• GOP Gains Control of the Senate, Keeps House

• NASE Talks with the SBA Ombudsman

• New White House Rules Push Smaller Contracts

GOP Gains Control of the Senate, Keeps House

As election 2002 comes to a close, it looks like the Republican Party will take control of the Senate and keep the majority in the House of Representatives. This is the first time in America’s history that a party has captured control of the Senate in a mid-term election with a president of its own party in the White House. Republicans also picked up several seats in the House.

The Senate will have at least fifty-one Republicans. Louisiana election law calls for an automatic run-off election if none of the candidates receive 50 percent of the vote, which incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) failed to do.

The 108th Congress is likely to focus on President Bush’s agenda beginning in January when they are sworn in. The NASE hopes the new Congress will focus their efforts on micro-business access to affordable health coverage. There is also a good chance that President Bush’s tax cut will be made permanent. The NASE will continue to actively advocate on the issues that affect the self-employed and micro-businesses community.

For complete election results, visit the NASE Legislative Action Center.
 

NASE Talks with the SBA Ombudsman

Last Week, the NASE met with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Ombudsman, Michael Barerra to learn what his office could offer Association Members.

The office of the Ombudsman assists small businesses when they experience excessive federal regulatory enforcement actions, such as repetitive audits or investigations, excessive fines, penalties, threats, retaliation or other unfair enforcement action by a federal agency. Small-business owners can write, email or call the office with their concern and the Ombudsman acts as a liaison between them and federal agencies. Comments or complaints are forwarded to federal agencies for a high level review, and the office follows through until an answer can be obtained for the small-business owner.

“If you are a small-business owner and feel you have received excessive fines or penalties from a federal agency during an inspection, audit or enforcement action, we want to hear about it,” said Barrera. “We want to encourage a ‘help-you’ attitude, rather than a ‘gotcha’ attitude by federal agencies. By working together with small businesses and federal agencies we can make the federal regulatory process more cooperative and collaborative, fostering a more small-business friendly regulatory environment,” he said.

In addition, the Ombudsman holds hearings across the country to receive comments from micro-business owners about the federal regulatory enforcement environment. Ten Regulatory Fairness Boards also hold hearings in each SBA region of the country. Each board comprises five members, micro-business owners or operators from the region who volunteer their time to help small businesses cope with regulatory problems.

For a list of upcoming hearings – including ones in Jefferson City, Mo., and San Francisco, Calif. – visit the National Ombudsman Web site at www.sba.gov/ombudsman. Complaints and concerns can also be filed online, or directly with the SBA Office of the National Ombudsman by calling 1-888-REG-FAIR.

 

New White House Rules Push Smaller Contracts

The White House announced new rules last week aimed at breaking down large, bundled contracts so small and micro-businesses have a better chance of being awarded government jobs. The proposals target the trend of government agencies to “bundle” several contracts together – cutting down on the agency’s administrative burdens, but also lessening the chance that a small business can compete against a larger one bidding on the same contract.

According to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the number of small businesses winning federal contracts fell to 11,651 in fiscal year 2001 from 26,506 in 1992.

Under the new rules, federal agencies must actively work to create contracts accessible to small businesses, and report their progress to OMB. Agencies will also be urged to come up with alternatives using smaller contractors, and large suppliers could face penalties if they do not use small businesses as subcontractors. These measures do not require congressional approval.

“The Administration has sent a clear message to senior agency managers across the government that they will be held accountable when they shut out small businesses from the contracting process by unfairly bundling contracts. Accountability is not only the report’s first recommendation, it is the first and second recommendation,” remarked Hector Barreto, Administrator for the Small Business Administration (SBA).

The NASE thanks the SBA, Senator Christopher Bond (R-MO) and Representative Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) for their leadership on this important issue affecting the micro-business community.

To view all of the OMB’s recommendations for unbundling federal contracts, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/procurement/contract_bundling_oct2002.pdf
 

Do any of these issues affect you? Do you want to be proactive in helping the micro-business community? Visit the NASE's Legislative Action Center and “Tell Your Small Business Story.” This will help the NASE understand - on a personal level - how key legislative issues are affecting your business and your bottom line.

For more information about any of the articles in Washington Watch, contact Maureen Petron, NASE public affairs manager, at (202) 466-2100 or mpetron@nase.org.