Government, Politics and the Economy Obama: Small Business Promises Kept and Broken President Obama promised to help Main Street where, but has he kept that promise? Here's a look at where he's followed through -- and where he hasn't. CNNMoney.com Survey Suggests Recession to End This Quarter With recent data suggesting that the recession has bottomed-out, the Blue Chip Economic Indicators survey of private economists showed about 90% of the respondents believe the recession will be declared over this quarter. FoxBusiness.com Management and Operations [Read Full Article]

  Government, Politics and the Economy Obama Supports Bank Fees for Risk and Wealth Surtax for Healthcare President Obama signaled his support for a proposal to impose fees on some of the nation’s largest financial firms to cover losses from risky transactions and avert another market meltdown. He also said that a surtax on the wealthy fits with his ideas on paying for healthcare. Bloomberg.com GOP Financial Services Overhaul Republicans have developed their own version of legislation aimed at overhauling regulations of the financial-services industry. The GOP version relies more on free-market principles than on additional... [Read Full Article]

  Government, Politics and the Economy Small Business Groups: Cut Payroll Taxes to Help Small Business A plan under consideration by the White House to redirect TARP money from the financial industry to the small-business sector is getting a lukewarm reception from small-business advocacy groups who say that a payroll tax break could bring faster relief to struggling entrepreneurs. WSJ.com CreditSights: CIT May Need as Much as $6 Billion to Avoid Bankruptcy CIT Group Inc., the troubled 101-year-old small business lender, may need as much as $6 billion to avoid bankruptcy after the government refused to give the firm another bailout. Bloomberg.com ... [Read Full Article]

Viral videos are all the craze these days, with online marketers putting out videos they hope will raise brand awareness and set consumers beating a path to the store, but come on, Microsoft! Does it have to get this viral? At some point, you have to think about what your marketing efforts are going to do to your brand. So, now that you have seen it, let me ask you a question. Assuming that you are not Firefox, Chrome, Opera, or Safari aficionado; based on this poor woma... [Read Full Article]

  Government, Politics and the Economy Senate Considers Medicare Tax on Capital Gains to Fund Health Plan According to insiders, the Senate Finance Committee is considering whether to apply Medicare taxes to capital gains and other non-wage income to help pay for healthcare reform. Bloomberg.com Management and Operations The Equity Factor People try to keep a balance between what they contribute to a relationship and what they get back from it. When they feel little or no return on that investment, engagement slips dramatically. The employer-employee relationship is no different, and that ca... [Read Full Article]

  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 and Economy A GM Bankruptcy: Disaster in the Making When it comes to the auto industry, President Obama isn't just ruling on the fate of a single company. A GM bankruptcy could easily devastate the very economy he is attempting to stabilize. BusinessWeek.com Auto Crisis Hits Minority Dealers Hard After years of work to bring minorities into the automobile industry, minority car dealers are now expected to be hit hard as GM and Chrysler make cuts in their retail networks. WSJ.com [Read Full Article]

  Government and Economy Emergency SBA Loans to be Available in June According to the SBA, a new emergency loan program to help struggling-but-viable small businesses will be open for applications in mid-June. CNNMoney.com Merced County: Desperate for Small Business With a staggering 22% unemployment rate and ranking Number Two in the nation in foreclosures, Merced County in California is now pinning its economic hopes on small business. BusinessWeek.com [Read Full Article]