FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2009
Petaluma, Calif. - President Barack Obama's new fiscal 2010 budget proposal does not contain any specific funding for, or mention of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) biggest challenge, the diversion of federal small business contracts to large corporations.
Since 2003, more than 15 federal investigations have found fraud, abuse, loopholes and a lack of oversight in federal small business contracting programs that have allowed Fortune 500 firms to take billions of dollars in federal contracts earmarked for small businesses. (http://www.asbl.com/documentlibrary.html) ABC, CBS and CNN have aired stories on the investigations. (ABC, http://www.asbl.com/abc_evening_news.wmv; CBS, http://www.asbl.com/cbs.wmv; CNN, http://www.asbl.com/showmedia.php?id=1170)
Report 5-15 from the SBA Office of Inspector General (OIG) stated, "One of the most important challenges facing the Small Business Administration and the entire Federal government today is that large businesses are receiving small business procurement awards and agencies are receiving credit for these awards." (http://www.sba.gov/IG/05-15.pdf)
In Report 5-16, the SBA OIG found large businesses had committed felony federal contracting fraud by making "false certifications" and "improper certifications." (http://www.sba.gov/IG/05-16.pdf)
A report from the SBA Office of Advocacy found a number of large businesses had illegally received federal small business contracts through, "vendor deception." (http://www.asbl.com/documents/eagkeeye_report 2002.pdf)
In February of 2008, President Obama stated, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." While President Obama's budget mentions a number of specific small business programs; the proposal contains no mention of this issue, which small business advocates maintain is responsible for pulling up to $100 billion in federal small business contracts out of the middle class economy every year. (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)
In the last year, President Obama has consistently refused to offer a solution to the diversion of billions of dollars in federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 corporations, their subsidiaries and other clearly large firms. President Obama's fiscal 2010 budget proposal represents his 6th opportunity to mention solutions to this devastating problem.
"I would like a member of the White House Press Corps to ask President Obama one question for America's 27 million small businesses," ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. "Why are you allowing Fortune 500 firms to take federal contracts that have been legally set-aside for small businesses?"
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Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Obama's Speech Ignores 98 Percent of U.S. Firms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2009
Petaluma, Calif. - As predicted by the American Small Business League (ASBL), President Barack Obama failed to make any reference of his plans to fix existing federal programs designed to direct federal infrastructure spending to America's 27 million small businesses during his address to Congress and the nation Tuesday night.
Top economic experts like Dr. Laura Tyson and Carly Fiorina have both acknowledged that directing federal infrastructure funds to small businesses would be the most effective way to stimulate our nation's failing economy and create jobs. Tyson is the former Chair of the U.S. President's Council of Economic Advisers during the Clinton Administration and is currently an economic adviser to President Obama. Fiorina is the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard and a former McCain campaign economic advisor.
According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, 98 percent of all American firms have less than 100 employees, 90 percent of all firms in the U.S. have less than 20 employees and those firms are responsible for over 97 percent of all new jobs in America. (http://www.inc.com/news/articles/200708/data.html)
The stimulus bill signed last week by President Obama was designed primarily to create and preserve jobs. Yet not one line of the bill contains specific language to direct any of the stimulus bill's spending to the 98 percent of American firms that create over 97 percent of all new jobs.
In the absence of legislative language to specifically direct the billions of dollars in stimulus bill spending to small businesses, over 90 percent of all prime contracts from the stimulus bill will likely go to the top 2 percent of U.S. firms. This would seem to run contrary to the bill's stated mission of creating jobs.
Congress realized the vital role played by American small businesses when the Small Business Act was passed in 1953. Existing federal law, based on the Small Business Act, stipulates that a minimum of 23 percent of all federal contracts and subcontracts be awarded to small businesses. The federal government is not meeting its goal of 23 percent and is inflating its small business contracting numbers by including contracts to some of the largest corporations in the world.
Since 2003, more than 15 federal investigations have been released which have uncovered the wholesale diversion of hundreds of billions of dollars in federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 corporations, their subsidiaries and other clearly large firms. (http://www.asbl.com/documentlibrary.html) ABC, CBS and CNN have aired stories on the investigations. (ABC, http://www.asbl.com/abc_evening_news.wmv; CBS, http://www.asbl.com/cbs.wmv; CNN, http://www.asbl.com/showmedia.php?id=1170)
"Dr. Laura Tyson needs to explain to President Obama, that if you want to stimulate the economy and create new jobs you have to direct federal infrastructure spending to the small businesses that create 97 percent of new jobs," ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said.
