Export-Import Bank critics pounce after bank yanks public data

The Hill reports:

Critics of the Export-Import Bank are seething over the removal from a government Web site of previously public data earlier they say helps them detect cronyism.

Between January 29 and February 13, officials at the bank removed disclosures listing businesses that applied for financing at the bank but were denied, a source at the bank told The Hill.

"During a regular quarterly review, it was decided to reformat the way data is presented," the source said. Under the changes, bank officials are no longer disclosing denied applicants.

But critics of the Ex-Im, created to help U.S. companies finance overseas endeavors, say that information helps illuminate how the bank chooses which businesses to finance.

Conservatives, led by House Financial Services Committee chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), have criticized the bank as "cronyism" and "corporate welfare."

“Everybody knows Ex-Im picks winners and losers. Now Ex-Im is making itself even less transparent in order to hide some of the losers," said one senior Republican aide to a House member.

The great moments of the rent-seeking society.