Pol: Will Keep $ Away From Terrorists
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder announced the passage of the Iran Divestment Act, a bill he sponsored that prohibits New York state and local governments from issuing contracts to businesses invested in Iran’s energy sector.
“It is no secret that Iran is involved both with terrorism and procuring nuclear weapons,” Goldfeder said. “Using taxpayer money to contribute to those efforts is simply unacceptable. This legislation would ensure that doesn’t happen by prohibiting those companies from doing business with the state.”
This legislation (A.8668-A) prohibits companies with over $20 million invested in the Iranian energy sector from receiving, renewing or bidding on state contracts unless that entity certifies it doesn’t have, has ceased or is taking steps to cease such investments.
The state Office of General Services (OGS) will release a list of all people, corporations and other organizations found to be in violation of the act; these entities will be prohibited from entering into state contracts.
Modeled after similar legislation in California and conceived with help from the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, the new act builds on a federal law allowing state and local governments to divest from businesses whose interests di-
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