State leaders are urging Pennsylvanians and businesses to stop spending money on Russian products or in Russian companies.

Three democratic house legislators including local rep. Ryan Bizzarro introduced a resolution to divest Pennsylvania’s investments in Russian companies and holdings.

This is something Pennsylvania can do to stand with allies and ensure that Russia feels the full economic effect of this egomaniac's aggression.
Bizzarro told Erie News Now that it's in an effort to increase economic costs to Russia and show support to our allies in Ukraine.
Pennsylvania has the second highest Ukrainian population in the nation, next to New York.
And currently the state has nearly 3 million dollars invested in 31 Russian companies.
Bizzarro says divesting all of our assets, like many other states have done is one step in the right direction. The other is being mindful as consumers, of products we are buying, and trying not to give any business to Russia.

"I think we have seen the only thing Russia responds to is money,” Bizzarro said. “We have to hurt them in their pockets. That's the only thing Vladimir Putin seems to respond to. The whole world is behind Ukraine by and large and that's still not having an effect or impact on any of his decisions. We've gotta do our part locally and if that's being kinder to Ukrainian neighbors or folks who have relatives over there, so be it."

He said standing behind those neighbors and being mindful where our products are coming from are both steps in the right direction...
This resolution was not the only Russia-related improvement at the state level. The Pennsylvania liquor control board announced late Sunday that it would pull Russia-sourced products, including vodka, from its shelves.