Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) has dropped an amendment that would have limited federal government contracts for Alaska Native corporations but she is vowing to continue to press for reforms.

McCaskill plans to work with Sen. Mark Begich (D) and the corporations on a bill. "I'm on it. There will be contracting reform as it relates to non compete contracts and ANCs," she said on her Twitter feed yesterday.

The amendment would have limited no-bid contracts at the Department of Defense to $5.5 million. That's significantly lower than billion-dollar contracts that the Native corporations have won in recent years.

The amendment also would have opened up Defense contracts to competition among Native corporations. It would have prevented Native corporations from obtaining bonuses for using their subsidiaries as subcontracts.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) filed objections to the amendment with the Armed Services, Indian Affairs and Small Business & Entrepreneurship committees. "Amndmt was withdrawn because other committees of jurisdctn hadn't had time to look at it. I'll be back with it,&get it done," McCaskill said on Twitter.

McCaskill responded after MOinkslinger asked "Why are you not doing anything about the ANCs? Are you pandering to the AKs? ANCs are not right!" and "Why did you withdraw your amendment on ANCs?"

Get the Story:
Senator delays action on Native corporation contracting (The Anchorage Daily News 7/24)

Committee Testimony:
Contracting Preferences for Alaska Native Corporations (July 16, 2009)

Committee Notice:
CONTRACTING OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE TO EXAMINE EXEMPTIONS FAVORING ALASKA NATIVE CORPORATIONS (July 16, 2009)

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