RALEIGH (AP) -- A House bill calls for the state to sell any pension fund investments linked to Sudan's government or to bloodshed in the African nation.
Passage would make it the first of its kind among states in the Southeast.
Democratic Representative Paul Luebke of Durham, a prime sponsor of the bill, says the goal is to weaken the Sudan government so a "humane replacement" can take over.
State Treasurer Richard Moore already has sold pension fund investments in nine companies that provide monetary and military support to the Sudanese government. Moore's voluntary move totaled about 24 (M) million dollars.
Luebke's legislation, which was approved today by the House Finance Committee, now goes to the full House for consideration.
On the Net:
N.C. State Treasurer's Office: http://www.nctreasurer.com
Sudan Divestment Task Force: http://www.sudandivestment.org
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
