KENNEDY: PENSION FUNDS SHOULD DROP GUN INVESTMENTS
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Kennedy called on Illinois legislators to halt all General Assembly pension fund investments that go to gun and ammunition manufacturers and called out opponent Daniel Biss for being in line for those retirement benefits while simultaneously promoting gun control.
“Just like a budget is a reflection of an organization’s values, so too is an investment portfolio a reflection of an organization’s morality,” Kennedy said Tuesday afternoon outside the Thompson Center in the Loop, steps away from where Chicago Police Cmdr. Paul Bauer was fatally shot last month.
“I think it’s a little under $ 10 million,” Kennedy said of General Assembly funds invested in gun and ammunition companies.
“Daniel Biss is taking positions on both sides of an issue. Once again Biss claims this is the moral issue of the day, yet finds away to flip flop and benefit from being on opposing sides,” Kennedy said.
Biss’ campaign dismissed it as “another ridiculous campaign stunt.”
“This is why this is just silly: Is Chris Kennedy making that same call to other members of the General Assembly who have endorsed his campaign?” Biss spokesman Tom Elliott said. “I really doubt it.
In January, Biss called for his gubernatorial opponents — including Kennedy — to divest from “dirty energy companies.”
“Kennedy was silent,” Elliott said. “But if you want to talk about integrity, we should start there.”
“Those companies were part of an index fund, and Chris divested last year from those companies,” Rebecca Evans, Kennedy’s spokeswoman said.