The board for the Missouri State Employees Retirement System – MOSERS – has started using a new policy to help it weed out any investments with possible terrorist ties. The idea was first broached last summer and after some contentious debate, was made policy. The board’s first use of the new policy was closed off to the public, as board members split over whether to allow the media into the meeting. That did not sit well with board member State Treasurer Sarah Steelman. But Board Chairman, Representative Todd Smith of Sedalia, says in this case, the discussion over the investments needed to be secret. Smith feels it was a good first effort from the board. Steelman says members just went through the motions of actually doing anything to keep terrorist investments out of the system.
