FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2011
Petaluma, Calif. - On Wednesday, March 23, the American Small Business League (ASBL) filed suit against the U.S. Department of Navy after the agency repeatedly refused to fully release subcontracting reports on contracts awarded to contracting giant SAIC. (http://www.asbl.com/documents/complaint_saic_sub_report_navy.pdf)
The ASBL originally requested Individual Subcontracting Reports (ISR) and Summary Subcontracting Reports (SSR) on a prime contract awarded to SAIC under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The suit was filed in United States District Court, Northern District of California.
The ASBL believes the requested information may show that SAIC and the Navy cooperated in an effort to circumvent federal law, which requires 23 percent of all federal contracts to be awarded to small businesses. Wednesday’s lawsuit represents the ASBL’s 12th lawsuit against the Obama Administration. The ASBL is gathering information on a series of major government prime contractors in preparation for litigation that may include cases filed under the False Claims Act, and Section 16(d) of the Small Business Act.
Despite continuing to promise the most transparent administration in history, the Obama Administration has forced the ASBL to file suit over information previously deemed releasable by federal courts. In 1992, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that subcontracting reports are releasable to the public, and do not contain trade secret or proprietary information.
In early 2010, the Associated Press conducted a review of FOIA reports filed by 17 major agencies, and found across the board increases in the number of rejections. While the federal government as a whole received fewer FOIA requests during the first year of the Obama Administration, agencies increasingly said “no” to requesters looking for public documents. (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9EFRPJG0)
“The Obama Administration continually promises to be the most transparent administration in history, yet once again the ASBL has been forced to file suit over information that has always been released to the public,” ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. “There is a credibility gap the size of the Grand Canyon when you look at what President Obama says and what he actually does. It’s just amazing that you won’t see this on network news.”
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Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
cgunn (at) asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Department of Defense Sued for Refusing to Release Contract Audits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2011
Department of Defense Sued for Refusing to Release Contract Audits
Petaluma, Calif. – On Tuesday, March 8, the American Small Business League (ASBL) filed suit against the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) after the agency refused to release information on recently conducted defense contract audits. (http://www.asbl.com/documents/Complaint_2010Apr20_20KB.pdf)
The ASBL originally requested the most recent contract audit conducted by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The suit was filed in United States District Court, Northern District of California.
The ASBL believes the requested information may show the Obama Administration has turned a blind eye to a blatant pattern of fraud and abuse, and allowed the continued diversion of billions of dollars a year in federal small business contracts to corporate giants.
Since 2003, a series of federal investigations have uncovered billions of dollars a month in federal contracts intended for small businesses actually going to large businesses. The most recent Obama Administration contracting data shows large recipients of small business contracts such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Dell Computer, Xerox, SAIC, General Dynamics, and John Deere. (www.asbl.com/documents/ASBL_2009_dataanalysis.pdf)
During the 2008 campaign, President Barack Obama made a series of campaign promises with major implications for the middle class. In February of 2008, President Obama promised to “end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants,” and he continues to promise the most transparent administration in U.S. history. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5t8GdxFYBU) To date, President Obama has refused to honor his promise to end widespread abuse in federal small business contracting programs, and has actually reduced transparency.
In early 2010, the Associated Press conducted a review of FOIA reports filed by 17 major agencies, and found across the board increases in the number of rejections. While the federal government as a whole received fewer FOIA requests during the first year of the Obama Administration, agencies increasingly said “no” to requesters looking for public documents. (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9EFRPJG0)
“Despite his unending rhetoric about the importance of small businesses in America, President Obama is allowing corporate giants to illegally receive billions of dollars a month in federal small business contracts. To make matters worse, the Obama Administration is serving as a barrier to transparency and accountability,” ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. “People need to quit listening to his speeches and start watching what he does, because this is an anti-small business president. Every small business in America should be concerned about President Obama’s plans for the Small Business Administration (SBA) and federal small business contracting programs.”
-###-
Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
cgunn (at) asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
March 10, 2011
Department of Defense Sued for Refusing to Release Contract Audits
Petaluma, Calif. – On Tuesday, March 8, the American Small Business League (ASBL) filed suit against the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) after the agency refused to release information on recently conducted defense contract audits. (http://www.asbl.com/documents/Complaint_2010Apr20_20KB.pdf)
The ASBL originally requested the most recent contract audit conducted by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The suit was filed in United States District Court, Northern District of California.
The ASBL believes the requested information may show the Obama Administration has turned a blind eye to a blatant pattern of fraud and abuse, and allowed the continued diversion of billions of dollars a year in federal small business contracts to corporate giants.
