My Word: Florida must fight funding of terrorism
The
sinister machinery of the Iranian regime is not news to Floridians. In
fact, Florida was a leader — the first in the nation — to pass a law
requiring divestment of public funds from companies that do business
with Iran.In
2007, I co-sponsored Florida's Iran divestment bill (Senate Bill 2142).
This bipartisan effort passed both houses of Florida's Legislature
unanimously. Since the law's passage, our State Board of Administration
has divested more than $1.1 billion from companies involved with Iran,
and 30 states now have similar measures that keep public money from
funding terrorism.
But President Obama's pending deal with Iran is a direct assault on Florida's divestment from state-sponsored terror. What's more, in the very text of its agreement with Iran, this administration, with disturbing clarity, memorialized its commitment to induce states into abandoning their anti-terrorism policies.
Paragraph 25 says: "If a law at the state or local level in the United States is preventing the implementation of the sanctions lifting ... the United States will take appropriate steps, taking into account all available authorities, with a view to achieving such implementation."
The agreement itself exposes this administration's plans to use "all available authorities" to force states to follow them down this reckless path. Secretary of State John Kerry admitted as much in his recent remarks to Congress.
Our federal government may choose to open wide the spigot of American dollars to the world's most vigorous supporter of terror. But we, the American people and its sovereign states, do not have to do the same.
Under the banner of Defund Iran, I have joined elected officials, business leaders, pastors and military veterans in five states to announce efforts to codify terrorism-divestiture laws in state constitutions. I'm proud that Florida joins Arizona, Colorado, Missouri and Ohio in this movement, as I continue to believe we must use any and all means available to defend against whatever steps may be taken to undermine our state's policy decisions.
I have called on the leaders of Florida's Legislature to urgently vet every possible option, be it statutory or constitutional amendment, and urgently act to preserve and protect our divestment policies.
Floridians should remain proud of the trailblazing reforms we enacted to repudiate terrorism and endorse the goal of eliminating the funding that makes it possible. We stand firm on the founding principle of federalism and the states' rights that accompany it.
Jeff Atwater is the chief financial officer of Florida and a state co-chair of Defund Iran.
Source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-terrorism-funding-atwater-myword-091215-20150911-story.html
But President Obama's pending deal with Iran is a direct assault on Florida's divestment from state-sponsored terror. What's more, in the very text of its agreement with Iran, this administration, with disturbing clarity, memorialized its commitment to induce states into abandoning their anti-terrorism policies.
Paragraph 25 says: "If a law at the state or local level in the United States is preventing the implementation of the sanctions lifting ... the United States will take appropriate steps, taking into account all available authorities, with a view to achieving such implementation."
The agreement itself exposes this administration's plans to use "all available authorities" to force states to follow them down this reckless path. Secretary of State John Kerry admitted as much in his recent remarks to Congress.
Our federal government may choose to open wide the spigot of American dollars to the world's most vigorous supporter of terror. But we, the American people and its sovereign states, do not have to do the same.
Under the banner of Defund Iran, I have joined elected officials, business leaders, pastors and military veterans in five states to announce efforts to codify terrorism-divestiture laws in state constitutions. I'm proud that Florida joins Arizona, Colorado, Missouri and Ohio in this movement, as I continue to believe we must use any and all means available to defend against whatever steps may be taken to undermine our state's policy decisions.
I have called on the leaders of Florida's Legislature to urgently vet every possible option, be it statutory or constitutional amendment, and urgently act to preserve and protect our divestment policies.
Floridians should remain proud of the trailblazing reforms we enacted to repudiate terrorism and endorse the goal of eliminating the funding that makes it possible. We stand firm on the founding principle of federalism and the states' rights that accompany it.
Jeff Atwater is the chief financial officer of Florida and a state co-chair of Defund Iran.
Source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-terrorism-funding-atwater-myword-091215-20150911-story.html
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