'Defund Iran' Announces Ballot Measures To Sanction Iran At State Level
DENVER (CBS4) - It appears like the White House has enough senators supporting the controversial Iran nuclear deal to block a resolution of disapproval.
On Tuesday three more senators announced they are for the plan, bringing the total to 41. Republicans have come out against the deal and now opponents are taking their fight to the states.
Colorado is one of five battleground states where opponents of the deal on Tuesday announced ballot measures meant to sanction Iran at the state level.
Iran is the world's biggest backer of international terrorism. The group behind the effort calls itself Defund Iran. It released a video laying out its plan to put measures on the ballot in 25 states to prevent state tax dollars from going to companies that do business with terrorist regimes.
Former state Rep. Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, says it's in response to a provision of the Iran nuclear deal.
"The deal actually, no kidding, in paragraph 25 requires the federal government to lobby on behalf of Iran to get states to repeal their divestiture laws," Waller said.
The deal says the federal government will use "all available authorities" if a state or local law is inconsistent with the sanctions lifting. For now sanctions barring companies from doing business with Iran remain in place, but state Rep. Polly Lawrence, R-Douglas County, worries more companies will now be eligible for waivers.
"My concern is if they're going to use their influence to get states to rescind these policies, what are they doing on a federal level? Obviously they want money invested in there. They want a freer flow of dollars going to Iran," Lawrence said.
Colorado already has a policy barring state pension funds from being invested in companies that do business with Iran. The ballot measure would make it against the law to provide any state assistance -- whether a contract or tax credit -- to the companies.
"There is no way on God's green Earth that I want to see any money going to fund terrorism, especially Colorado tax dollars," Waller said.
Proponents of the ballot measure say it could also impact private investment in companies that do business with Iran because they would be on a public list. But some supporters of the ballot measure say it's more about politics than policy.
Statement From Gov. John Hickenlooper's Communications Director
We are sympathetic with the goal of preventing funding for terrorism and the governor would look to thoughtful statutory approaches as opposed to putting language in the constitution. Good intentions are sometimes undone by unintended consequences, so we'd need a careful analysis of the language.
