News media articles & the public employee retirement systems as the sacrificial lamb

From John Curry, August 18, 2007
Subject: News media articles & the public employee retirement systems as the sacrificial lamb

Note: In the letter below, the author speaks about the "nasty list." This is a list of companies that, at one time, was posted on the Ohio Retirement Study Council's website and listed Honda as one of those companies that was available for consideration to drop investments in by Ohio's retirement systems so as to be in line with Josh Mandel's HB 151 divestiture desires. If you wish a copy of this list (the "nasty" list) I will gladly email you a copy as it quickly (and without explanation) disappeared from the ORSC website.

P.S. It's a good thing that I don't need a replacement limb or drive a Honda as it may be an unpatriotic desire! It sure appears as if Joe McCarthyism (version 2007.1) is still alive and well in the Buckeye State, doesn't it? Be careful on your way home today...there may be a terroristic company hiding in the bushes at your local industrial park! John

John Bos to John Curry, August 18, 2007
Subject: Re: News media articles & the public employee retirement systems as the sacrificial lamb

John,

I have shares in Stryker Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan. This company was on the "Nasty List" that was published on the internet for several days. I wish to review a few items about Stryker. They are most noted for making replacement limbs. Jack Nickolas is an endorsement for their products. It addition, the make hospital beds, surgical tables, and related medical equipment. They are a very highly regarded company that supports Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the United States of America.

I contacted Stryker regarding being on the Ohio "Nasty List". They had NO KNOWLEDGE of this list and were shocked! No one from the Ohio Legislature or any of the 5 retirment systems ever contacted them. Here is the real story. They were contacted by Sudan to sell an operating room table. This was needed for humanitarian purposes. Any U.S. Company must have approval from the U.S. State Department to make sales to certain countries. This authority was granted and the sales was completed. (my memory was that the sale was for approximately $50,000. The product was shipped following U.S. State Department guidelines.

This sale placed them on "OUR NASTY" list. No one in Ohio wants to talk about how the list was compiled, why it was removed from public viewing, etc.

This information can be confirmed by contacting Stryker Corporation, Investor Relations Department.

If you recall, others on the list included General Electric, Wells Fargo, and many other well known companies. Many of these companies were eventually removed. This entire legislative process was a Flag Waving, Special Interest, Scratch My Back process. It smells!!!!

John Bos