The federal budget process as it concerns the U.S. Small Business Administration has taken a slight turn for the unexpected this year. Normally, the relevant House and Senate Committees hold budget hearings to hear what the SBA Administrator has to say in defense of their agency’s budget proposal. That is followed by adoption of the Committee’s Views and Estimates Letters, which get forwarded to the appropriate Appropriations Committee. This year, snow canceled the House Small Business Committee’s budget hearing and that panel proceeded directly to the View and Estimates Letter. Although the House panel has marked up their Views and Estimates Letter, that document had not yet been posted online as of close of business last Friday, so the details are not yet available. The Senate, so far as The MicroEnterprise Journal has been able to ascertain, has not yet scheduled either a budget hearing or a View and Estimates Letter markup.

During the Views and Estimates Letter markup, Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) noted that she was happy with the budget increases but would urge the Appropriations Committee to fund successful core SBA programs rather than unproven, unauthorized programs. Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) expressed concern about the Obama Administration plan to redirect repaid TARP funds to encourage small business lending, saying he wanted the Committee to hear from Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. He also noted that he believed more money should be appropriated to address lingering small business contracting issues. Graves plans to file a separate Views and Estimates Letter for the Minority. And Committee Member Mike Michaud (D-ME) is collecting signatures for a “Dear Colleague” letter asking for more money for Microloan. Michaud wants appropriators to provide $26 million for the program instead of $13 million (supporting $25 million in Microloans and $22 million for technical assistance grants).