Democratic senator's inquiry finds $118 million more of Missouri money invested in Russia

JEFFERSON CITY — The Public School and Employee Retirement Systems of Missouri has more than $118 million worth of investments in Russian companies, legislative researchers said Tuesday in a memo to a Democratic state lawmaker wanting to eliminate the Show-Me State's investments in Moscow.

Research conducted by nonpartisan Senate research staff at the behest of Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, shows that this sum constitutes less than half a percent of the state teachers' pension system, which has a market value of at least $38.3 billion.

Still, the find gives Chappelle-Nadal's office a reason to continue its probe from last week, which turned up about $17.7 million invested via the Missouri State Employee Retirement System and the University of Missouri Retirement, Disability, and Death Benefit Plan. The senator called for Missouri to cut investment ties with Russia after President Donald Trump said he believed Russia, led by President Vladimir Putin, was responsible for hacking the Democratic National Committee.

"This revelation demonstrates the very real and immediate need to reassure the taxpayers of Missouri that their hard-earned dollars will not be sent overseas to aid and abet the Putin regime," Chappelle-Nadal said Tuesday in a news release.

Read more: http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/24/democratic-senators-inquiry-finds-118-million-more-missouri-money-invested-russia/96987034/