Small biz ‘manipulated’
The Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy and the federal Small Business Advocacy Review Process are manipulated by trade associations, claims a new report by the Center for Effective Government.
The SBA office “inappropriately collaborated” with trade groups and with questionable small business advisors to help prepare comments submitted on behalf of small businesses to the advocacy review panels, the 80-page report said.
In addition, the review panels are supposed to represent small business interests, but trade organizations exert great influence by often nominating their own associates to the review panels and by helping prepare comments purportedly on behalf of small business interests, the report claims.
SBA advocacy representative Liz Horowitz said the office is confident it is fulfilling its mission.
More information: Center for Effective Government report: http://www.foreffectivegov.org/files/regs/