Consequences: States finding ways to punish Russia
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Across the country, states are doing what they can to support Ukraine -- and to make Russia feel the consequences of its actions. Some states are hitting harder than others.
Georgia, for example is looking to have the state's retirement funds divested of any Russian assets.
"I don't know about y'all, but I don't want one penny of Georgians' money going to subsidize Vladimir Putin," said Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, a Republican. "While our role in international affairs is limited, we make clear we stand with those who want to live in peace."
Indiana's House passed legislation to block Russian-controlled businesses and nonprofits from acquiring property in the state for one year. Pennsylvania lawmakers plan to require state pension funds to pull investments connected to the Russian government and its supporters.
Arkansas lawmakers have filed proposals authorizing banks in the state to freeze the assets of Russian oligarchs and to require a boycott of Russian-made goods. California lawmakers are introducing legislation to divest public money from Russian state entities. New York's governor has forbidden her state to do business with Russia.
Other states are terminating state contracts with Russian companies, and announcing they will welcome Ukrainian refugees with open arms.
And some, including West Virginia, are … banning the sale of Russian vodka.
Shutting down the codes for ordering those products is a good thing, and the sentiment is important.
But to put this into perspective, according to Gig Robinson, education and public information official for the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration, Russian vodka represents a tiny fraction of the vodka that comes into the United States; and in fact many of the vodkas branded with Russian-sounding names are produced in other countries.
The Russian share of the market is about 1.3 percent. France leads with 39 percent, while Sweden, the Netherlands, Britain, Latvia and Poland carry most of the rest of the global vodka market.
For Robinson, it is important to remember action on this front does not always have to be punitive, but rather can be proactive and positive. He echoed Gov. Jim Justice's executive order encouraging the ABCA to work through its brokers to identify new products and products listed from Ukraine and support those industries there.
We've gotten a good start, then. But surely there is more -- perhaps some things for which West Virginia is uniquely qualified -- we can do to hit Russia where it counts and support Ukraine in its hour of need.