Hearings sought on FLDS contracts

WASHINGTON — A Texas congresswoman is calling for hearings into government contracts given to a business with ties to the Fundamentalist LDS Church.

Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, sent a letter to the House Armed Services Committee requesting a hearing about $1.2 million in Department of Defense contracts that went to New Era Manufacturing.

Granger acknowledged in her letter that religious affiliation should not be a determining factor for contracts, but she sought more scrutiny on companies.

As a member of Congress, I am concerned that federal tax dollars may have been misused to fund this sect's illegal activities, she wrote in a letter to the committee.

New Era Manufacturing was formerly Western Precision, which left the FLDS enclave of Hildale and relocated to Nevada.