Divesting in Iran (Audio)
Air Date:02/19/2010
By Jenifer Jones
A bill that seeks to divest state funds from companies that do business in Iran is progressing through the legislature. The Senate recently passed the measure.
Senator Gene Abdallah of Sioux Falls is one of the 26 senators who support Senate Bill 134. He says some things are more important than the money the state makes from investing in these companies.
"That money is directly or indirectly going against our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and other parts of the country by a terrorist country," Abdallah says. "We shouldn't even consider doing business with them or any part of their regime."
Seven senators voted against the measure, including Senator Jeffrey Haverly of Rapid City. He says citizens do business with many countries that have poor human rights.
"If you're going to vote for something like this, shouldn't you take it one step further and just go ahead and stop shopping at Wal-Mart completely," Haverly says.
The bill next goes to a House committee for further debate.
Member stations can download the audio file here.
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