Since 2003, a series of federal investigations have uncovered billions of dollars a month in federal contracts intended for small businesses actually going to large businesses. The most recent Obama Administration contracting data shows large recipients of small business contracts such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Dell Computer, Xerox, SAIC, General Dynamics, and John Deere. (www.asbl.com/documents/ASBL_2009_dataanalysis.pdf)
During the 2008 campaign, President Barack Obama made a series of campaign promises with major implications for the middle class. In February of 2008, President Obama promised to “end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants,” and he continues to promise the most transparent administration in U.S. history. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5t8GdxFYBU) To date, President Obama has refused to honor his promise to end widespread abuse in federal small business contracting programs, and has actually reduced transparency.
In early 2010, the Associated Press conducted a review of FOIA reports filed by 17 major agencies, and found across the board increases in the number of rejections. While the federal government as a whole received fewer FOIA requests during the first year of the Obama Administration, agencies increasingly said “no” to requesters looking for public documents. (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9EFRPJG0)
“Despite his unending rhetoric about the importance of small businesses in America, President Obama is allowing corporate giants to illegally receive billions of dollars a month in federal small business contracts. To make matters worse, the Obama Administration is serving as a barrier to transparency and accountability,” ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. “People need to quit listening to his speeches and start watching what he does, because this is an anti-small business president. Every small business in America should be concerned about President Obama’s plans for the Small Business Administration (SBA) and federal small business contracting programs.”
-###-
Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
cgunn (at) asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Army Sued for Refusing to Release Bechtel Contracting Data
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2011
Petaluma, Calif. –The U.S. Department of the Army is being sued by the American Small Business League (ASBL) for refusing to release subcontracting reports on contracts awarded to multinational defense giant Bechtel. (http://www.asbl.com/documents/Complaint_SBA_FOIA_ArmyBechtel.pdf)
The ASBL filed suit in United States District Court, Northern District of California on Tuesday, March 1. The case was filed after the Army repeatedly refused to respond to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for Individual Subcontracting Reports (ISR) and Summary Subcontracting Reports (SSR) on a prime contract awarded to Bechtel.
The ASBL believes the information contained in the reports may show that Bechtel and the Army cooperated in an effort to circumvent federal law, which requires 23 percent of all federal contracts to be awarded to small businesses. The ASBL is gathering information on several major government prime contractors in preparation for litigation that may include cases filed under the False Claims Act, and Section 16(d) of the Small Business Act.
In 1992, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that subcontracting reports are releasable to the public, and do not contain trade secret or proprietary information.
The ASBL has won a series of lawsuits against the federal government under FOIA. Some of the information obtained by the ASBL indicates the federal government may have diverted small business contracts to Bechtel and some of the largest corporations on earth. The Obama Administration is currently awarding small business contracts to firms such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, L-3 Communications, British Aerospace (BAE), Northrop Grumman, and Dell Computer. (www.asbl.com/documents/ASBL_2009_dataanalysis.pdf)
To date, the ASBL has five outstanding lawsuits in the federal court system. (http://www.asbl.com/documentlibrary.html)
“President Obama promised to have the most transparent administration in history, yet his administration continues to withhold even the simplest information on federal small business contracting programs. As I have said many times before, there is a big difference between what President Obama says and what President Obama does,” ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. “Any time the Obama Administration withholds information that has always been released to the public, it shows us that we have found evidence of contracting fraud and abuse. I am confident that’s what we will find with this information.”
-###-
Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
cgunn (at) asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
March 2, 2011
Petaluma, Calif. –The U.S. Department of the Army is being sued by the American Small Business League (ASBL) for refusing to release subcontracting reports on contracts awarded to multinational defense giant Bechtel. (http://www.asbl.com/documents/Complaint_SBA_FOIA_ArmyBechtel.pdf)
The ASBL filed suit in United States District Court, Northern District of California on Tuesday, March 1. The case was filed after the Army repeatedly refused to respond to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for Individual Subcontracting Reports (ISR) and Summary Subcontracting Reports (SSR) on a prime contract awarded to Bechtel.
The ASBL believes the information contained in the reports may show that Bechtel and the Army cooperated in an effort to circumvent federal law, which requires 23 percent of all federal contracts to be awarded to small businesses. The ASBL is gathering information on several major government prime contractors in preparation for litigation that may include cases filed under the False Claims Act, and Section 16(d) of the Small Business Act.
In 1992, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that subcontracting reports are releasable to the public, and do not contain trade secret or proprietary information.
