By George Melloan; Wall Street Journal
A report by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York last week showed that consumers are having difficulty climbing out of the debt hole they dug for themselves before the credit bubble began to deflate in late 2007. The report gives support to the fears of those asset managers and economists who believe the U.S. is facing deflation.
Bill Gross,… Read more »
By Brent Martin; MissouriNet
A member of Missouri’s Congressional delegation would like to see Congress extend the tax cuts enacted by President Bush, but doesn’t see that happening.
Northeast Missouri Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer says he has been traveling throughout his Congressional district, which actually extends all the way south to Osage Beach with a portion even below I-44.… Read more »
By William Seay; The St. Joe Channel
U.S. Representative Sam Graves was in St. Joseph today at American Family Insurance.
The Congressman toured the American Family building, and met with business leaders who wanted to voice concerns about the American economy.
Congressman Graves says that visits like his today are vitally important when he has any downtime from his job in Washington,… Read more »
By Doug Wilson; Quincy Herald Whig
U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer said the business owners he was scheduled to visit in Northeast Missouri today are better suited to create jobs and heal the U.S. economy than members of Congress.
On Tuesday, Luetkemeyer voted against what is being touted as a jobs bill by Congress. The legislation, which passed and was signed into law by President… Read more »
Wall Street Journal
President Obama has been trying to rebut the claim that he's antibusiness by promoting something called the Small Business Jobs Act, which would provide loans and temporary tax cuts to small businesses. If you've been paying attention over the last 18 months, you're probably asking, what's the catch?
And sure enough, most of the tax cuts are so narrowly targeted as… Read more »
By Jay Heflin; The Hill
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council has called on its members to contact their senators and urge them to repeal the mandate requiring small businesses to file 1099 forms to the IRS for purchases over $600.
"This new paperwork burden will be a nightmare for small business owners," the group's communication states. "Small business owners know what… Read more »
By Ken Newton; St. Joe News Press
The Alamo stands as a symbol of defiance in a fight for independence. Thanks to lax oversight, it would also stand as a business address for a taxpayer-funded federal loan.
This came to light Wednesday afternoon as an auditor of Small Business Administration programs testified before a Congressional committee. The top Republican on the panel,… Read more »
By Jason Miller; Federal News Radio
The Small Business Administration confirmed that Grande Lum will be the new director of the Historically Underutilized Business Zone program.
And Lum, a law professor and founder of Accordence, a consultancy that provides negotiations, conflict management and persuasion and influence services, is walking into a program plagued with problems.
A… Read more »
By Grace Gagliano; Bradenton Herald
Unemployment tax, health care and job creation are weighing heavily on the minds of small businesses in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Congressman Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, held a joint meeting Monday with members of the Manatee and Sarasota chambers of commerce. His message to them about the federal budget was one they’ve heard for quite a… Read more »
By Emily Maltby; Wall Street Journal
Behind the credit squeeze on small business lies the collateral gap.
Many small businesses, thwarted in efforts to get loans, are saying it takes money to get money. That's because property and equipment assets have fallen in value, so businesses seeking loans are being asked for alternative collateral, often in the form of cash so that the loan is… Read more »