WASHINGTON, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Capital Comment -- News notes, political rumors, and important events that shape politics and public policy in Washington and the world from United Press International.
A little late for Santa -- Multinational Monitor, a Washington-based monthly founded by Ralph Nader, has released its list of the 10 worst corporations in 2001. They are:
* Abbott Laboratories -- named for its joint venture with Japanese Takeda Pharmaceuticals;
* Argenbright -- named for "repeat violations of regulations for airport security";
* Bayer -- for, among other things, "its overcharge of the government and public for the anti-anthrax drug Cipro";
* Soft-drink manufacturer Coca-Cola, for "its sponsorship of the first Harry Potter movie and possible sequels";
* Enron -- for "costing many of its employees their life savings by refusing to let them dump Enron stock from their pension plans, as the company plunged toward bankruptcy";
* Exxon Mobil -- for "leading the global warming denial campaign and blocking efforts at appropriate remedial action, plus a host of other reckless activities";
* Philip Morris -- "revealed to be a hoax by a Czech study it commissioned alleging the cost savings from smoking-related premature death";
* Sara Lee -- named to the list "because of a scandal involving its Ball Park Franks hot dogs";
* Electricity giant Southern Co. -- for "its efforts to defeat sensible air pollution regulations; and
* Retail powerhouse Wal-Mart, which the Monitor says is guilty of "mistreating workers domestically and abroad, and by contributing to the sprawl that blights the U.S. landscape."
Monitor editor Robert Weissman said, "These behemoths have ripped off the public, polluted the environment, abused their workers and debased our culture ... They appear in our lives every day, disguised as respectable members of the community. They deserve public opprobrium, and, in many cases, government sanction."
What's good for business is good for America -- The Small Business Survival Committee, a leading small-business advocacy group, has released its list of developments that had the best and worst impact on small businesses in 2001.
The list takes into account "economic, policy, and cultural factors that have had a significant impact in shaping how small businesses fare across the country as a whole," according to SBSC President Darrell McKigney.
The best items include: Passage of the Bush tax- cut package; sharply lower energy prices; the continuation of the moratorium on Internet taxes; the settling of the federal suit against Microsoft; and congressional repeal of the ergonomic regulations.
The worst items include: the recession; the power blackouts in California; the resurrection of the death tax; and the change in the Senate leadership brought about by Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords' switch to independent.
And the award goes to ... -- The Aetna Foundation and The National Conference for Community and Justice have announced that Ambassador Andrew Young has won the 2002 Aetna Voice of Conscience Award in Tribute to Arthur R. Ashe Jr., in recognition of his outstanding commitment to humanitarian causes.
The award will be presented at Howard University in Washington on Jan. 14.
Getting off the list -- Controversial regulations concerning federal procurement rules have been lifted at year's end. Commonly known as the "blacklisting provision," the regulations were announced by former Vice President Al Gore in February 1997 in a speech to the AFL-CIO.
On July 9, 1999, the Clinton administration proposed regulations making federal contract awards contingent on a "satisfactory" labor relations record, as well as compliance with tax, antitrust and environmental laws. Critics charged that federal contractors that have had frivolous "unfair labor practice" charges filed against them could have faced debarment if the proposal had become final.
Stephen E. Sandherr, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America, cheered the news, saying, "Federal contractors can breathe a sigh of relief."
Next year in Jerusalem -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has predicted that 2002 will bring independence to the Palestinians, according to a variety of sources.
In his traditional year-end speech, delivered on Palestinian television, Arafat declared, "We have the honor to declare 2002 the year of independence and liberty. And I am sure that a little boy or girl will raise the Palestinian flag over the walls, mosques and churches of Jerusalem, the capital of our independent Palestinian state."
Mucho Puerto Rico -- The U.S. Bureau of the Census has released the 2001 population estimates for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
According to the bureau, the estimated population of the island on July 1, 2001, was 3,839,810. This represents an increase of 31,200 people since April 1, 2000, an 0.8 percent increase.
During the same period, the growth rate for the 50 states and the District of Columbia was 1.2 percent.
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