Say What?

Most likely you have never heard of Rasmy Hassouna.  

Neither had I until last week. Hassouna is a civil engineer who has done contract work for the City of Houston for more than 20 years. When his contract was up for renewal, a paragraph in the document essentially ruled out his company boycotting Israel while doing business with any government entity in Texas.

Say what?

Hassouna, a Palestinian, came to the US in 1988 and became a citizen in 2005. He battled to get his citizenship certificate to state his birthplace as Gaza Strip rather than Israel. Cue the lawsuit against the State of Texas. (A link to the article is included at the end of this post.) 

The article reports 25 states having similar laws. Curious, as a resident in South Carolina, I thought to take a look at how this issue stood here in the Palmetto State. Read for yourself.

"A public entity may not enter into a contract with a business to acquire or dispose of supplies, services, information technology, or construction unless the contract includes a representation that the business is not currently engaged in, and an agreement that the business will not engage in, the boycott of a person or an entity based in or doing business with a jurisdiction with whom South Carolina can enjoy open trade...." SC Code Ann. 11-35-5300 (2015)

Open trade....

South Carolina's top 3 import sources in 2020 to date: Germany, China, Mexico. Russia, by the way, is 21st on the list. Top 3 export destinations: Germany, Canada, China. Russia, 20th.

So? Hypothetically, my specialty print shop in Lyman could not refuse to do business with South Carolina businesses or individuals doing business with Chinese businesses or individuals if I wanted to contract with the City of Lyman for a printing job. Not even over that whole Uyghur situation.

Or the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office? Or Spartanburg School District 5?

The People's Republic of China should be most pleased with our state legislature. Especially with the Winter Olympics on the horizon.

I know, I know. 

Hush, child, money's changing hands.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/07/texas-ban-boycotting-israel