Government, Politics and the Economy Does The Small Business Majority Represent You? Don't Bet on It! They conduct polls and claim to represent all small business by not representing any particular small business. Who are they and what are they all about? We have some answers. NYTimes.com Obama's Health, Energy Legislation Facing Democrats' Questionable Support The fates of President Obama's top two priorities: extending health coverage to the uninsured and reducing greenhouse gases, rest in the hands of a group of pivotal Democratic senators, and so far they don't seem convinced. Bloomberg.com Management and... [Read Full Article]

The Associated Press story put it in stark, clear terms: Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee said Thursday the administration's efforts to hector the private sector into reining in executive pay might not go far enough. Now, this is after naming a Special Master for Compensation to make sure that the pay and bonuses of executives for companies that needed to be bailed out is not over the top. As I mentioned in a previous article, this is a fine, populist move, but hardly an economically practical one unless the entire playing field is leveled by across-the-board wage controls. Now, as if fulfilling a prophecy, we have this: [Congressional] Democrats and administration officials agreed that companies across the private sector need to adjust compensation practices to avoid damaging the economy. [Read Full Article]

  Government and Economy Obama: Small Business Key to Economy In a speech welcoming winners of an SBA award to the White House's East Room, President Obama acknowledged that small business is responsible for half the nation's private sector jobs and so deserves support from Washington. Google.com/AP Congress Failing American Small Business While they talk a fine game, when it comes to action on supporting what they, themselves, describe as the “backbone of the economy” our legislators seem happier to play possum. HuffingtonPost.com [Read Full Article]

It’s nere, and it’s going to revolutionize the corporate office I have to wonder if what the Vice-President said was true or just another one of his personable gaffes, like advising (on national TV) that people avoid planes and other crowded, enclosed places during the height of the swine flu scare. I mean, was it Joe being Joe, or does he have a point? Is a renewal of trade unions key to the rebuilding of the American middle class? His comments, made to a conference of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, presuppose that there is a connection between the labor movement and the middle class and it likewise presupposes that the Vice-President can, in fact, define the term “middle class.” People talk about the middle class all the time, yet if you try to pin it down to some concrete demographic, things get a bit hazy. Do you define it by income? If so, plenty of people making six digits but living in expensive areas could be middle clas... [Read Full Article]

  Government and Economy Obama: Working to Clear the Economic Wreckage President Obama tried to reassure Americans during his Wednesday evening press conference that he is making real progress in dealing with the recession and improving the US image abroad. However, he urged patience in dealing with these and other issues. Yahoo.com/Reuters Taxes Coming on Digital Goods A number of states are looking to tax digital goods, yet enacting these taxes while trying encourage broadband adoption and develop a low-carbon economy sends the wrong message, according to opponents. ZDNet.com [Read Full Article]

  Government and Economy Small Business: Obama Just Doesn't Understand Us According to a survey by City Business Journals Network, nearly 60% of small business owners think the Obama administration doesn’t understand small business while better than 40% are less optimistic about the national economy than they were when President Barack Obama took office. Bizjournals.com Venture Capitalists: Don't Treat Us Like Hedge Funds Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner wants to see venture capitalists, hedge funds and private equity firms registered with the SEC and subject to disclosure requireme... [Read Full Article]

  Government and Economy Can Small Businesses be Exempted from Card Check Unionization? While small business groups are readying their opposition to new card check legislation, many are hopeful that after compromise negotiations in Congress, small business will be exempt. WSJ.com Local Economies Seeking Their Own Stimulus Cities, counties and states across the nation are launching home-grown economic-stimulus plans aimed at spurring local spending and keeping small businesses afloat during the recession. WSJ.com [Read Full Article]

  Government and Economy Small Business Cries Foul on Tax Hikes Small business owners and their Washington advocates are coming out against President Obama’s plan to raise income tax rates for America’s wealthiest in 2011, calling it is an ill-timed attack on small businesses that will stymie job growth. Politico.com Card Check Far From Decided Both sides argue it’s a matter of fairness. According to Labor, the secret-ballot system invites employer intimidation. For the employers, an open card check system means more union pressure on their employees. Both sides are gearing up for a fight. Bloomberg.com ... [Read Full Article]