FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2009
Petaluma, Calif. - The American Small Business League (ASBL) has uncovered a $128 million small business contract awarded to Bechtel Bettis by Obama officials. Bechtel, a Fortune 500 corporation, did $31.4 billion in sales during fiscal year (FY) 2008 and maintains more than 44,000 employees. In the government's database under the category "socio status," the contract was reported as, "small business."
http://www.asbl.com/documents/20090806BechtelSB_DOE.pdf
During the 2008 presidential election cycle, President Barack Obama promised to, "end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." Yet to date, the Obama Administration has refused to adopt any policy or legislation to honor that campaign promise. As a result, every month the Obama Administration diverts billions of dollars in federal small business contracts away from legitimate small businesses where most Americans work and into the hands of corporate giants.
http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php
Since 2003, twenty-five federal investigations have uncovered the diversion of billions of dollars a month in federal small business contracts to some of the largest corporations in the world. The ASBL estimates that every year this issue diverts more than $100 billion in federal small business contracts away from legitimate small businesses and into the hands of multinational corporations. http://www.asbl.com/documentlibrary.html
The most recent data available from the Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation (FPDS-NG) indicates that a majority of small business contracts awarded by the Obama Administration have gone to Fortune 500 firms and thousands of large businesses in the United States and Europe. In addition to Bechtel, Obama officials have awarded small business contracts to: General Dynamics, Xerox, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, British Aerospace (BAE), Dell Computer and French giant Thales Communications. http://www.asbl.com/documents/20090825TopSmallBusinessContractors2008.pdf
In May of 2009, Congressman Hank Johnson (D-4-GA) introduced H.R. 2568, the Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act of 2009. To date the bill has bipartisan support from 19 co-sponsors. The ASBL maintains that H.R. 2568 is the simplest and most efficient way to stimulate the American economy by redirecting more than $100 billion a year in federal infrastructure spending to America's chief job creators, its small businesses. Firms with 20 or fewer employees are responsible for over 97 percent of all net new jobs, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau data. http://www.inc.com/news/articles/200708/data.html
"This issue is going to continue until journalists from the mainstream media begin to ask President Obama to explain why he is allowing billions of dollars a month in federal small business contracts to be intentionally and in many cases, illegally diverted to Fortune 500 firms and large businesses worldwide," ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. "If you want to know who the real President Obama is, take a look at this issue."
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Thursday, December 17, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Small Business Group Wants President Obama to Answer Questions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2009
Petaluma, Calif. - In a recent speech, President Barack Obama said, "What I'm interested in is taking action right now to help businesses create jobs right now, in the near term." http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/white-house-jobs-summit-real-progress-pr-stunt/story?id=9232219
Since president Obama has voiced his concern about stimulating the economy and creating new jobs, the American Small Business League (ASBL) would like a member of the mainstream media to ask President Obama any of the following questions:
1. In February of 2008, you released the statement, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." Why is your administration continuing to give federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms?
2. During the campaign you promised to implement the 5 percent set-aside goal for women owned firms. Why hasn't that program been implemented?
3. Since 2003, twenty-five federal investigations have found widespread fraud and abuse in virtually every program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). What does your administration intend to do to stop the abuses in those programs?
4. Recently, you have talked about allocating TARP funds to help small businesses. Does it make sense to come up with new programs while billions of dollars a month in federal small business contracts are being diverted to corporate giants?
5. H.R. 2568, the Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act of 2009 is designed to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants and redirect billions of dollars in current federal infrastructure spending to the middle class. Will you be backing H.R. 2568?
6. You said you were going to exempt investment in small businesses from capital gains tax. Wouldn't that just be a loophole for venture capitalists to avoid paying taxes?
7. Will you oppose any legislation or policy that would divert federal small business contracts to firms owned or controlled by venture capitalists?
8. Since you have taken office, federal contracting programs for minorities have largely been dismantled. Do you intend to restore those programs?
9. Since U.S. Census Bureau data shows that small businesses create a vast majority of all net new jobs, why has your administration allocated such a small portion of stimulus funds to those firms?
10. The staffing at the SBA is at a 30 year low. Why haven't you restored that agency's staff?
11. In February of 2008, you released the statement, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." Recent shows that your administration is still giving small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms. Why have you failed to make good on that campaign promise?
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Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
cgunn@asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
December 14, 2009
Petaluma, Calif. - In a recent speech, President Barack Obama said, "What I'm interested in is taking action right now to help businesses create jobs right now, in the near term." http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/white-house-jobs-summit-real-progress-pr-stunt/story?id=9232219
Since president Obama has voiced his concern about stimulating the economy and creating new jobs, the American Small Business League (ASBL) would like a member of the mainstream media to ask President Obama any of the following questions:
1. In February of 2008, you released the statement, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." Why is your administration continuing to give federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms?
2. During the campaign you promised to implement the 5 percent set-aside goal for women owned firms. Why hasn't that program been implemented?
3. Since 2003, twenty-five federal investigations have found widespread fraud and abuse in virtually every program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). What does your administration intend to do to stop the abuses in those programs?
4. Recently, you have talked about allocating TARP funds to help small businesses. Does it make sense to come up with new programs while billions of dollars a month in federal small business contracts are being diverted to corporate giants?
5. H.R. 2568, the Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act of 2009 is designed to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants and redirect billions of dollars in current federal infrastructure spending to the middle class. Will you be backing H.R. 2568?
6. You said you were going to exempt investment in small businesses from capital gains tax. Wouldn't that just be a loophole for venture capitalists to avoid paying taxes?
7. Will you oppose any legislation or policy that would divert federal small business contracts to firms owned or controlled by venture capitalists?
8. Since you have taken office, federal contracting programs for minorities have largely been dismantled. Do you intend to restore those programs?
9. Since U.S. Census Bureau data shows that small businesses create a vast majority of all net new jobs, why has your administration allocated such a small portion of stimulus funds to those firms?
10. The staffing at the SBA is at a 30 year low. Why haven't you restored that agency's staff?
11. In February of 2008, you released the statement, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." Recent shows that your administration is still giving small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms. Why have you failed to make good on that campaign promise?
-###-
Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
cgunn@asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
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