Minority Firms Getting Few Katrina Pacts

[NVMojo]

October 4, 2005

WASHINGTON (AP) -

Minority-owned businesses say they're paying the price for the decision by Congress and the Bush administration to waive certain rules for Hurricane Katrina recovery contracts.

About 1.5 percent of the $1.6 billion awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency has gone to minority businesses, less than a third of the 5 percent normally required.

On Tuesday, Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, and Rep. Donald A. Manzullo, R-Ill., asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate whether small and minority-owned businesses have been given a fair opportunity to compete for Katrina contracts.

Andrew Jenkins doesn't think so.

more...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/invest-corp/2005/oct/04/100403060.html

[Bob3]

1. no really minority own businesses getting the shaft?

I am just soo shocked. I have to sit down now.

[NVMojo]

3. I think we need a separate posting category for news related to

screwings by the Bush administration ...

[cap]

5. so to fix a majority black city

contracts arent going to black roofers, construction workers, electricians, professional workers...

unbelievable.

[gademocrat7]

2. When has Halliburton been considered a minority firm?

Is it a minority in the sense that only a select few benefit from it's profits?

[Roland99]

4. That's because the minorities make up a great % of the actual workers

Undocumented though they be....

[mom cat]

6. So 70% of New Orleans is Black and 1.5% of the money is going to

minority owned firms. And the white firms getting the contracts can pay slave wages. This is so damned sick!

[Moderator]

7. kick

[struggle4progress]

8. Minority firms get few contracts

Two lawmakers are asking whether small and minority-owned businesses have been given a fair chance to compete for contracts.

BY HOPE YEN

Associated Press


WASHINGTON - Minority-owned businesses say they're paying the price for the decision by Congress and the Bush administration to waive certain rules for Hurricane Katrina recovery contracts.

About 1.5 percent of the $1.6 billion awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency has gone to minority businesses, less than a third of the 5 percent normally required.

On Tuesday, Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, and Rep. Donald A. Manzullo, R-Ill., asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate whether small and minority-owned businesses have been given a fair opportunity to compete for Katrina contracts. <snip>

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/12824815.htm

[jody]

9. Why should they get contracts when they didn't contribute to Bush's

campaign? :sarcasm:

[Sgent]

10. In a similar vein

I saw Senators Lott and Vitter complaining because there have been no contracts awarded in MS and LA -- IMHO a valid complaint.

Note: On local news in MS.