The New York Times reports that female small business owners -- one-third of small business owners nationwide -- are unhappy with new regulations that finally require 5 percent of federal contracts to be awarded to female-owned businesses. The problem is that the rules will apply to only 5 out of 140 industries: national security, international affairs, coating and engraving, furniture and cabinet manufacturing, and motor-vehicles. But there's a lot of ground to be covered: Without the rules, less than 3 percent of contracts go to women. Three percent of all the contracts, when one-third of the business-owners are female. That's a huge disparity. Of course, it's no surprise the Small Business Administration has dragged its heels on this and done a half-assed job under President Bush. Legislation requiring the 5 percent change was first approved by Congress in 2000, but the SBA delayed, prompting a federal judge to rule the agency had "sabotaged" Congress' intent. Under the Democrats, the House has passed tougher rules calling for 8 percent of the contracts to go to women. The Senate is set to consider the issue. --Dana Goldstein