The ASBL has won a series of lawsuits against the federal government under FOIA. Some of the information obtained by the ASBL indicates the federal government may have diverted small business contracts to Bechtel and some of the largest corporations on earth. The Obama Administration is currently awarding small business contracts to firms such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, L-3 Communications, British Aerospace (BAE), Northrop Grumman, and Dell Computer. (www.asbl.com/documents/ASBL_2009_dataanalysis.pdf)
To date, the ASBL has five outstanding lawsuits in the federal court system. (http://www.asbl.com/documentlibrary.html)
“President Obama promised to have the most transparent administration in history, yet his administration continues to withhold even the simplest information on federal small business contracting programs. As I have said many times before, there is a big difference between what President Obama says and what President Obama does,” ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. “Any time the Obama Administration withholds information that has always been released to the public, it shows us that we have found evidence of contracting fraud and abuse. I am confident that’s what we will find with this information.”
-###-
Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
cgunn (at) asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Obama Ignores Simple Solution to Supercharge Job Creation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2011
Petaluma, Calif. –Despite national unemployment above 9 percent, and a continued jobless recovery, the Obama Administration has refused to make good on a campaign promise to end the diversion of billions of dollars a month in federal small business contracts to corporate giants. As a result, the nation’s chief job creators, small businesses, are forced to compete head-to-head against Fortune 500 firms and other large businesses for even the smallest orders for goods and services.
Federal law requires the U.S. government to direct 23 percent of its purchases to small businesses. Yet every year, a vast majority of federal small business contracts go to some of the biggest companies around the world.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, small businesses create more than 90 percent of net new jobs, are responsible for 50 percent of the gross domestic product, 50.2 percent of the private sector workforce, and 90 percent of exports and innovations. Given the clear impact of small businesses on the nation’s economy, the American Small Business League (ASBL) maintains that it is unreasonable for the Obama Administration to continue ignoring this damaging widespread abuse. (http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/re359.pdf)
Since 2003, a series of federal investigations have shown that an overwhelming majority of federal small business contracts actually go to Fortune 500 firms and even some of the largest corporations on earth. The most recent data released by the Obama Administration shows recipients of federal small business contracts including: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Dell Computer, Xerox, SAIC, General Dynamics, Bechtel and John Deere. (http://www.asbl.com/documents/05-15.pdf ; www.asbl.com/documents/ASBL_2009_dataanalysis.pdf)
The ASBL maintains that the most effective way to supercharge job creation and stimulate the economy is to pass the Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act. If passed, the bill would end widespread abuse in small business programs and direct billions of dollars in existing federal spending to the nation’s 27 million small businesses. The ASBL expects the bill to be reintroduced into the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) shortly. (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h2568/show)
“Passing the Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act would create more jobs than anything proposed by the Obama Administration to date. It’s simple, easy, deficit neutral and would provide the nation’s chief job creators with significantly increased access to federal contracting opportunities,” ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. “It is time for President Obama to keep his promise and ‘end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants.’ ”
-###-
Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
cgunn@asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
February 24, 2011
Petaluma, Calif. –Despite national unemployment above 9 percent, and a continued jobless recovery, the Obama Administration has refused to make good on a campaign promise to end the diversion of billions of dollars a month in federal small business contracts to corporate giants. As a result, the nation’s chief job creators, small businesses, are forced to compete head-to-head against Fortune 500 firms and other large businesses for even the smallest orders for goods and services.
Federal law requires the U.S. government to direct 23 percent of its purchases to small businesses. Yet every year, a vast majority of federal small business contracts go to some of the biggest companies around the world.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, small businesses create more than 90 percent of net new jobs, are responsible for 50 percent of the gross domestic product, 50.2 percent of the private sector workforce, and 90 percent of exports and innovations. Given the clear impact of small businesses on the nation’s economy, the American Small Business League (ASBL) maintains that it is unreasonable for the Obama Administration to continue ignoring this damaging widespread abuse. (http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/re359.pdf)
Since 2003, a series of federal investigations have shown that an overwhelming majority of federal small business contracts actually go to Fortune 500 firms and even some of the largest corporations on earth. The most recent data released by the Obama Administration shows recipients of federal small business contracts including: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Dell Computer, Xerox, SAIC, General Dynamics, Bechtel and John Deere. (http://www.asbl.com/documents/05-15.pdf ; www.asbl.com/documents/ASBL_2009_dataanalysis.pdf)
The ASBL maintains that the most effective way to supercharge job creation and stimulate the economy is to pass the Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act. If passed, the bill would end widespread abuse in small business programs and direct billions of dollars in existing federal spending to the nation’s 27 million small businesses. The ASBL expects the bill to be reintroduced into the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) shortly. (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h2568/show)
“Passing the Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act would create more jobs than anything proposed by the Obama Administration to date. It’s simple, easy, deficit neutral and would provide the nation’s chief job creators with significantly increased access to federal contracting opportunities,” ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. “It is time for President Obama to keep his promise and ‘end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants.’ ”
-###-
Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
cgunn@asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Obama Administration Ignores Common Sense Jobs Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2011
Petaluma, Calif. – In the face of sluggish job growth and a growing deficit, the Obama Administration and Congress are focusing on solutions that may hurt the nation’s chief job creators, while ignoring a simple, effective, and deficit neutral solution to job creation and economic stimulus. Every year, billions of dollars in federal contracts intended for small businesses, are diverted to Fortune 500 firms and other large businesses. Ending this abuse, would invigorate the nation’s 27 million small businesses, supercharge job creation, and slash America’s growing deficit.
