JEFFERSON CITY - State Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale) today announced a plan to stop an initiative negotiated by the Obama Administration in the Iran nuclear deal that would unravel state policies preventing taxpayer dollars from being invested in state sponsors of terrorism.
Senator Schmitt’s legislation will codify state policy and ensure that Missouri taxpayer dollars may not be funneled towards individuals, businesses and governments that would do harm to America. The legislation includes a referendum clause, which will allow the voters of the state of Missouri to say “no” to investing in state sponsors of terrorism.
“With this initiative, we are going to make clear to Washington that Missouri taxpayer dollars will not be invested with companies that do business with any state sponsor of terror, including Iran,” said State Senator Eric Schmitt. “In the nuclear agreement, the Obama Administration approved a special deal that would preempt state laws and policies that prevent tax dollars from being invested with international entities that fund terror states. Missourians deserve the opportunity to send Washington a message that their tax dollars should not be funneled to any country that has made ‘death to America’ their national slogan and seek to harm and kill our people and the men and women who wear the uniform of our Armed Forces.”
“Senator Schmitt’s proposal to ensure Missouri taxpayer dollars do not support international acts of terrorism will be a high priority in the coming session,” said Speaker of the House Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff). “President Obama’s misguided Iran deal includes a special deal for Iran that would force states like Missouri to invest taxpayer dollars in companies that do business with state sponsors of terror. We need to send a message to Washington from the people of Missouri.”
Major parts of the proposed Iran deal require the United States to stop applying economic sanctions to Iran. Most importantly for the taxpayers of Missouri, the deal authorizes the federal government to take all actions necessary to ensure state and local laws facilitate the lifting of sanctions and opening of commerce and investment with Iran.
Senator Schmitt’s legislation was specifically crafted to address Paragraph 25 of the Iran nuclear agreement:
“If a law at the state or local level in the United States is preventing the implementation of the sanctions lifting as specified in this JCPOA, the United States will take appropriate steps, taking into account all available authorities, with a view to achieving such implementation. The United States will actively encourage officials at the state or local level to take into account the changes in the U.S. policy reflected in the lifting of sanctions under this JCPOA and to refrain from actions inconsistent with this change in policy.
The Iran agreement would empower the federal government to rescind statutes in the 30 states that currently have Terrorism Divestiture laws. These bipartisan laws prevent taxpayer dollars from being invested in and spent with corporations doing business with State Sponsors of Terrorism.
“President Obama is wrong to believe that Iran is a place the United States can do business with and he is wrong in his effort to force the State of Missouri to do business with companies that help fund terrorism,” said Senate Majority Floor Leader, Ron Richard (R-Joplin). I want to commend Senator Schmitt on his effort to ensure Missouri has an anti-terror funding law that takes precedence over President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran.”
“State sovereignty is under attack and Missouri taxpayer dollars are at risk thanks to President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran,” said House Majority Floor Leader Mike Cierpiot (R-Lee’s Summit). “I support Senator Eric Schmitt’s efforts to place on the ballot an initiative to ensure taxpayer money does not directly or indirectly support companies doing business with countries like Iran.” Senator Schmitt firmly believes the taxpayers of the state of Missouri should not be forced into complying with an overly generous deal for Iran - and that taxpayer dollars should be protected from investments with state sponsors of terror.
Senator Eric Schmitt is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Jobs Economic Development and Local Government. He has authored and supported several pieces of legislation to improve the business climate and provide economic development for the state, including eliminating the corporate franchise tax and reducing taxes on small businesses by 25%. |
