Congressional opposition to a draft Obama administration executive order (.pdf) that would require potential federal contractors to disclose political contributions, including those to independent third parties, grew April 26 in the Senate.

Twenty-seven Republican senators, led by Senator Susan Collins (Maine) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, sent a letter (.pdf) to President Obama stating concern that such an order would create "at the very least, the appearance that contract award decisions could be predicated on-or influenced by-political contributions or considerations."

Senate opposition was preceded last week by disapproval from House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.), who sent an April 21 letter (.pdf) of his own to Obama in which he said he is "hard pressed to see why such information is germane to the contracting process."

Private sector groups have also indicated opposition. Stan Soloway, president of the Arlington, Va.-based Professional Services Council, an industry association of government contractors, released an April 20 statement calling for the proposal to "never see the light of day."

The drafted order is "based on dubious legality and a complete lack of awareness of the realities of the federal procurement process," Soloway added.

Questioned about the draft executive order on April 20, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Obama intends to pursue the order, which he said would make the federal acquisition system more transparent and more accountable.

The president believes that "taxpayers deserve to know whether or not the contractors that their money is going to is being used -- how they're spending their money, and how -- whether they're -- how they're spending in terms of political campaign," Carney said.

For more:
- download the letter from Sens. Collins, McConnell, others (.pdf)
- download the letter from Rep. Graves (.pdf)
- go to the PSC statement from Stan Soloway
- read a transcript of a April 20 gaggle with Press Secretary Jay Carney
- download the draft executive order (.pdf)

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