California Assemblymen Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) and Bob Blumenfield (D-San Fernando Valley) have announced plans to introduce legislation in January that would prohibit California public entities from doing business with corporations that have contracts with Iran’s energy sector.
Leaders and supporters from various Jewish organizations, including the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the American Jewish Committee and Stephen S. Wise Temple, joined the assemblymen during an Oct. 20 press conference at Beverly Hills City Hall to show support for the latest Iran divestment effort, which hopes to curb the country’s nuclear ambitions.
“Given the size of California’s economy, we have an essential role to play in this international effort to deter Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” Feuer said.
“Companies that support Iran’s ambitions have a choice,” he said. “They either continue in that support or they will risk the loss of the support of California’s taxpayers.”
Feuer and Blumenfield said they hope that other states will draft similar legislation.
“I challenge every other state in this country to follow our lead,” Blumenfield said.
The press conference follows passage of the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act in the House, which, like Feuer and Blumenfield’s legislation, would allow state and local governments to divest from companies doing business in Iran’s energy sector. Similar legislation has also been introduced in the Senate.
