Editor:

I read the guest commentary by Michael Fields posted on May 9 related to U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and crony capitalism. I do not agree with the assertion that Sen. Bennet’s vote on the Export Import Bank is crony capitalism.

This is a program that has returned $1.7 billion dollars to the U.S. Treasury in just the past few years to reduce our deficit, year after year. The Ex-Im Bank provides a vehicle for small- and medium-size businesses in Colorado to grow and expand their business overseas. With almost 95 percent of the world’s population, along with 87 percent of the world’s purchasing outside the U.S. borders, it is important to Colorado businesses to be able to sell goods and services and continue to employ many working families.

Over the last several years, it has supported over $300 billion in U.S. exports, including $823 million here in Colorado. It has been particularly critical for small businesses, which make up roughly three out of four of the companies in Colorado helped by Ex-Im.

While many assert this is a tool to support “big business and crony capitalism,” here is the breakdown of Colorado companies that have taken advantage of this important resource: Of the 83 total exporters, 57 are small business, five are minority-owned and three are women-owned. Our company works with many companies from a variety of industries, and we support increasing opportunities for all businesses to grow and expand.

Gayle Dendinger

CEO and founder, CAP Logistics

Denver