Friends of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Linking Government Contracts to Political Contributions Just Plain Wrong

Forgive us for thinking that something just doesn't smell right about the White House's proposed executive order to force all companies seeking government contracts to disclose all political contributions in excess of $5,000.

Don't get us wrong. Transparency is a good thing.

But this order wreaks of politics, and not just because it would exempt the free-political-spending big labor unions.

As Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberly Strassel writes this morning:

Ever audacious, the White House is spinning this as "reform," claiming taxpayers deserve to know how federal dollars being paid to contractors are being spent in campaigns. This might hold (a drop of) water if the executive order also required all the (liberal) entities that get billions in taxpayer dollars via federal grants and funding ... to disclose also. It doesn't.

Strassel's column goes on to quote U.S. Senator Susan Collins:

It has taken decades to create a federal contracting system based on "best prices, best value, best quality," Ms. Collins says, and the effect of the Obama order is to again have "politics play a role in determining who gets contracts."

We agree.

It just doesn't seem right to link government contracts in any way, shape or form to the amount of money you contributed (and to whom) in the most recent election. 

The potential for "pay-to-play" is simply too great, and right now we need to be doing everything possible to restore Americans' faith in elected government, rather than tear it down any further.

Just as justice is blind, so should be the awarding of taxpayer-funded government contracts where political affiliation is concerned.

What should only matter is whether contractors can provide the best work at the lowest cost to serve the taxpayers.

Please email the White House today to urge them to drop this bad idea.