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Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
cgunn@asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
February 25, 2009
Petaluma, Calif. - As predicted by the American Small Business League (ASBL), President Barack Obama failed to make any reference of his plans to fix existing federal programs designed to direct federal infrastructure spending to America's 27 million small businesses during his address to Congress and the nation Tuesday night.
Top economic experts like Dr. Laura Tyson and Carly Fiorina have both acknowledged that directing federal infrastructure funds to small businesses would be the most effective way to stimulate our nation's failing economy and create jobs. Tyson is the former Chair of the U.S. President's Council of Economic Advisers during the Clinton Administration and is currently an economic adviser to President Obama. Fiorina is the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard and a former McCain campaign economic advisor.
According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, 98 percent of all American firms have less than 100 employees, 90 percent of all firms in the U.S. have less than 20 employees and those firms are responsible for over 97 percent of all new jobs in America. (http://www.inc.com/news/articles/200708/data.html)
The stimulus bill signed last week by President Obama was designed primarily to create and preserve jobs. Yet not one line of the bill contains specific language to direct any of the stimulus bill's spending to the 98 percent of American firms that create over 97 percent of all new jobs.
In the absence of legislative language to specifically direct the billions of dollars in stimulus bill spending to small businesses, over 90 percent of all prime contracts from the stimulus bill will likely go to the top 2 percent of U.S. firms. This would seem to run contrary to the bill's stated mission of creating jobs.
Congress realized the vital role played by American small businesses when the Small Business Act was passed in 1953. Existing federal law, based on the Small Business Act, stipulates that a minimum of 23 percent of all federal contracts and subcontracts be awarded to small businesses. The federal government is not meeting its goal of 23 percent and is inflating its small business contracting numbers by including contracts to some of the largest corporations in the world.
Since 2003, more than 15 federal investigations have been released which have uncovered the wholesale diversion of hundreds of billions of dollars in federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 corporations, their subsidiaries and other clearly large firms. (http://www.asbl.com/documentlibrary.html) ABC, CBS and CNN have aired stories on the investigations. (ABC, http://www.asbl.com/abc_evening_news.wmv; CBS, http://www.asbl.com/cbs.wmv; CNN, http://www.asbl.com/showmedia.php?id=1170)
"Dr. Laura Tyson needs to explain to President Obama, that if you want to stimulate the economy and create new jobs you have to direct federal infrastructure spending to the small businesses that create 97 percent of new jobs," ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said.
-###-
Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
cgunn@asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
Stimulus Bill Spending Excludes Ninety Percent Of U.S. Firms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2009
Petaluma, Calif. – According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, 98 percent of all U.S. firms have less than 100 employees. Ninety percent of all firms in the U.S. have less than 20 employees and are responsible for over 97 percent of all new jobs in America. These 27 million firms employ over 50 percent of the entire private sector workforce. (http://www.inc.com/news/articles/200708/data.html)
The stimulus bill signed last week by President Obama was designed primarily to create and preserve jobs. Yet not one line of the bill contains specific language to direct any of the stimulus bill's spending to the 98 percent of American firms that create over 97 percent of all new jobs.
In the absence of legislative language to specifically direct the billions of dollars in stimulus bill spending to small businesses, over 90 percent of all prime contracts from the stimulus bill will likely go to approximately 2 percent of U.S. firms. This would seem to run contrary to the bill's stated mission of creating jobs.
Congress realized the vital role played by American small businesses when the Small Business Act was passed in 1953. Existing federal law, based on the Small Business Act, stipulates that a minimum of 23 percent of all federal contracts and subcontracts be awarded to small businesses.
Unfortunately for small businesses and the American economy, during the eight years of the Bush Administration, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and federal agencies diverted hundreds of billions of dollars in federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms. (http://www.asbl.com/documentlibrary.html)
Over a dozen federal investigations have been released since 2003, which have uncovered the wholesale diversion of federal small business contracts to large businesses. ABC, CBS and CNN aired stories on the investigations. (ABC, http://www.asbl.com/abc_evening_news.wmv; CBS, http://www.asbl.com/cbs.wmv; CNN, http://www.asbl.com/showmedia.php?id=1170)
President Obama seemed to realize that the vital role small businesses play in our nation's economy when he released this statement in February of 2008, "98 percent of all American companies have fewer than 100 employees. Over half of all Americans work for a small business. Small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy and we must protect this great resource. It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)
Without provisions to direct new federal spending to the small businesses that create over 97 percent of new jobs or provisions to stop the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants, it is questionable whether the stimulus bill will be able to achieve its primary goal of creating new jobs in America.
