Politics
News and information for business owners from the world of politics.
- Audit Firm Fesses Up, Pays $456 Million for Fraud , August 30, 2005
- KPMG avoids fate of Arthur Andersen by settling with feds.
- Two Base Closures Rejected by Base Commission , August 25, 2005
- Elected officials call the bases economic engines for their regions; however, economic despair does not always follow base closures.
- H-1B Visas Max Out Early , August 19, 2005
- The H-1B visa's capacity dropped from 195,000 in 2004 to 65,000, where it is also set for 2006.
- U.S., China Plan Textile Talks , August 15, 2005
- Limits on imports from China could bring more security to small textile companies in the U.S.
- AARP Survey Reveals Support for Social Security , August 12, 2005
- Social Security has outpaced pensions and personal savings as the most important source of income respondents relied on in retirement, AARP found.
- Energy Bill Falls Short, Business Owners Say , August 9, 2005
- Tax incentives, natural gas development highlight energy bill, but little done to improve current infrastructure.
- Association Health Plans Passes House , August 5, 2005
- Proposal to allow small businesses to pool resources for health plans takes one step closer to becoming a law.
- House Passes Small Business Health Fairness Act, July 28, 2005
- Bill would decrease insurance costs for small business owners.
- House Passes CAFTA, July 28, 2005
- Small manufacturers see outsourcing threat; exporters anticipate new market opportunities.
- IRS Preps Study of S Corporations, July 27, 2005
- Examination of S corps filings will help eliminate the confusion corporations might have in filing returns.
- New Bills Propose Expansion of SBDCs, July 27, 2005
- Bills recently passed by the House Committee on Small Business aim to boost the role of Small Business Development Centers in providing counseling and training to start-up and existing businesses.
- CAFTA Vote Expected By End of the Week, July 26, 2005
- Supporters mobilize to win over industry groups weary of the agreement.
- Immigration Bill Could Affect Business Owners, July 21, 2005
- A recently introduced immigration bill could increase border enforcement and create temporary-work visas for foreigners.
- Bush Nominates Former Corporate Lawyer to Supreme Court, July 21, 2005
- Despite his corporate credentials, the impact John Roberts could have on small business is uncertain.
- Lawmakers to Ponder SBA Rule Change, July 19, 2005
- Venture-capital backed biotech companies look to compete for SBIR grants.
- Fast-Growing Companies Prefer Flat Tax, July 15, 2005
- CEOs say reducing costs of accounting would allow them to spend more on R&D.
- House Passes Small Business-Friendly OSHA Bills , July 14, 2005
- Legislation could reach Senate floor soon.
- Congress Passes Junk Fax Act , July 12, 2005
- New bill exempts small businesses from certain FCC provisions against unsolicited faxes.
- Eminent Domain Ruling Sparks Debate, July 1, 2005
- Seizure of private property for economic development purposes can spell opportunity or trouble for small businesses.
- Senate Approves Cafta, July 1, 2005
- Narrow vote along partisan lines for trade agreement to be debated next in the House.
- Women Business Centers Want More Funding , June 23, 2005
- New Study from Babson College reports investments from SBA seen as not enough.
- Cities Hope for More Industry Collaboration, June 21, 2005
- Greater government-business communications at two-day forum.
- Deadline Extended for Veteran Business Benefit, June 15, 2005
- New program will make it easier for veteran-owned tech businesses to win contracts.
- NFIB Appoints New Director of House Lobbying Team , June 9, 2005
- Experienced lobbyist has been behind successful efforts for tort reform and interest-earning checking accounts.
- President Pushes Small Business Issues, February 7, 2005
- Health care, tort reform, changes to tax code all of keen interest to group singled out by chief executive.
- Poll Worker Shortage, November 2, 2004
- U.S. will be short at least 250,000 poll workers for national election.
- Foreign Policy Drives Small Business Vote, October, 22, 2004
- New study claims business leaders base their vote on Iraq war rather than economic issues and turn to Internet for political news.
- NAWBO Announces Presidential Survey Results, October 3, 2004
- If it were up to the National Association of Women Business Owners members, John Kerry would be our next president.
- Small Biz Still Showing Big Support for Bush, September 27, 2004
- CEOs prefer Bush over Kerry on health care, taxes, homeland security and economy by wide margin.
- Unhappy House Democrats Blame Republicans for Stalled SBA Legislation, September 16, 2004
- Fees charged to small business borrowers could double if Congress doens't act to support the SBA.