Despite strong rhetoric, to date the Obama Administration’s economic policies have failed to substantially aid small businesses or cut unemployment.
In January, the national unemployment rate remained above 9 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm) Moreover, the Department of Labor’s 9 percent figure is exclusive of job seekers who have stopped looking, and workers who are underemployed. These groups are accounted for in the Department of Labor’s U-6 unemployment figures, which remained above 16 percent in January. (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t15.htm)
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, small businesses create more than 90 percent of net new jobs, are responsible for 50 percent of the gross domestic product, 50.2 percent of the private sector workforce, and 90 percent of exports and innovations. It is unreasonable for the Obama Administration to spend more than $1.6 trillion on economic stimulus, while failing to make small businesses a priority. (http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs359.pdf)
Since 2003, a series of investigations have shown that the overwhelming majority of federal small business contracts actually go to Fortune 500 firms. The American Small Business League (ASBL) maintains ending the diversion of small business contracts to corporate giants would be the simplest, deficit neutral solution to America’s economic problems. The ASBL has estimated that ending this abuse would direct more than $200 billion a year to the nation’s middle class, save thousands of businesses every year and create more than 1.8 million jobs.
“You don’t have to be a Nobel Prize winning economist to figure this out. Small businesses are the nation’s chief job creators, and the most effective way to create jobs is to send federal spending their way,” ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. “There is one major bill that would accomplish that goal, the Fairness and transparency in Contracting Act. It is time for President Obama to keep his promise to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants by passing this legislation.”
-###-
Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
info (at) asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
February 10, 2011
Petaluma, Calif. – In the face of sluggish job growth and a growing deficit, the Obama Administration and Congress are focusing on solutions that may hurt the nation’s chief job creators, while ignoring a simple, effective, and deficit neutral solution to job creation and economic stimulus. Every year, billions of dollars in federal contracts intended for small businesses, are diverted to Fortune 500 firms and other large businesses. Ending this abuse, would invigorate the nation’s 27 million small businesses, supercharge job creation, and slash America’s growing deficit.
Despite strong rhetoric, to date the Obama Administration’s economic policies have failed to substantially aid small businesses or cut unemployment.
In January, the national unemployment rate remained above 9 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm) Moreover, the Department of Labor’s 9 percent figure is exclusive of job seekers who have stopped looking, and workers who are underemployed. These groups are accounted for in the Department of Labor’s U-6 unemployment figures, which remained above 16 percent in January. (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t15.htm)
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, small businesses create more than 90 percent of net new jobs, are responsible for 50 percent of the gross domestic product, 50.2 percent of the private sector workforce, and 90 percent of exports and innovations. It is unreasonable for the Obama Administration to spend more than $1.6 trillion on economic stimulus, while failing to make small businesses a priority. (http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs359.pdf)
Since 2003, a series of investigations have shown that the overwhelming majority of federal small business contracts actually go to Fortune 500 firms. The American Small Business League (ASBL) maintains ending the diversion of small business contracts to corporate giants would be the simplest, deficit neutral solution to America’s economic problems. The ASBL has estimated that ending this abuse would direct more than $200 billion a year to the nation’s middle class, save thousands of businesses every year and create more than 1.8 million jobs.
“You don’t have to be a Nobel Prize winning economist to figure this out. Small businesses are the nation’s chief job creators, and the most effective way to create jobs is to send federal spending their way,” ASBL President Lloyd Chapman said. “There is one major bill that would accomplish that goal, the Fairness and transparency in Contracting Act. It is time for President Obama to keep his promise to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants by passing this legislation.”
-###-
Contact:
Christopher Gunn
Communications Director
American Small Business League
info (at) asbl.com
(707) 789-9575
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