Posted by This morning The Birmingham News describes how Alabama holds her own with other states in winning business contracts from the federal government. Over the past six years, Alabama private contractors have done almost $43 billion in business with Washington. Detail of this sort is made more accessible by a nonprofit group that has undertaken to make the federal contracting base searchable, in advance of what a new federal law will require starting in January.
It’s no surprise that high tech is responsible for a significant portion of federal dollars that make their way to Alabama. U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, when he’s not taking hostile fire aboard a C-130 in Iraq, seems adept at bringing defense and NASA contracts to his Huntsville district. That is not to say that aerospace is the only thing Alabama is good at. The state has become a leader in new automotive industries, of course, but Rep. Cramer recently announced a deal with National Steel Car of Canada to set up National Alabama Corporation, which will build railroad cars in the Shoals area. The new plant will be a mile long, and about 1,800 workers will produce 8,000-10,000 rail cars annually. The new jobs are also due to a large loan from the Retirement System of Alabama. The retirement system that serves state teachers and other employees stepped up to make it’s largest industrial loan ever for the project. RSA CEO David Bronner has made a habit of wise investment in Alabama businesses, including the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, and the Battle House RSA Tower in Mobile. Here’s to the continued success of Alabamians helping each other.
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Peter – can you explain to me how Bud brings ‘defense and NASA contracts’ to Huntsville?
Democrats must be worried about Cramers seat in Congress if their starting
puff pieces on him this early.
Reactionary- With Cramer being on the House Appropriations Committee/Defense Subcommittee, it is probably a safe assumption that he had some role in the $28 billion spent in the 5th district at places like Marshall Space Flight Center, Redstone Arsenal, and UAH.
Interesting to see the Alaska Native (Chugach Alaska Corp) getting so many grounds keeping contracts. Wonder if the Creeks or Choctaws plan to compete for these soon.
Bud’s seat on the committee might help get funding for a project. AFAIK, he doesn’t choose the contractors that bid on / perform the work.
Hmmm….Funny how the words “Riley” and “Shelby” do not appear in this article.
Jay, I don’t think any of our incumbent Congressman including Cramer will have much to worry about come election time. I see this post as a riff on the front page story in The Birmingham News. Interesting to see that others see it as more (or less) than that.
I was particularly interested to learn about the RSA loan, as I didn’t know about that.
Appears comment by Jay is right on. Ever since I announced I am running against him in the next election, he appears to be getting his name and/or picture in the news at least weekly. My main platform is the fair tax bill. I see now that the Ways and Means Committee of which Cramer is a member is about to hold another committee hearing on fairly taxing the American people. If he has anything to do with government contract awards he needs to go to jail. You will note that he announces a lot of good economic news for Alabama, but he actually has nothing to do with the actual event. Don’t count on Mr. Cramer being in office next term.
Ray,
Granted, the advantages of incumbency in a campaign are considerable (for example, being able to generate positive publicity). Good luck in your own campaign!
As for Jay, I don’t know if he thinks the Birmingham News is doing a puff piece or if the Political Parlor is. I assure you, Jay and others that the Political Parlor has no vested interest in who wins that House seat, and I am amused at the idea that someone would suggest this post has anything to do with propping up Cramer’s political future.
Again, good luck!
Danny