-###-
Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
cgunn@asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
February 25, 2009
Petaluma, Calif. – According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, 98 percent of all U.S. firms have less than 100 employees. Ninety percent of all firms in the U.S. have less than 20 employees and are responsible for over 97 percent of all new jobs in America. These 27 million firms employ over 50 percent of the entire private sector workforce. (http://www.inc.com/news/articles/200708/data.html)
The stimulus bill signed last week by President Obama was designed primarily to create and preserve jobs. Yet not one line of the bill contains specific language to direct any of the stimulus bill's spending to the 98 percent of American firms that create over 97 percent of all new jobs.
In the absence of legislative language to specifically direct the billions of dollars in stimulus bill spending to small businesses, over 90 percent of all prime contracts from the stimulus bill will likely go to approximately 2 percent of U.S. firms. This would seem to run contrary to the bill's stated mission of creating jobs.
Congress realized the vital role played by American small businesses when the Small Business Act was passed in 1953. Existing federal law, based on the Small Business Act, stipulates that a minimum of 23 percent of all federal contracts and subcontracts be awarded to small businesses.
Unfortunately for small businesses and the American economy, during the eight years of the Bush Administration, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and federal agencies diverted hundreds of billions of dollars in federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms. (http://www.asbl.com/documentlibrary.html)
Over a dozen federal investigations have been released since 2003, which have uncovered the wholesale diversion of federal small business contracts to large businesses. ABC, CBS and CNN aired stories on the investigations. (ABC, http://www.asbl.com/abc_evening_news.wmv; CBS, http://www.asbl.com/cbs.wmv; CNN, http://www.asbl.com/showmedia.php?id=1170)
President Obama seemed to realize that the vital role small businesses play in our nation's economy when he released this statement in February of 2008, "98 percent of all American companies have fewer than 100 employees. Over half of all Americans work for a small business. Small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy and we must protect this great resource. It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)
Without provisions to direct new federal spending to the small businesses that create over 97 percent of new jobs or provisions to stop the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants, it is questionable whether the stimulus bill will be able to achieve its primary goal of creating new jobs in America.
-###-
Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
cgunn@asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Obama's Speech to Congress Will Ignore America's Top Job Creators
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2009
Petaluma, Calif. – President Barack Obama's address to Congress on Tuesday night will cover a multitude of subjects from the economy to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. One subject that is almost certain to be ignored by President Obama are his plans to bolster the 26 million small businesses that create more than 97 percent of all new jobs.
According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics, firms with fewer than 20 employees comprise more than 90 percent of all American companies and are responsible for more than 97 percent of all new jobs. Small businesses also employ over 50 percent of America’s private sector workforce. (http://www.inc.com/news/articles/200708/data.html, http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/30/smallbusiness/job_creation.fsb/index.htm)
To date, President Obama has not proposed a single policy that would specifically direct any of the hundreds of billions of dollars in stimulus spending to these small businesses.
President Obama has even refused to make good on a campaign promise to American small businesses to clean up rampant fraud and abuse in existing federal economic stimulus plans for small businesses.
During the last seven years, a series of more than 15 federal investigations have been released which all found Bush officials diverted hundreds of billions of dollars in federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms and thousands of other large businesses. ABC, CBS and CNN all aired stories on the problem. (ABC, http://www.asbl.com/abc_evening_news.wmv; CBS, http://www.asbl.com/cbs.wmv; CNN, http://www.asbl.com/showmedia.php?id=1170)
During his presidential campaign, President Obama promised to address abuses in federal small business contracting programs when he released this statement in February 2008, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)
So far, President Obama has refused to offer any policies or legislation to stop the diversion of federal small business contracts to "corporate giants."
The American Small Business League (ASBL) projects that legislation or policy from President Obama that would stop the diversion of federal small business contracts to large businesses would create millions of jobs by redirecting over $100 billion a year in federal infrastructure spending back to the small businesses that create more than 97 percent of all new jobs.
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February 24, 2009
Petaluma, Calif. – President Barack Obama's address to Congress on Tuesday night will cover a multitude of subjects from the economy to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. One subject that is almost certain to be ignored by President Obama are his plans to bolster the 26 million small businesses that create more than 97 percent of all new jobs.
According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics, firms with fewer than 20 employees comprise more than 90 percent of all American companies and are responsible for more than 97 percent of all new jobs. Small businesses also employ over 50 percent of America’s private sector workforce. (http://www.inc.com/news/articles/200708/data.html, http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/30/smallbusiness/job_creation.fsb/index.htm)
To date, President Obama has not proposed a single policy that would specifically direct any of the hundreds of billions of dollars in stimulus spending to these small businesses.
