Venable partner Rob Burton was interviewed by Bloomberg in a January 26, 2012 article on the impact of the struggling economy on set-aside contract programs such as AbilityOne. Started by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1938 as effort to increase employment among the blind, AbilityOne was expanded in 1971 to include individuals with other disabilities.

Noting that AbilityOne has broad-based support, Burton said, “Politically, it’s an untenable position not to be supportive of AbilityOne.” With an expected decline in contracting dollars on the horizon, Burton said AbilityOne would not be immune to the cuts saying, “There will be arguments made that they need to take a hit just like the private sector.”