On Christmas Eve, the Senate passed their version of the health care bill, bringing America one step closer to a new universal health care system. The House version of the health care bill was passed in November, each with their own set of rules and regulations. Now, we play a waiting game. President Obama and his team will now reconcile the differences between the two bills into one bill. The final bill will be voted on by each chamber before being signed into legislation by President Obama. The House and Senate Health Care Bills are VERY different on very important issues that all Americans, especially small business owners, need to be aware of. Below are various topics included in both the House and Senate health care bills broken down, as well as some FAQ about what this means for small business owners.Abortion
The House bill would ban abortion from being covered in the new public plan EXCEPT in the cases of rape, incest,...
By Cheryl Sowa · January 07 2010
small business, taxes, senate, obama
ABC Online and On Your Side
EZlocal.com Gets a Redesign
EZlocal.com recently got a redesign. More members are seeing their business on the site as a Featured Listing on the local homepages, search results and more! If you're a paid ABC member you can login to add coupons, images and detailed descriptions to drive even more traffic to your business.
Government, Politics and the Economy
Durable Goods Orders, Excluding Cars and Planes, Unexpectedly Rise
Excluding cars and aircraft, new orders for US durable goods rose unexpectedly in June, a signal that manufacturing may expand in the second half of the year. Bloomberg.com
Management and Operations...
By Charles M Cooper · July 29 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
Government, Politics and the Economy
Small Business: The White House is Deaf to Our Needs
President Obama's decision to cut off aid to small business lender CIT Group is just the latest in a string of decisions that demonstrate Obama's indifference to small business. WSJ.com
Shlaes: Look to Reagan for a Way Out of the Recession
Bloomberg columnist Amity Shlaes suggests that with the similarity between the current recession and the economic woes of the early 1980s, the solution to those woes, lower taxes and higher interest rates, is worth looking at today. Bloomberg.com
Management and Operations
By Charles M Cooper · July 17 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
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 ...
By Charles M Cooper · July 16 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
Government, Politics and the Economy
Sentate Mystery: Who Killed Small Business Credit-Card Protection?
When the amendment offered by Senator Mary Landrieu (D – LA) to get new consumer credit-card protections extended to small businesses was killed last month, the perpetrators left no fingerprints. In fact, no one knows precisely what happened, or why. NYTimes.com
The Small Business Owners' Wish List for Obama
Small business owners don't ask for much, but an end to the credit crunch, less talk of tax increases, and healthcare reform without coverage mandates do top t...
By Charles M Cooper · June 24 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
Yesterday, this page discussed plans by Advanta to close down its credit cards to new purchases and securitize its debts. One can only wonder if one of the things that drove this small business lender to this rather drastic decision was the legislation that passed the Senate today by a vote of 90-5.
This new legislation, called the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (Credit CARD Act of 2009) offers a number of changes to the way credit card companies do business. These changes include new mandates as well as amendments to various federal regulations such as:
Title I: Consumer Protection
Amends the Truth in Lending Act to require advance notice of any increase in the annual percentage rate of interest (APR) pertaining to a credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan.
Requires such advance notice to in...
By Charles M Cooper · May 19 2009
small business, credit cards, senate, recession
Tell me, when was the last time an executive for a private firm, someone not accused of any wrongdoing or convicted of any crime, was forced out of their position by the US government? That is what happened over the weekend at General Motors. Rick Wagoner was forced out by the Obama Administration. By all accounts, Wagoner is a well-respected, hard-working sort who has been working to set a new course for the company. The GM Board of Directors had given him their full confidence and they had gone along with some rather radical changes he made in a company where labor has long had an adversarial relationship with management. Now he is out and the signature on his pink slip is Barack Obama's.
True, Wagoner is not the first CEO to lose his job after taking part in a government bailout. The CEOs of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were forced out after the government took over the companies in the fall. Robert Willumstad, the former CEO of American International Group Inc., left the compa...
By Charles M Cooper · March 30 2009
small business, congress, senate, bailout
Government and Economy
Key Republican Changes Position, Now Opposes Card-CheckSenator Arlen Specter's vote may determine the fate of the pro-union card check bill, which would make it easier for workers to form unions. He declared his new opposition to the bill in a March 24 th Senate floor speech. Workforce.com
SBA Launches Online Community for Small Businesses
SBA’s Business Gateway Program has launched the first government-sponsored online community built specifically for small businesses, Community.Business.gov. Small Business Administration
By Charles M Cooper · March 25 2009
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
