Hoyer opposes disclosure rule for federal contractors
Rep. Steny Hoyer, the second-highest ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, said Tuesday he opposes a White House plan that would require federal contractors to disclose their political contributions as a condition for winning government business.
The revelation puts the Southern Maryland lawmaker at odds with a White House proposal drafted last month that would require contractors to disclose third-party political contributions exceeding $5,000 a year. The proposal has not been formally released, but it has already faced harsh criticism from the business lobby and some Republican lawmakers.
“I don’t think it ought to be a requirement,” Hoyer said.
"You know, I think the issue on contracting ought to be on the merits of the contractor's application and bid and capabilities," he said. "I think the other aspects are, frankly -- I think there is some serious questions as to what implications there are if somehow we consider political contributions in the context of awarding contracts."
Millions of dollars of corporate money flowed into the 2010 election – much of it never disclosed – after a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year struck down a prohibition on corporations and unions funding certain types of political advertising. Some Democrats are calling for more disclosure of those contributions as next year's presidential election nears.
But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several Republican lawmakers have countered that the White House proposal could discourage companies that contribute to GOP candidates from seeking work under a Democratic administration.
Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, scheduled a hearing on the White House proposal Thursday. Baltimore Rep. Elijah E. Cummings is the top-ranking Democrat on that committee.
Cummings sent a letter to Issa Tuesday arguing that the witnesses set to testify at the hearing "appear to represent only one side of the debate." The witnesses who have confirmed to speak at the hearing include three representatives of the contracting industry, a law professor who has written that the White House plan would "deeply politicize the contracting process," and a Washington lawyer who advises contractors on federal procurement laws.
Cummings invited Fred Wertheimer, president of government watchdog group Democracy 21, to appear at the hearing.
"I am concerned that such an unbalanced approach would not provide members an accurate or complete understanding of this issue," Cummings wrote in the letter.
Comments
We have given over our country to those who can't be trusted to protect it. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, and we have abdicated our responsibility. We deserve this type of leadership.
Posted by: AnneR | May 10, 2011 4:11 PM
Since the Obama regime has filled their ranks with union thugs is it no wonder that unions are EXEMPT from this Executive Order?
Giving a private business to the UAW was not enough.
Trying to force a private business like Boeing to build their product where the unions thugs wants them to is more of the same gangster politics we KNEW would be coming with the election of a community instigator. That is ALL the experience Obama has.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 10, 2011 4:38 PM
Uh. Unions have been required for years to publish there political contributions. If you woke up from the spell your under you might realize that google is a very valuable tool. Then maybe you would realize that your opinion has been manufactured! WAKE UP!
Posted by: Me | May 10, 2011 10:55 PM
Mr. Hoyer is not doing the taxpayers any favors on this one. He wants contractors' favors to politicians to remain secret. The DoD has scads of useless contracts given because the palms of Congress people have been greased. We have no need to know!
Posted by: Anne G | May 11, 2011 7:45 PM