As Iran continues to aggressively pursue a nuclear weapons program, we must seize every opportunity to place pressure on the regime in Tehran. While our efforts have been principally focused at the federal level, AIPAC has also called on state and local governments to ratchet up the economic pressure on Iran.
A few days ago the State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1650, which restricts the State of California, as well as cities and counties, from entering into public contracts with companies doing business in the Iranian energy sector. When you consider the combined economic weight of California and all of its municipalities, this represents an important and meaningful part of the overall effort to sanction Iran.
As a result of this milestone, we have two important action items:
First, passage of this legislation is due to the leadership and dedication of two Los Angeles area legislators – Assemblymembers Mike Feuer and Bob Blumenfield. Please take a moment and either call or email to thank them for their leadership on this vital issue. It can be as simple as cutting and pasting the following pre-prepared message into an email to each official's address listed below.
[Thank you for your efforts to restrict California and local governments from entering into contracts with companies that support the Iranian energy sector. Now more than ever, it is critical that every level of government promote policies that place economic pressure on the Iranian regime. I very much appreciate your leadership which secured passage of Assembly Bill 1650.]
· State Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield – (818) 904-3840 or assemblymember.blumenfield@
Second, please call Governor Schwarzenegger's office and ask that he sign Assembly Bill 1650 into law! His office can be reached at (916) 445-2841.
If there are other people whom you believe would help with this effort, please forward them this email.
As always, thank you for your support of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.
