Florida divests from Iran, Sudan

Florida became the first state to divest its pensions from Sudan and Iran’s energy sector. Gov. Charlie Crist signed the legislation Friday at Temple Beth El in Boca Raton.About a dozen other states are set to enact similar legislation on Iran, and Congress is considering legislation that would facilitate such divestment by naming companies that deal with Iran’s energy sector. State Sen. Ted Deutch, who initiated the legislation, said it would affect about $1 billion of $150 billion in Florida state pensions.”Friends, we make it clear to the world that these dime store dictators will not get one cent from the people of the State of Florida,” Deutch, a Boca Raton Democrat, said at the signing ceremony.