[Texgreen] Rick Perry versus terrorism

[Roger Baker]

... Perry visited Israel last month courtesy of a firm called Global
Capital Associates to accept a "Friend of Zion" award from the
company. He met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who made the case for divestment,
said Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson, who was present at the
meetings...

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<http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/4979704.html>

   July 18, 2007, 5:49PM
Perry seeks divestment from companies dealing with Iran

=A9 2007 The Associated Press

AUSTIN =97 Gov. Rick Perry wants state pension funds to divest from
companies doing business in Iran, a move advocated by Israeli
officials the Republican leader met with last month.

Perry said Wednesday he is trying to determine whether he could begin
the divestment process without legislation. If he cannot, he said he
might call a special legislative session.

"This is a country that has a clear terrorist focus, has a clear
mission to wipe a friendly democracy and a very close ally of the
United States off of the face of the earth," Perry said, referring to
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's calls for the destruction of
Israel.

Perry has already signed a bill the Legislature passed this spring
that directs the $108.3 billion Teacher Retirement System and $24.9
billion Employees Retirement System to get rid of holdings in
companies doing business in Sudan because of atrocities in Darfur.

A bill involving divestment from Iran died in the Legislature this
spring.

Perry visited Israel last month courtesy of a firm called Global
Capital Associates to accept a "Friend of Zion" award from the
company. He met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who made the case for divestment,
said Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson, who was present at the
meetings.

The governor's office has not yet totaled the amount affected if
pension funds divested of companies with Iran ties, Wilson said.
Officials with the funds also didn't have an immediate estimate of
Iran-related investments.

"We think it's hundreds of millions of dollars," Wilson said in
Wednesday's edition of the Houston Chronicle.