Iran may have just become an issue in the race for Maine’s First District congressional seat, as the Democratic candidates vie for the anti-war vote.

Yesterday, Michael Brennan’s campaign sent out an e-mail attacking a bill – up for public discussion this afternoon in Augusta – that would require the state of Maine and its employee retirement system to divest from companies that do business with Iran. The bill is being sponsored by state Sen. Ethan Strimling, one of Brennan’s opponents in the Democratic primary.

The Brennan campaign’s press release argues that the bill is straight out of the neo-conservative playbook.

“Divestiture has made sense in the past when designed to address unbearable human rights abuses in Sudan or South Africa. However, in this case it is clear that divestiture would be part of a series of tactics to increase pressure on Iran in a way that could lead us into another war. This time, it would be a war that could inflame the entire Middle East,” the press release reads.

It goes on to say that the bill “is the Maine version of a nationwide campaign instigated by the neo-conservative Center for Security Policy, a group which has recently given awards to Paul Wolfowitz and Donald Rumsfeld, among others.”

Strimling, when reached for comment, vigorously challenged Brennan’s characterization of the bill. He said that he’s never even heard of the Center for Security Policy, and said that the bill is part of an effort to avoid war with Iran.

“It’s not even close to being saber rattling. It’s about avoiding war, and saying to the president of the United States, do not invade,” Strimling said. “We need diplomacy, not bombs, and economic sanctions are part of diplomacy.”

Strimling said that his bill is analogous to a federal bill sponsored by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., which would authorize state and local governments to divest from companies that do business with Iran. The House of Representatives passed the bill overwhelmingly, but it has been held up in the Senate, and has not gotten the support of the Bush administration.

During a phone interview, Strimling lumped his Democratic opponent in with President Bush for his opposition to the Iran divestment bill.

“I have to say, I never expected Mike and George Bush to be on the same side,” Strimling said. “It’s the corporate interests who don’t want this.”

A public work session on the bill is scheduled for 1 p.m. today in Room 220 of the Cross Office Building in Augusta.

- Kevin Wack

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