Government, Politics and the Economy
Survey: Poor Sales Lead to Business Closings
According to a recent NFIB survey, poor sales are the number-one problem afflicting America's small businesses. Moreover, few small business owners expect consumers to start spending again any time soon. CNNMoney.com
Fed to Keep Rates Steady and Slow Bond Purchases
The Federal Reserve is holding interest rates steady and intends to "slow the pace" of its emergency bond-buying program. USAToday.com
Management and Operations
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Government, Politics and the Economy
The Obama Financial Plan: Let the Games Begin
The sides are drawn-up and the combatants are set, ready to do battle over Obama's proposals for the Fed, financial regulation and much more. Poll: Too Much Intervention? BusinessWeek.com
Should the Government Back High-Potential Start-Ups?
If the answer is 'yes', then venture-backed companies across the country should be eligible for federal innovation grants. NYTi... [Read Full Article]
Government, Politics and the Economy
GM Bankruptcy: A Bid to Regain Profits with $50 Billion US Aid
General Motors Corp., for 77 years the world’s largest carmaker, filed for bankruptcy protection in the US. The plan? To create a 21st-century company that can compete in world markets. Bloomberg.com
GM Bankruptcy: The Effects Will be Felt Far and Wide
The turmoil and uncertainty caused by the bankruptcies of GM and Chrysler will be felt far outside Detroit, in the dealerships and suppliers who are bracing for hard times to come. CNNMoney.com
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Government and Economy
Obama: Freeze Estate Tax at 2009 Levels President-elect Barack Obama has proposed freezing the estate tax at 2009 levels to help cover tax cuts in low- and middle-income income brackets. The effect this will have on business is, however, debatable .
UAW Chief Happy White House, Treasury May Rescue DetroitUnited Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger said he's happy that the White House appears poised to step in and rescue the beleaguered auto industry, although he accused GOP senators who blocked emergency loans of trying to "pierce the heart" of organized labor.
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Government and Economy
Democrats Must Now Deal With Immigration Issues President-elect Obama has nominated Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as Secretary of Homeland Security. The Washington Post suggests that Napolitano push for broad immigration reform if confirmed.
Back on Capitol Hill, Auto Executives Still Find SkepticsSenator Christopher J. Dodd, chair of the Senate Banking Committee, hinted at difficulties for lawmakers in approving a bailout for the Big Three automakers.
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On the illegal immigration front, there are two things that you, the small business owner, need to understand. The first is that even if you live in a state that mandates the use of the federal E-Verify program to check job applicants’ immigration status, and you use it religiously and without fail, it won’t save your company from being raided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The reason for this is the second thing you need to understand about the centerpiece of US immigration enforcement: E-Verify doesn’t detect identity theft, a fact that has led to an explosion of—you guessed it—identity theft among illegal aliens.
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