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1 10/15/96 1 xevox + took to Pres. yellow note check w/ to kathy Wallman Conespandence 10/16 pres, corresp. 2 tell pres. WH counse shid corresp. that I want to see it Jen Anything else ? wl this ? to see how draft res ponse Lut droft is going - INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS BROTHERNOOD AFL-CIO OF E OFFICE OF RON CAREY GENERAL PRESIDENT October 11, 1996 The President Bill Clinton The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: Recently the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it was barring Sun Diamond Growers of California from bidding for federal contracts in the aftermath of the conviction of that enterprise in federal court on eight felony counts of providing illegal gifts to former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy, as well as illegal campaign contributions to his brother. We read that announcement with considerable satisfaction, because we represent 40,000 workers in the cannery industry, including hundreds employed by Sun Diamond, and thousands more in food processing. We were aware of Sun Diamond's illegal behavior long before the special prosecutor was appointed, and we did what we could to see the case go forward. But now that Sun Diamond has been debarred, we understand from news reports that subsidiary enterprises affiliated with Sun Diamond are nevertheless to be allowed to bid on contracts and sell products to the USDA school lunch and other programs. That would be both an outrage and a scandal. I have written Secretary Glickman asking for his assurance that the Department of Agriculture will not accept bids or make contract awards or otherwise do business with Sun Diamond and its subsidiaries. I'm certain that you share our sense of indignation that an organization like Sun Diamond would break the law and compromise members of your cabinet. 25 LOUISIANA AVENUE, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001 (202) 624-6800 1 The President Bill Clinton October 11, 1996 Page Two I hope you will make it clear to your appointees at USDA and throughout the government that companies and coops that break the law lose all eligibility for federal business in the Clinton Administration. Sincerely yours, RC/bh - 10/15/96 Kathy- This looks like an enforcement and a policy matter. Per the policy Matter, do we or does Justice have a policy on whether subsidiaries should be barred from contracting with the fed. govt. when a parent company is so barred ? Per the rest, is there any $ inquiry or other thing we can do here ? -Jeno'c