By John Maggs; Politico Is there really a small-business credit crunch? To hear President Barack Obama tell it, one of the most lasting effects of the financial crisis is the trouble that small businesses are facing in getting loans to expand. While the credit crisis has eased for Big Business, the president has argued for months that additional help was needed to get loans flowing… Read more »

By Emily Maltby; Wall Street Journal Small businesses, known for jump-starting economies, aren't upholding their reputation. During past recessions, small firms have been the forerunners in hiring and growth, and the harbingers of recovery. But this time, they are holding back, seemingly more than large companies. The reservation appears to stem from a general uncertainty—felt by… Read more »

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By Jay Heflin; The Hill Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), the Small Business Committee's ranking member, on Wednesday expressed outrage over the Small Business Administration (SBA) failing to submit comments to the Treasury Department on the new rule beginning in 2012 that requires businesses and organizations submit a form 1099 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for purchases over… Read more »

By Jeff Cornwall; Christian Science Monitor I give a talk to various business groups titled "The Future of Small Business in America". When I gave this talk a few years ago it had a very happy ending. I talked about the robust entrepreneurial economy and how bright the future is for young entrepreneurs. It also included some warnings about factors that were inhibiting entrepreneurs… Read more »

By Rep. Bill Cassidy; Politico President Barack Obama again talked about small businesses last week. “Government can’t create jobs to replace the millions that we lost in the recession,” the president said at the White House, “but it can create the conditions for small businesses to hire more people, through steps like tax breaks.”  He’s right. But it is hard to reconcile the… Read more »

By Jay Heflin; The Hill House Small Business Committee ranking member Sam Graves (R-Mo.) on Tuesday sent a follow-up letter to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Doug Shulman asking how he plans to implement the 1099 reporting rule included in the new healthcare law that requires businesses and organizations to report all purchases above $600 to the IRS.  Graves sent a… Read more »

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By Richard Cohen; Politico House Minority Leader John Boehner today delivered scathing criticism of House operations and promised major congressional reforms if he becomes speaker following the November election. “The House finds itself in a state of emergency. The institution does not function, does not deliberate and seems incapable of acting on the will of the people. From the… Read more »

By Larry Kudlow; National Review President Obama is crowing about his small-business bill, signed into law on Monday. “It was critical that we cut taxes and made more loans available to entrepreneurs,” he said. Trouble is, small businesses and community banks don’t want Obama’s $30 billion program. That’s right. They don’t want it. An AP story quotes community bankers who do not want… Read more »