Florida Becomes First US State to Pass Iran Divestment Bill

[democratic]

Source: The Jerusalem Post

The Florida legislature on Wednesday became the first state government to pass a bill for divestment from Iran. It passed unanimously and, with its strong bipartisan backing, is expected to be signed by the governor.

Under the legislation, some $1 billion in state pension funds would be screened for holdings in companies doing business with or investing in Iran's oil sector, as well as businesses engaged in Sudan.

"Lots of other states will follow suit, because they'll see the same type of broad-based support that we have here," Florida State Senator Ted Deutch said. "When they feel this pressure, they'll understand that they need to stop."

Canadian MP Irwin Cotler also scored an advance in legislation against Iran this week - in his case, a bid for the government to have the United Nations examine Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's public incitement to genocide in the calls to "wipe Israel off the map."

Read more: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1178198609606&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[geomon666]

1. When will that divestment from China bill be signed?

God I hate this state.

[cigsandcoffee]

2. I think it's brilliant.

Iran is a repressive shithole. Companies doing business there should feel pressure from consumers. I hope other states will follow Florida's lead.

[BushOut06]

4. The United States is a repressive shithole also

Look around the world - there are plenty of "repressive shitholes" that we do business with every day. This has nothing to do with Iran's human rights record, and EVERYTHING to do with cowtowing to what the * administration wants.

BTW, I take offense to your characterization of Iran as a "shithole". What a rude, xenophobic, racist thing to say.

[cigsandcoffee]

6. Iran is a shithole, and a repressive one at that. Ask around.

I really don't care if that offends you or not.

A good example of the difference between Iran and America:

In America, there's debate over whether gays should be allowed to marry. In Iran, there's debate over whether gays should be allowed to live.

That's pretty much all I need to know.

[BushOut06]

7. Please elaborate why Iran is a shithole country

Your rationale deals squarely with their current form of government. Saying the country itself is a shithole is totally unjustified.

[cigsandcoffee]

8. Fair enough, I'll rephrase that.

Their back-asswards government makes the country an absolute shithole for anyone with even slightly progressive values - you know, anywhere to the left of Ghengis Khan.

I'm sure the scenery is wonderful, if that's what you mean.

[ShortnFiery]

16. You've not only offended us but probably ALL Iranian Peoples, even the ones for CHANGE.

Labeling an entire nation as "a shithole" will not score you any allies on EITHER side of this issue. :(

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. So, calling the US a 'repressive shithole' is ok, but saying that about Iran is rude, xenophobic,

and racist? :shrug:

[IronScorpio5]

20. I always wondered why that is....

Sorry to be patriotic but comparing the US to iran is rediculous.

[IronScorpio5]

10. Iran is a repressive shithole????

thats insulting to shitholes worldwide.

[ShortnFiery]

15. Oh yeah, but it's A OK to keep China in "most favored nation" status?

Bullshit! No more trumped up warmongering. The People do NOT want military action. We are f**king burned out with BushCo's beloved OIL WARS. :grr:

[KamaAina]

3. I guess that means they'll have to sell all their Halliburton stock

which you just know Jeb! loaded up on. :P

Nice to see they tacked Sudan/Darfur onto that. Hawai'i just passed a Darfur-only divestment bill, but there are rumors that the repuke governor may shed her "moderate" skin and veto it. :grr:

[superconnected]

5. Thus bringing prices up for oil. Now buschco and friends can sell us back the iraq oil

for $4-$5 a gallon.

I'm all for punishing repressive regimes, but I don't think that's their intererst or they'd have more countries on their list, and their primary target wouldn't only be oil.

[anotherdrew]

9. "the first state" so... just WHO is running this campaign and who hatched this idea?

there's SO many other places our state governments could play at games of economic warfare with...

[IndianaGreen]

11. A bullshit dog and pony show! How about an Israel divestment bill?

As long as we keep subsidizing those assholes and their bloody occupation, there will never be any incentive for them to make peace with the Palestinians.

[IronScorpio5]

12. No reason to worry.....

rest assured, as soon as iran lobs its first nuke , israel and your feelings will be gone.

[IndianaGreen]

13. Iran has nukes like Saddam did!

Same lies from the same bunch of liars hell-bent to get us into another war in the Middle East.

Let the IDF shed blood now instead of America's finest!

[IronScorpio5]

14. Well....

russia,china, frsnce, UK snd USA seems to see it different.

[The Stranger]

19. Well . . .

no they don't.

[The Stranger]

18. There is reason to worry about a post like that.

Where are you getting this stuff?