Government, Politics and the Economy
Treasury to Buy SBA Loans
The Treasury Department is finalizing its plans for a $15 billion initiative to stimulate SBA lending by using federal bailout money to buy up SBA loans. WashingtonPost.com
Global Warming Bill Will Hit Homeowners and Small Business the Hardest
A Heritage Foundation analysis of the Waxman-Markey global warming bill predicts the bill will result in sky-high costs averaging $393 billion annually and destroying over a million jobs from 2012 to 2035. Heritage.org
Management and Operations
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Government, Politics and the Economy
Congress to Consider Consumer Financial Protection Bill
Legislation that would ‘level the playing field,’ as the Treasury says, is on its way to Congress in spite of opposition from financial institutions – the first of a number of new regulatory bills President Obama plans to send to Congress. Workforce.com
Making Sure Small Business Contracts go to Small Businesses
A proposed new law aims to keep big businesses from gobbling up procurement deals that should go to smaller firms. CNNMoney.com
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Government, Politics and the Economy
Recession May be Stimulating Increase in Non-Employer Businesses
According to the latest Census figures, 2007 saw a million new non-employer businesses in 2007, for a total of 21.7 million, that together had sales of nearly $1 trillion, about 7% of the 2007 US GDP. BusinessWeek.com
Senate Plan to Overhaul Healthcare may Advance on $1 Trillion Pricetag
According to Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus, the cost of the healthcare reform options before his panel can be cut to $1 trillion, which could remove a major barrier to the bill’s passage. Bloomberg.com... [Read Full Article]
Frontiersman, lawyer and politician Davy Crockett once said, “Make sure your right, and then go ahead.” It’s pretty straightforward advice and one you should take to heart when you are considering firing someone for cause. You need to make sure the employee actually did what they are accused of doing, and you have to make sure that the process is fair, impartial and that the same criteria are applied across the board to each and every person in the firm. Only then will you be “right” and only then should you go ahead. If you don’t, you will end up like Apple Healthcare Inc. Here is the story:
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Government and Economy
Small Business Not Sold on Robin Hood Economics
The spending plan President Obama sent to Congress would take nearly $1 trillion from the rich in new taxes and give it to the poor in new tax cuts, college loans and socialized medicine; but small business advocates are worried about the problems that punishing Wall Street will cause on Main Street. WashingtonPost.com
Management and Financial Issues
VCs Call for Frugality
There is less money available to entrepreneurs these days and with fewer startups being bought, ventur... [Read Full Article]
Government and Economy
Obama May Expand Jobless Benefits
President-elect Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats are considering a major expansion of government-assisted health care insurance and unemployment benefits.
Cities Easing Sign Restrictions
A number of communities are lifting—or are considering relaxing—restrictions on sidewalk signs and banners to help shore up businesses struggling to survive a recession that has both slowed consumer spending and depleted municipal tax revenue.
Tech Giants Hunting for Cheap Startups
With valuations sinking a... [Read Full Article]
The Need for Strong Communications in Business
When you have a whole division to eliminate from your company payroll, do you:
A) Have the HR people descend upon the target and deliver the bad news in cold, concrete terms clearly designed to limit lawsuits;
B) Go down yourself (as CEO) to pass out severance checks and shake hands with everyone as they exit the building; or
C) Make a vague reference to your decision to eliminate their jobs in a blog post.
If you answered B, then you have the heart and guts of a Hemingway. On the other hand, if you answered C, then you fall into the category of Tesla Motors new CEO, Elon Musk. On October 15th, Musk, who is also the Chairman of the Board and Product Architect for Tesla, posted a blog post about his ascension to the CEO position, his vision for the company and, oh yeah, were shutting down operations in Rochester, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The relevant passage that announced to all and... [Read Full Article]
