October 02, 2008
PALIN TONIGHT: “We have a $40 billion investment fund, a savings fund called the Alaska permanent fund when I and others in the legislature found out that we had hundreds of millions of dollars in Sudan we called for divestment so we wouldn't be doing anything that could be seen as condoning activity in Darfur. That legislature hasn't passed (it) yet but it needs to because all of us as individuals and humanitarians and as elected officials should do all we can to end those atrocities in that side of the world.”
FACTS: PALIN’S ADMINISTRATION WAS COMPLICIT IN KILLING DARFUR DIVESTMENT BILL
Alaska Permanent Fund’s Money Managers Opposed Darfur Divestment Bill. “A bill before the Legislature would force managers of the Alaska Permanent Fund to dump stocks of companies doing business in Sudan, whose government has been blamed for genocidal killings in Darfur. The measure also would apply to state retirement fund investments. Alaska's money managers oppose the bill and say managing money according to a political agenda is a bad bet. Managers of the state savings accounts say House Bill 287 would complicate their work, raise expenses and have little effect in Darfur. Managing money according to a social or political agenda is a bad bet, said Mike Burns, the permanent fund chief executive officer.” [AP, 3/4/08 ]
· Palin Appoints the Board of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. “A governor-appointed board of six trustees sets APFC policy. Alaska law provides that the APFC Board be comprised of four public members, the Commissioner of Revenue and one additional cabinet member of the governor's choosing. Public members serve staggered four-year terms.” [Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, Website ]
Under The Palin Administration, The Department Of Law Issued No Opinions Containing The Words “Divest,” “Sudan,” “Darfur” Or “Genocide.” The Department of Law has issued no opinions containing the word "divest" since 2004. It has never issued an opinion containing the words "Sudan" "Darfur" or "genocide." Searches for opinions on "social and invest" and "sanction and invest" revealed nothing relevant to Sudan or Darfur. [Alaska Department Of Law ]
Sarah Palin’s Administration Was Complicit In Killing Sudan Divestment Bills In Committee. On February 9, 2008, Governor Sarah Palin’s appointed Deputy Commissioner of Revenue spoke to the Alaska House State Affairs Committee on bipartisan HB 287, which would require the state to divest from Sudan. He agreed with another speaker who said divestment was ‘not the right tool.’ On April 1, Commissioner of Revenue paid lip service to SB 227 in the Alaska Senate State Affairs Committee, saying that the bill “should be amended…in the Finance Committee” and said that the Department of Revenue was “working with the Department of Law... to actually take certain actions with regard to divestiture that would still be compliant with the state investment laws.” The Legislature adjourned Sine Die on April 13. [Minutes Of The 25th Alaska Legislature]
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