Weho's Assemblyman Pushes for Iran Sanctions

A bill that passed with just hours to go before the Legislature ended its session last week could make California the first state to enact sanctions against Iran.

If signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger, the bill would prohibit contracts of $1 million or more between the state of California, or its cities and counties, and companies doing significant business with Iran's energy sector. Backers hope that by depriving Iran of lucrative contracts it will help stop or slow down the country's acquisition of nuclear weapons.

"Having California being the first puts us in a real leadership position," said Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), who co-authored AB 1650 with Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield (D-San Fernando Valley). Feuer represents the 42nd District, which includes West Hollywood.

The legislation follows on the bipartisan federal legislation, signed by President Obama on July 1, that authorizes states, local governments and pension funds to divest themselves of such companies and contracts in order to bolster sanctions that are supported by the United Nations as well as the U.S.

According to a spokesperson for the city, West Hollywood does not appear to have any investments in or contracts with companies that would fall under the bill, should it become law, but more research is needed.

Feuer said that he and Blumenfield had extensive meetings with companies so that the bill would be friendly to business while also being strong enough to give the sanctions real teeth.

When asked whether such sanctions could really be effective, Feuer said there are few alternatives.

"The choices we have are narrow," he said.

Doing nothing could prove disastrous if the Iranian government does develop nuclear weapons, he said. The other option would be to go to war.

"All of us want very much to avoid that," Feuer said, adding that the world community supports sanctions.

"No one can say for sure if they will succeed, but it's necessary to try," he said.

The bill had extensive bipartisan support, Feuer said. In fact, the biggest obstacle in getting the measure passed before Tuesday's midnight deadline was not debate or opposition, but a simple printing issue. Because of the many amendments, it took awhile to physically get the bill to legislators to vote on.

"It was in the printer's hands most of the day," Feuer explained.

While the bill was being written, Feuer said, he met several times with the governor's office and he's reasonably confident that Schwarzenegger will sign it.

"I never want to speak for the governor's office, but I am very optimistic, and certainly the gravity can't be overstated," Feuer said.

The bill passed the Senate in a 29-3 vote.  The Governor has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the bill.