In response to a draft executive order under consideration by the Obama Administration that would mandate that all businesses seeking to contract with the federal government first disclose their political contributions, 156 business organizations, including the U.S. Chamber, sent a letter to all members of Congress yesterday urging them to support the “Keeping Politics Out of Federal Contracting Act of 2011.” The legislation, which is sponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) in the Senate and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) in the House, would help ensure that political spending—or the lack thereof—continues to play no role in federal contracting decisions. 

Following are excerpts from the letter:

The legislation reaffirms the principle, currently embodied in federal procurement laws, that the Executive Branch has an obligation to procure goods and services based on the best value for the American taxpayer, and not on political considerations. It also reaffirms the principle that the Administration cannot enact through executive fiat legislation that Congress has considered and explicitly rejected.