- Republicans to Voters: We Know It's About the Economy, September 14, 2004
- As Republicans wrapped up their speeches at last week's convention in New York City, it's clear that the party decided to steal a line from their Democratic rivals: We know it's about the economy, stupid.
- House Democrats Blame Bush for Small Businesses' Struggles, September 10, 2004
- Quarterly index of key economic indicators drops to a new seven-year low.
- Small Businesses Get Nod in Republican National Convention , September 2, 2004
- Despite the attention, amount of rhetoric trails DNC.
- Small Businesses Brace for GOP Convention , August 27, 2004
- Economic impact forecasts give mixed signals.
- Job Growth Is Cloudy in Swing States , August 25, 2004
- State-by-state analysis shows seven presidential "battleground" states lost jobs in July.
- Bush Beats Kerry Among Small Businesses , August 4, 2004
- In two surveys, business owners favored the incumbent candidate's plan for the economy.
- Kerry to Cut Taxes for Small Businesses , August 2, 2004
- In acceptance speech, Kerry says economic stimulus plan will focus on easing middle-class burdens, too.
- Edwards: No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing , July 29, 2004
- In his nomination acceptance speech, the Vice Presidential candidate says he and Kerry will focus on jobs in the U.S.
- Dems Talk Business in Boston , July 27, 2004
- Small business issues such as health-care and taxes make it onto the agenda.
- House Bill Keeps Small Business Investment Deduction , July 23, 2004
- Benefit is extended through 2007.
- House Votes to Limit Option Expensing , July 22, 2004
- Bill's passage seen as victory for start-ups.
- Bill Introduced to Expand Cash Accounting for Small Businesses , July 21, 2004
- Legislation would allow many companies to reduce accounting costs.
- Groups Seek Change to "Disadvantaged" Designation , July 20, 2004
- Term referring to minority-and women-owned businesses has outlived its original meaning, the groups say.
- Virginia Brings Back " Blue Laws" , July 15, 2004
- In an oversight, long-dead laws prohibiting work on Sunday are repealed for two weeks.
- Women Lobbyists Want SBA To Make Good On Promises , July 14, 2004
- Government has never reached federal contract goals for women, say groups.
- Kerry-Edwards Supporters Strike Back At Lobbyists , July 10, 2004
- Business leaders say "extremist" portrait of Edwards is "bogey man politics."
- House Restores Funding For SBA Loans , July 9, 2004
- Approval is rejection of SBA's desire to move to zero-subsidy, fee-based loans.
- Business Lobbyists Snub Edwards Selection , July 8, 2004
- Senator's trial law past viewed as out of tune with small business interests.
- Small Farmers Behind Possible Tariffs on China, Vietnam , July 7, 2004
- Group says six countries undercut the U.S. shrimp market, reducing its value by more than half.
- NFIB Ramps Up Lobbying Effort Against Lawsuits , June 30, 2004
- Business group tells Congress small businesses are seen as "easy target."
- Bush Supports Small Business Health Plan , June 23, 2004
- Plan is designed to spread risk, increase negotiating power over premiums.
- Minimum Wage Debate on the Horizon , June 17, 2004
- Hike would mark first increase in seven years.
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce Names New Chairman , June 14, 2004
- Tort reform and health care high on new agenda.
- Small Business to Get More FCC Consideration, June 11, 2004
- FCC overlooked impact of number portability on small telecom firms.
- Fed Begins Survey of Small Businesses , June 11, 2004
- Goal is to understand how government policy affects access to credit.
- Bush Creates Faith-Based SBA Center , June 1, 2004
- The move is part of President's effort to help faith-based organizations gain access to federal funding.
- House Blocks Attempt to Stall New Overtime Rules, May 20, 2004
- New overtime rules get clouded in patrician politics.
- House Passes Health Care Bills, May 18, 2004
- Congress provides some relief for small business' health care woes.
- Senate Blocks New Overtime Rules, May 4, 2004
- On May 4, the Senate voted to block the passage of new overtime rules recently proposed by the Department of Labor.
- Trade: EU Sanctions Hurting Businesses, April 2004
- The European Union has begun imposing sanctions against the U.S., and manufacturing companies with business overseas are suffering.
- Backing Away from Free Trade, January 2004
- Why Democrats have strayed from Bill Clinton's policies on trade.
- Small Biz Barges into Cuba, October 2003
- Fidel Castro hates dissent, yet he appears to like American entrepreneurs.
- Candidates Take on Premiums, October 2003
- An owner's guide to the Democratic presidential candidates' proposals.
- Free Free-Trade, May 2003
- Trade wars can only hurt the U.S. and Europe.
