8a Native Corporation Program

I am apalled that the Anchorage Daily News are supporting the critics whom are pressing to eliminate/exlude the Native Corporations from the 8a program. Not all Native Corporations are gaining significant ground to benefit their shareholders. This is only the beginning of success, not success itself. The 8a program, in my opinion, was flawed from the beginning. Minority-owned businesses are good, but the 8a program benefited few minorities before ANC’s exception, which benefits a larger amount of minorities. The other 8a businesses participating in the program should lobby for more 8a funding, not the elimination of ANC’s exception. Eliminating contract caps in favor of the Native Corporations was a beneficial step for both the government and the native corporations. It completes the philosophy behind the 8a program and, to be exact, the perfect concession to complete ANCSA outside of ANCSA. I hope that the lawmakers don't backslide on this. They haven't taken away no-bid contracts in Iraq, so why take it away from AK Native Corporations? In my firm opinion, take no-bid contracting out of Iraq first, then we should consider what seems to be the current hot Alaskan topic. We've all heard for the last few years about the lawmakers as well as citizens criticism of funds rolling into Alaska. I have only one thing to say about this: after 50 years of being in the union, it's our turn, it's our time, Alaska is turning into the model for the world. It's only the beginning though, we have a long ways to go, a lot of money to spend, and a lot of fighting to do amongst ourselves.