President Obama has even refused to make good on a campaign promise to American small businesses to clean up rampant fraud and abuse in existing federal economic stimulus plans for small businesses.
During the last seven years, a series of more than 15 federal investigations have been released which all found Bush officials diverted hundreds of billions of dollars in federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms and thousands of other large businesses. ABC, CBS and CNN all aired stories on the problem. (ABC, http://www.asbl.com/abc_evening_news.wmv; CBS, http://www.asbl.com/cbs.wmv; CNN, http://www.asbl.com/showmedia.php?id=1170)
During his presidential campaign, President Obama promised to address abuses in federal small business contracting programs when he released this statement in February 2008, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)
So far, President Obama has refused to offer any policies or legislation to stop the diversion of federal small business contracts to "corporate giants."
The American Small Business League (ASBL) projects that legislation or policy from President Obama that would stop the diversion of federal small business contracts to large businesses would create millions of jobs by redirecting over $100 billion a year in federal infrastructure spending back to the small businesses that create more than 97 percent of all new jobs.
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Monday, February 23, 2009
Small Businesses Demand President Obama Keep Campaign Promise
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2009
Petaluma, Calif. – Since 2003, over a dozen federal investigations have found billions of dollars in government small business contracts have been diverted to many of the largest companies in the United States and Europe. (http://www.asbl.com/documentlibrary.html)
Report 5-15 from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General stated, "One of the most important challenges facing the Small Business Administration and the entire Federal government today is that large businesses are receiving small business procurement awards and agencies are receiving credit for these awards." (http://www.sba.gov/IG/05-15.pdf)
A year ago, on February 26, President Obama released the following statement, "98 percent of all American companies have fewer than 100 employees. Over half of all Americans work for a small business. Small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy and we must protect this great resource. It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." Since then he has offered no legislation or policy to keep that promise. (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)
Since that date, President Obama's campaign website was modified to remove the statement, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." (http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/sbhome/)
All proposals to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants were removed from President Obama's small business rescue plan and his Change.gov website. (http://obama.3cdn.net/d14eb1b3649c4d6745_0evzmv02w.pdf, http://change.gov/content/home)
U.S Census Bureau statistics show that firms with fewer than 20 employees account for 90 percent of all U.S. firms and are responsible for more than 97 percent of net new jobs. (http://www.inc.com/news/articles/200708/data.html, http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/30/smallbusiness/job_creation.fsb/index.htm)
If President Obama refuses to make good on his campaign promise to stop the diversion of federal small business contracts to "corporate giants," more small businesses will be forced to close their doors, thousands of middle class jobs will continue to be lost and our economy will be pushed even closer to a depression.
It is time for President Obama to do what he said he would do, and end the Bush Administration policies of fraud and abuse that have already destroyed countless American small businesses and thousands of middle class jobs.
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February 23, 2009
Petaluma, Calif. – Since 2003, over a dozen federal investigations have found billions of dollars in government small business contracts have been diverted to many of the largest companies in the United States and Europe. (http://www.asbl.com/documentlibrary.html)
Report 5-15 from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General stated, "One of the most important challenges facing the Small Business Administration and the entire Federal government today is that large businesses are receiving small business procurement awards and agencies are receiving credit for these awards." (http://www.sba.gov/IG/05-15.pdf)
A year ago, on February 26, President Obama released the following statement, "98 percent of all American companies have fewer than 100 employees. Over half of all Americans work for a small business. Small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy and we must protect this great resource. It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." Since then he has offered no legislation or policy to keep that promise. (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)
Since that date, President Obama's campaign website was modified to remove the statement, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." (http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/sbhome/)
All proposals to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants were removed from President Obama's small business rescue plan and his Change.gov website. (http://obama.3cdn.net/d14eb1b3649c4d6745_0evzmv02w.pdf, http://change.gov/content/home)
U.S Census Bureau statistics show that firms with fewer than 20 employees account for 90 percent of all U.S. firms and are responsible for more than 97 percent of net new jobs. (http://www.inc.com/news/articles/200708/data.html, http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/30/smallbusiness/job_creation.fsb/index.htm)
If President Obama refuses to make good on his campaign promise to stop the diversion of federal small business contracts to "corporate giants," more small businesses will be forced to close their doors, thousands of middle class jobs will continue to be lost and our economy will be pushed even closer to a depression.
It is time for President Obama to do what he said he would do, and end the Bush Administration policies of fraud and abuse that have already destroyed countless American small businesses and thousands of middle class jobs.
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