Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin is thanking lawmakers for supporting his call for the state to divest the public retirement fund of stocks in coal and Exxon Mobil as a way to protect the environment.
State Treasurer Beth Pearce counters that she finds it "unfortunate" that the governor was reaching conclusions about a study on divestment to be done by the Vermont Pension Investment Committee before that study has been completed.
Last month, the governor asked the pension board to divest from some fossil fuel stocks. The board said it would set up a committee to study the issue. It will meet Friday for the first time.
The House has passed a resolution urging divestment. A Senate committee supports the idea.
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