Jeff Atwater praises Rick Scott for signing Iran bill

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater

Gov. Rick Scott earned some praise from Florida CFO Jeff Atwater Friday for signing a bill banning taxpayer dollars from being invested in Iran.

“Governor Scott today exercised states’ rights by solidifying Florida’s right to invest or divest funds where it chooses,” Atwater said. “Florida established sanctions against Iran and called for a withdrawal of currently invested funds nearly 10 years ago with the passing of a bill I co-sponsored during my time in the legislature.”

The bipartisan bill (SB 7028) was sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Jeremy Ring of Margate and Republican state Rep. Neil Combee of Polk City.

It alters provisions for adding Iranian businesses to the State Board of Administration’s “Scrutinized Companies” list, which came under fire after the federal government’s nuclear deal with Iran.

In Iran’s case, the bill prohibits investments in scrutinized companies until either the country stops working toward getting nuclear weapons or all U.S. sanctions are revoked.

The bill also removed a provision that would allow SBA to reinvest in such companies if Congress or an executive order said divestment would interfere with U.S. foreign policy.

“The Legislature stood up against this endless overreach by our federal government this session, crafting and passing a bill that reaffirms Florida’s commitment that they should take keep state dollars from funding sponsors of terror,” Atwater said. “Governor Scott was then tasked with the important role of signing this legislation into law, and today that became a reality.”

The legislation passed the Florida House with a 113-1 vote and the Senate approved it unanimously.

With Scott’s signature, the bill goes into effect on July 1.

“Florida’s actions set an example for the rest of the country to follow, and we are sending a clear message to states that have not yet divested funds from Iran to take a firm stand,” Atwater said. “State dollars are meant to benefit the people who pay their taxes, not companies who conduct business with groups capable of the evil we have recently seen on the news.”