I sort of came to the conclusion that they weren't going to do anything, to tell the truth.

I'm concerned that they might try to do that. Who [Bush] picks to replace Barreto will tell us what direction they're going to try to take it. They may try to hire somebody to straighten it all out because of the bad approval ratings.

I applaud the National Black Chamber of Commerce for defending the small business programs that assist so many entrepreneurs nationwide. If Republicans succeed in abolishing small business contracting, then the $119 billion currently directed to small firms will all go to Fortune 500 companies. Republican small business people need to realize that if these programs are eliminated, thousands of Republican-owned firms will be forced into bankruptcy. Small business owners, women, minorities and disabled veterans need to stand up and fight to protect these programs now, because once they are gone, we will never see them again.

I'm glad to see the government take some action to stop firms from illegally receiving Federal small business contracts, however, I think the fine is too small. This firm received millions of dollars in awards for several years by falsely claiming to be a small business. A one- million-dollar fine is a drop in the bucket for a Fortune 1000 firm. They should be permanently debarred from doing business with the government.

If the government ends small business contracting programs, then the $119 billion in awards currently reported as going to small firms will go to large companies which make up only 2% of U.S. employers. Small business owners need to get on the phone or on the Internet and let their Congressional delegates know that they don't want the government to eliminate Federal programs for small business. Once these programs are gone, we will never get them back.

These lawsuits are a waste of taxpayer dollars.