Posted on 12/14/2005 7:05:16 PM PST by ncountylee
Washington (AP) - Citing enormous backlogs and high rates of declined loans for hurricane victims, a House Democrat on Wednesday called on the head of the Small Business Administration to quit immediately.Rep. Nydia Velazquez, the top Democrat on the House Small Business Committee, said a flood of missteps by the SBA this year make it clear that Hector Barreto isn't capable of leading the agency. Barreto, said the New York congresswoman, "has simply run SBA straight into the ground."
Velazquez said that since the hurricanes roared ashore in August and September, the agency has declined 80 percent of disaster loans related to Hurricane Katrina and Rita and has a backlog of more than 200,000 requests for relief. She said the agency also has cost small businesses more than $1.4 billion in contract opportunities by letting big companies win SBA contracts.
The Associated Press reported earlier this year that a substantial amount of nearly $5 billion in SBA terrorism recovery loans was given to companies that neither wanted nor knew they were receiving money earmarked for economic victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.
In a statement released late Wednesday, the agency said it has cleared more than 20,000 loans worth $1.4 billion to Gulf Coast homeowners, renters and businesses.
"Unfortunately, the current political environment in Washington, D.C., is not lacking for individuals who are anxious to throw stones," said Raul Cisneros, an agency spokesman. "This administration is focused on helping the people of the Gulf Coast rebuild after these devastating hurricanes."
Sen. John Kerry (website - news - bio) , the top Democrat on the Senate panel that oversees the agency, blasted the White House's response to the hurricanes earlier this week.
"The SBA has ignored Gulf Coast small businesses," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at wjla.com ...
What ever happened to INSURANCE? Why is this the feds responsibility?
Kerry thinks that the SBA is supposed to just hand out money to anyone who asks. Those are typically known as grants, not loans, and it is hardly shocking that a liberal wag from Massachusetts wouldn't know the difference.
But if Kerry would like to change these rules, he might want to propose legislation because he's one of the folks who voted to tighten restrictions on SBA loans. You know, requiring evidence that the loan will be repaid...
Sure Kerry everyone else should be a quitter just like you ....you already quit on America now you want everyone to follow suit !
any response from long jawn should be covered under...
"utter idiotravia".. it's a colony discovered by the pilgrims shortly after the kennedy's arrived!
Is there anyone that Kerry does not want to resign?
You mean crack houses and brothels don't qualify for loans?
In the deranged liberal mind, EVERYTHING is the feds responsibility.
Well when you are screwed by your insurance company and don't have years to wait for lawsuit to finish, then a loan after a flood or whatever will make life much better.
FEMA pushs all businesses to the SBA who offer no real help to assist recovery. I have begged, borrowed, and gotten lucky to get our business even operational due to our lack of funds to restart.
Glad you are making progress. Must be tough fighting back against the government tide.
He has only be harping on this since he ran for president. He was a nowhere man.
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