Government and Economy
Ledbetter Wage Bill Passes Senate
The Lilly Ledbetter Bill, a wage discrimination bill that presages the pro-labor stance of the Democratic-controlled Congress and White House, has cleared the Senate and could be signed by President Obama within days.
Unions vs. Business: An Early Test for Obama
President Obama is facing an early important test—card-check—the Employee Free Choice Act. It is a key goal for Labor, which is hoping for action this spring; but that has some other Obama allies—seeing the reaction of business interests—very wor...
By Charles M Cooper · January 23 2009
small business brief, small business, economy, insurance
Government and Economy
New SBA Chief Could Deliver Real Change
Karen Mills, President Obama's choice to run the Small Business Administration, could transform the agency's approach to funding.
Greenwashing in Washington
With Democrats emphasizing the environment in their economic recovery plan, environmental groups are saying that greenwashing—the marketing of products as green even if they really aren’t—has moved from being an advertising ploy to a lobbying tool.
By Charles M Cooper · January 21 2009
small business brief, small business, economy, Advertising
Government and Economy
SBA Expands Emerging 200 Initiative to 15 Cities as First Group of Executives Complete Innovative New Program
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s innovative Emerging 200 initiative will be expanded in the spring of 2009 to include five new cities – Detroit, Dallas, Denver, Jacksonville, and Portland, Ore. – SBA Acting Administrator Sandy K. Baruah announced today.
New Action by Treasury and Federal Reserve Will Support Small Business Lending
Late last week, the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve announced important details on how the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) wi...
By Charles M Cooper · December 24 2008
small business brief, marketing, small business, retail
Government and Economy
Obama Names Richardson as Commerce Secretary New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has been chosen to join the Obama administration as Commerce Secretary, President-elect Barack Obama announced Wednesday at a press conference.
Fed: Economy Darkens Heading into HolidaysWASHINGTON (AP) - The country's economic picture has darkened further as Americans hunkered down heading into the holidays, forcing retailers to ring up fewer sales and factories to cut back on production.
By Charles M Cooper · December 03 2008
small business brief, small business, economy, email
Politics and Government
Business Braces for Washinton Changes Businesses across the U.S. are bracing for stricter financial regulations and more pro-labor policies. One such policy actively opposed by business interests allows unions to hold informal votes, without the use of traditional secret ballots.
Economics and Labor Issues
Cash Injections May Eclipse Fed's Benchmark Interest Rate
The Federal Reserve's efforts to rescue the U.S. from financial collapse risks the eclipse of the central bank's benchmark interest rate as the most important signal of monetary policy.
Consum...
By Charles M Cooper · November 19 2008
small business brief, marketing, small business, customer service
It is very likely that the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) will become law in the first 100 days of the Obama presidency, and when it does, the balance between labor and management will be altered, and not likely for the better. That is, unless you are a union.
The union movement has been more and more marginalized, retaining strongholds in only a few places, like the Big Three automakers, but shrinking to insignificance over most of the country. It should be no wonder that they have pushed for this legislation, and no wonder that their creatures in the democratically-controlled Congress plan to deliver.
The EFCA
The following summary of the legislation comes from the House Committee On Education and Labor:
Certification on the Basis of Signed Authorizations (majority sign-up): Provides for certification of a union as the bargaining representative if the National Labor Relations Board fi...
By Charles M Cooper · November 18 2008
small business, congress, obama, labor
Tomorrow is Election Day here in the US, the day we find out who will be heading up the Free World, who's ideas have resonated with the people, the kind of system we will be living under. It will be a real watershed moment in American history and everyone should stay up and watch the results to the bitter end—and one way or another, the end will be very bitter—because it is that important.
That said, from some of the responses I have been getting from the Left recently regarding my misgivings over the Obama economic plan, it seems that some of the folks out there have missed the point when it comes to The One, so here it is in very plain language: If Obama wins and if his economic policies are enacted, the economy will tip from recession into depression. There it is. The economy will do this because you do not strengthen a weak economy by increasing the cost of doing business. Leaving aside the ideologically-driven populist, class-warfare arguments that have dominated the e...
By Charles M Cooper · November 03 2008
small business, taxes, energy, obama
Politics and Economics
SBE Revises its Presidential Candidates' Issue Grid
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council has updated its Presidential Candidates' Issue Grid to offer a clearer picture of where Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain stand on issues important to small business. SBE Council
Raising Taxes is Not Smart Economics: The Economy Needs as Much Capital as It Can Get
The last thing our economy needs right now is for the government to be taking more capital from the private sector and out of our economy. Really, raising taxes is not a smart move – on anyone, or any business. There is no justification for siphoning more money out of our troubled, capital-deprived economy – period!
By Charles M Cooper · October 31 2008
small business brief, small business, taxes, ada
