The state of Vermont wants to divest its pension funds of stocks in companies and governments linked to terrorism or genocide, such as Sudan or Iran or Syria.
State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding says the policy is intended to ensure the state’s investments do not support terrorism.
Vermont’s pension funds contain about $3 billion.
Spaulding says the Vermont Pension Investment Committee is striking a balance between its responsibility to get the best returns on investments and the moral imperative to end terrorism and genocide.
Spaulding says he doesn’t know how much money the state has invested in such companies, but he’s directing the state’s pension managers to investigate.