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DEL.ICIO.USFort McPherson and foreign affairs in the state Senate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This morning, the Senate quietly passed H.B. 817, which establishes an authority to oversee the remaking of historic Fort McPherson on Atlanta’s south side, which is being abandoned by the U.S. Army as part of a reorganization effort. Word we have is that Gov. Sonny Perdue was behind the final version.
But on the business day of the session so far, an hour was devoted to dabbling in foreign affairs — specifically S.B. 451, which would require public retirement funds to identify investments in companies that do business with Iran.
This has been a tough bill to get out of committee — without loading it with other causes such as Dafur or China or any other causes. “This case is very specific to a country that is killing our troops,” said the bill’s lead sponsor, state Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville).
The bill passed easily, 45 to 6. But the bill’s opponents are worth noting. They included one of the most conservative members of the Senate, Bill Heath (R-Bremen) and one of its most liberal, Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta).
“This is symbolism. It’s not going to have an impact,” Orrock said.
Said Heath: “I think foreign policy is a matter best left to the U.S. Congress.”
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