Questions For Alabama Congressman Parker Griffith About His New Bill H.R. 3558

Alabama Congressman Parker Griffith (D - AL5) claims that the purpose of his bill, H.R. 3558 is to help small businesses. In reality, H.R. 3558 will create a colossal loophole that will allow subsidiaries and suppliers of some of his largest campaign contributors, such as Boeing and Northrop Grumman to continue to hijack federal contracts earmarked for legitimate small businesses. As I recently told one journalist, "no member of Congress with dozens of Fortune 500 defense contractors in their district is going to propose any legislation to help small businesses." (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3558ih.txt.pdf)

Every bill and policy that currently allows Fortune 500 firms and some of the largest corporations in the world to hijack federal small business contracts was touted as "helping small businesses grow." Look it up.

The Comprehensive Subcontracting Plan Test Program was supposed to help small business by reducing paper work for prime contractors. In reality, it eliminated the SF 294 sub-contracting reports the public could use to monitor a prime contractor's compliance with its small business contracting goals. It also exempts participating contractors from any penalties for non-compliance with small business contracting goals. That's going to help small businesses right?

Legitimate small businesses have lost hundreds of billions of dollars in federal small business contracts as a result of the Comprehensive Subcontracting Plan Test Program. Congressman Griffith's top campaign contributors Boeing and Northrop Grumman, just happen to be two of the chief proponents of H.R. 3558, and will be two of its primary beneficiaries. (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2010&cid=N00029917&newMem=Y)

Congressman Griffith's bill, H.R. 3558 is not different. H.R. 3558 is an anti-small business bill designed to benefit some of Congressman Griffith's largest campaign contributors, and will cheat legitimate small businesses in Alabama and every other state out of billions of dollars in government contracts and subcontracts.

Congressman Griffith is using one of the most classic Washington D.C. excuses for allowing big businesses to hijack billions of dollars in federal small business contracts, the old "we don't want to punish small businesses for growing excuse."

I wonder if Congressman Griffith feels college football players are being punished for growing because they are not allowed to play on high school teams. Maybe he thinks a boxer that weighs 250 pounds is being punished for growing when he is not allowed to fight as a welterweight.

The purpose of the Small Business Act is to direct federal contracts to the 99 percent of American firms that are small businesses, not firms that used to be small businesses. H.R. 3558 will harm 99.9 percent of all American small businesses. That is why the American Small Business League (ASBL) opposes it. (www.asbl.com)

Here are a few good questions some legitimate journalist might want to ask Congressman Griffith:

- Since 2003, over 15 federal investigations have found that Fortune 500 firms and other large businesses around the world are receiving billions of dollars in federal small business contracts. If you are trying to help small businesses land federal contracts, why didn't you write a bill to address that problem? (http://www.asbl.com/documentlibrary.html)

- Critics of your bill claim that it is a loophole designed to allow subsidiaries and suppliers of two of your largest campaign contributors Boeing and Northrop Grumman to continue to receive federal small business contracts. Is it possible that firms owned by Boeing or Northrop Grumman or other clearly large firms would benefit from your bill?

- U.S. Census Bureau data shows that 98 percent of all U.S. firms have less than 100 employees. Why did you write a bill that will only benefit approximately 0.1 percent of small business while making it harder for 99.9 percent of small businesses to compete for government small business contracts?

- As a member of the House Small Business Committee, would you back legislation to stop the federal government from reporting awards to large businesses and their subsidiaries as small business awards?

- In 2005, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG) referred to the diversion of federal small business contracts to large businesses as, "One of the most important challenges facing the Small Business Administration and the entire Federal government today." Why hasn't the House Small Business Committee proposed legislation to stop these abuses?

- Why hasn't the House Small Business Committee proposed legislation to stop the flow of federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms like Boeing, Northrop Grumman and British Aerospace?

- Do you think the people in your district approve of Fortune 500 firms and large businesses in Europe receiving federal small business contracts?

- Were any lobbyists or representatives of Boeing, Northrop Grumman or British Aerospace involved in drafting H.R. 3558?

- Over a dozen members of the House have signed on as co-sponsors of H.R. 2568, which will halt the flow of federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms. Do you intend to back H.R. 2568?

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Comments

[waffler]

"we don't want to punish small businesses for growing"
So...this seems like, a third grader goes to fourth grade. and in fourth grade, he is in a field of other freshly graduated third graders...yet we want him to be able to go back and sit in class with third graders that are now unable to compete with his new found knowledge. So the teachers are saying "We don't want to punish third graders for advancing"....NO ONE ELSE SEES THE PROBLEM? There's a reason we don't do things like this! It doesn't work! if you are no longer certified as a small business, then congratulations! that's what we all strive for I thought. The opportunity to grow!

I call shenanigans.

[SBBeliever]

What a surprise! Both Boeing and Northrop Grumman have a huge presence in Alabama, they're top contributors to an Alabama Congressman, and that Congressman is pushing a bill that will help both of these mega corporations. And what better bow to put on that package than a "small business ribbon"? Problem is, bows and ribbons are pulled off packages and tossed to the side. Then all we're left with is the package...in this case the package is a bomb ready to explode in the faces of small businesses everywhere. Gee, thanks for the package Parker. Can you say "BOOM!"?

[truthtimeisnow]

What do you think the chances are that Congressman Griffith answers any of these questions? More than that, what do you think the chances are that someone actually puts them in front of him? We need more accountability with our nation's elected officials.

[GrimJack]

it will never happen, these people live in a bubble

[GrimJack]

wait wait wait, are you trying to say that a member of Congress introduced a bill that will benefit campaign contributors? Stop the presses Batman! The really sad part is that this should not be considered normal or happen.

besides Lloyd, you know that the "best" small business legislation are the ones that really benefit big business...isn't that how it is supposed to be done?

In congressional speak: "good for small business = great for big business"

[Ashki]

politics as usual... I thought politicians were only for hire in other countries, but I guess Money talks and Alabama Griffith does the two step.

[einstein10]

Alabama Congressman Parker Griffith (D - AL5).

How is this guy allowed to get away with this?

[truthtimeisnow]

Good question, then again... I think the question is, how are any of our elected officials allowed to get away with pandering with major corporations?