MN's State Finance Committee votes for hate

[annm4peace]

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/revisor/pages/search_status/status_detail.php?b=Senate&f=SF0131&ssn=0&y=2009

* The Senate Finance Committee, under the cover of darkness, and with out video or audio or
* EVEN A RECORDED VOTE, passed the IRAN DIVESTMENT BILL S.F. 131.

That's right, the are so worried of who will know who voted yes and who voted no,
they did it by voice vote.

When a constituent asked the sponsor of bill Sen Terri Bonoff office of when the vote was to be, they said not till next week. Instead it happened last Friday night. No one was called although they constituent asked to be called if the time of vote would change.


So besides a DFL sponsoring the AIPAC bill, the other DFLs on the Committee also voted for it, and not one asked for a recorded vote.


hummmmmm... I wonder what other countries the State should divest from. If we are divesting from IRAN because they "might" be sponsoring terrorism.. it would only seem logical to Divest from countries who Terrorize their own citizens.

[kickysnana]

1. When did we reinvest in Iran after the 1980's hostage incident?

What are we doing investing state funds in foreign countries anyway? When are they going to divest from Israel?

[mn9driver]

2. This looks an awful lot like a bill that is designed to score points, but actually does nothing

After skimming the bill, I'm wondering just what investments the state might have in Iran that don't fall into one of the many "exempt" categories:

4.4 Subd. 7. Exemptions. (a) This section does not require the State Board of
4.5Investment to take action if the board determines, in good faith, that the action described
4.6in this section is inconsistent with the fiduciary responsibilities of the board...

and

(b) Subdivisions 4 and 5 do not apply to any of the following:
4.21(1) investments in a company that is primarily engaged in supplying goods or
4.22services intended to relieve human suffering in Iran;
4.23(2) investments in a company that is primarily engaged in promoting health,
4.24education, or journalistic, religious, or welfare activities in Iran; and
4.25(3) investments in a United States company that is authorized by the federal
4.26government to have active business operations in Iran.

and

4.27 Subd. 8. Excluded securities. Subdivisions 4 and 5 do not apply to indirect
4.28holdings in actively managed investment funds. The State Board of Investment shall
4.29submit letters to the managers of investment funds containing companies with scrutinized
4.30active business operations requesting the managers to consider removing such companies
4.31from the fund...

Shorter version: No requirement to change a thing. Just generate some paperwork to make it look like we're on this important issue.

Just reading this stupid, pointless bill makes me feel like I've been cheated out of 10 minutes of my life.