Democrats on the committee joined with Republicans to make the passage unanimous

Democrats on the committee joined with Republicans to make the passage unanimous, with state Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Coconut Grove, calling it "a terrific bill."


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-boycott-israel-companies-20151119-story.html

[procon]

2. Whatever happened to the much ballyhooed small government, anti-regulatory GOP

that worships American business entrepreneurs and the glories of the Sacred Free Market? The GOP controls Florida, but their idea of 'Freedom' is ephemeral if they have to prop up the profits of companies in a foreign country ahead of the rights of American citizens to operate their own businesses as they choose.

Boycotts are not illegal, and I suspect this state policy of a required religious test is grossly illegal, on many levels. The state of Florida is trying to label the boycott in terms of religious discrimination rather than a fiscal protest against Israel's political and foreign policy toward the Palestinians, blacklisting lawful businesses and restricting state contracts because they do not comply with the government's official -- but illegal -- religious preference.

[shira]

3. Racist boycotters should be boycotted. Simple as that. n/t

[procon]

4. That's a threadbare argument.

What "race" are Israeli businesses?

[King_David]

9. Democrats supported the legislation.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134122158#post1

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

5. Applauding the actions of the republicans again, dave?

[FBaggins]

7. More reading comprehension problems Dan?

"Democrats on the committee joined with Republicans to make the passage unanimous"

[King_David]

8. I even put that in the 1st post.....

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

10. Oh, not at all, fb. I just love it when dave latches on to all the republicans

passing questionable legislation.

Very telling...very telling indeed.

[FBaggins]

11. Ah! So rather than a reading comprehension problem...

... it's a problem with your grasp on reality. Got it.

There have been several anti-BDS actions by state legislatures. They are almost always unanimous or very nearly so. It is in no sense "questionable" - let alone "republican".

Your inability to get past the denial stage for that simple fact is what is truly telling.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

12. Talk about you reaching, poor baggins.

Dave has consistantly applauded the GOP before in these matters.

Nice try, though.

[King_David]

13. The poster you are addressing is neither Democrat nor Republican....and is obsessed with myself...

Evidence points to being because I am Gay.....



A favourite of an individual poster here in this group is Mondoweiss, the vanity blog that trashes Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton and praises Anne Coulter and Donald Trump....Mondoweiss are not Democrats either.

[King_David]

6. Kick