NO to the Foreign Adversary Act: a Blank Check for Abuse

I urge you to oppose HB196 (Seitz), the “Foreign Adversary Divestment Act,” which risks economic harm, governmental overreach, and the erosion of due process. While safeguarding state investments from genuine threats is prudent, this bill’s dangerously broad language undermines Missouri’s fiscal health and democratic principles. At its core, the bill grants the governor and attorney general unchecked authority to designate any entity as a “foreign adversary” without transparent criteria, oversight, or accountability. Such vagueness invites politicization, enabling subjective targeting of companies or nations based on transient agendas rather than objective threats. History shows that open-ended definitions empower abuse—imagine a future administration weaponizing this provision to blacklist businesses over trade disputes or ideological differences, destabilizing Missouri’s economy and global partnerships. The economic consequences would be severe. Forcing divestment from ambiguously defined entities jeopardizes the returns of state-managed funds, including pensions for teachers, firefighters, and public servants, as well as university endowments critical for education and research. Diversification is key to mitigating risk; this bill shackles fund managers, potentially reducing yields and increasing volatility. Why punish retirees and students for geopolitical disputes beyond their control? Additionally, the bill lacks basic due process. Companies labeled “adversaries” have no clear avenue to challenge their designation, violating principles of fairness. This silence echoes authoritarianism, not Missouri’s values. I urge lawmakers to reject HB196. Let us pursue security without sacrificing economic stability, governance integrity, or justice.