8 and likely soon-to-be 9 constitues more than "a tiny handful of reasons" that Illinois has prohibited its pension to invest in comapnies. Those reasons include: Iran's nuclear program, genocide in Darfur, Russia to Belarus for invasion of Ukraine, apartheid South Africa, and companies contracting to shelter migrant children, have moved their HQs out of the U.S. to avoid taxes, BDSing Israel and, on the horizon, private prisons.
Among all those categories there are almost 600 companies that the pension funds can't invest in. BDS accounts for less than 5%. (Only two of the almost 600 are American companies.)
So the argument that "The pension systems are allowed to invest in almost any company, no matter how contrary its business practices are to our values – unless it boycotts Israel," is patently false.
Finally, if "government using its economic power to bully private entities" is wrong, then would Mayor Biss, in addition to regretting his anti-BDS vote, have voted against the divest from apartheid South Africa law, or the ones protecting migrant children and incarcerated people stuck in private prisons?
Great thank you Representative elect Biss! All the Best!
Also FYI On March 25, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed legislation (SCS for S3114/A1743) prohibiting law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, from wearing masks to conceal their identity while on duty. The law, aimed at enhancing accountability, requires officers to show their faces and present identification during public interactions.
Thus, so what’s the problem with having this same legislation passed here in Illinois?
Again the great Chicago machine progressives Obama, Garcia, Pritzker etc yet where’s the leadership /beef? What are they afraid of??? Seems bizarre that Illinois allows these ICE agents to basically terrorize anyone, anywhere etc and can shoot and kill anyone too yet the States Attorney says she has to follow the state laws?? Insanity!
A few clarifications and a question:
8 and likely soon-to-be 9 constitues more than "a tiny handful of reasons" that Illinois has prohibited its pension to invest in comapnies. Those reasons include: Iran's nuclear program, genocide in Darfur, Russia to Belarus for invasion of Ukraine, apartheid South Africa, and companies contracting to shelter migrant children, have moved their HQs out of the U.S. to avoid taxes, BDSing Israel and, on the horizon, private prisons.
Among all those categories there are almost 600 companies that the pension funds can't invest in. BDS accounts for less than 5%. (Only two of the almost 600 are American companies.)
So the argument that "The pension systems are allowed to invest in almost any company, no matter how contrary its business practices are to our values – unless it boycotts Israel," is patently false.
Finally, if "government using its economic power to bully private entities" is wrong, then would Mayor Biss, in addition to regretting his anti-BDS vote, have voted against the divest from apartheid South Africa law, or the ones protecting migrant children and incarcerated people stuck in private prisons?
Good move, Daniel.
Thank you for standing on the side of free speech and the right to free expression of opinion through any means.
Thank you for your confidence to publicly say you have changed your views on this subject.
I think it’s a gross misrepresentation to claim he wrote “ free expression of opinion through any means.”
Great thank you Representative elect Biss! All the Best!
Also FYI On March 25, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed legislation (SCS for S3114/A1743) prohibiting law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, from wearing masks to conceal their identity while on duty. The law, aimed at enhancing accountability, requires officers to show their faces and present identification during public interactions.
Thus, so what’s the problem with having this same legislation passed here in Illinois?
Again the great Chicago machine progressives Obama, Garcia, Pritzker etc yet where’s the leadership /beef? What are they afraid of??? Seems bizarre that Illinois allows these ICE agents to basically terrorize anyone, anywhere etc and can shoot and kill anyone too yet the States Attorney says she has to follow the state laws?? Insanity!
Obama is retired.
Mayor Biss,
I’m proud of how far you have come on Israel-Palestine and now agree 100% with your position.