RSS Feed Archive for October, 2008
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About 70 million people work for small businesses. These people make up one-third of the entire population of U.S. voters. Those are numbers that can wield incredible influence in any election. Imagine what can happen if somehow small businesses and their employees could unite around a few key reforms…. To read more, click on LINK to be directed to the Tulsatoday.com article, 'Imagine' …small business united, by Terry Neese, NCPA Distinguished Fellow. |
October 25, 2008-the 20th Anniversary of HR 5050-Women’s Business Ownership Act
Twenty years ago, women couldn't obtain a loan without their husband co-signing the loan papers. And that was in America, not some third-world country. Working in Afghanistan and Rwanda for the past two years, I appreciate even more what women did in this country a short 20 years ago to blaze the path to business success and empowerment of women right here in America. Last Saturday, October 25, was the 20th Anniversary of the signing of the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988. Access to credit for women business owners, census data important to the world, training support, and official advocacy for our community became reality. Watching this legislation become law and being involved around the fringes was VERY exciting for me as a new member of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO).
I joined NAWBO in 1986 because of Virginia Littlejohn. She was my public policy mentor. She traveled to Oklahoma City in 1986 and recruited me and others to be delegates to the 1986 White House Conference on Small Business. In August 1986, I made my first trip to Washington, D.C. as a delegate to the Conference and my life changed forever. I met and worked with other small business owners from across the country who had the same problems in business, the same passion to succeed, and the same desire to change policies we were grappling with on a daily basis. Today,
Much of the news on the TV talk shows lately has been about "Joe the Plumber" and former Secretary of State Colin Powell's endorsement of Sen. Obama for president. Gen. Powell's sentiments and those of 7 other former Secretaries of State, all of whom endorsed Sen. McCain, is politics, and something for the political arena, not a think tank blog post. I'm more focused on the implications of the Joe the Plumber "phenomenon" on public policy. Let others decide how much weight to give that politically. Fox News contributor Bob Beckel made an interesting claim last week. He said that "there are 17 million small businesses out there, and they can afford to pay more taxes to help others." It seems that Joe the Plumber, and an increasing number of small business owners, disagree with Beckel. The correct number of small businesses, according to the Small Business Administration is 26.8 million, but the bigger issue is taxation of small business owners. Joe the Plumber and his allies are saying they want to pay fewer taxes so they can provide more jobs and better health care and other benefits for their employees. So the question seems to be, why can't Joe the Plumber and other American small business owners provide benefits rather than the government? Who's better suited to make those decisions? You tell me….
During this economic stressful time, I would like you to consider sharing success stories and business strategies that can HELP ALL of us.
I speak to national leadership on a weekly basis and I could sure use stories regarding availability of access to capital in your community or state, health care costs, regulatory burdens, or other issues that determine the SUCCESS of YOUR business.
PLEASE consider sending me comments on any of these issues and/or predictions you see as an expert in your field? Let your voice be heard Email me your comments at: terry.neese@ncpa.org Let me know if I can use your story or parts of your story as an example?
Private sector economy loses jobs; government gains (what is wrong with this picture?)
Ok-get this-YOUR government payroll rose by 9,000 jobs in the month of September. (your tax dollars at work). The American economy lost 159,000 jobs in September, the worst in five years (according to NY Times article). What is wrong with this picture?
Lehman Brothers paid off executives with millions of dollars as it pleaded for federal bailout. This information comes as Congress began investigating what went so wrong on Wall Street to prompt a $700 billion government bailout?!
An ex-scientist, former Goldman Sachs executive is leading the bailout program at Treasury. Before drafting the legislation, he worked with Rockets!
Can someone explain all this to me?
Today the Senate will take up the task of voting on this gargantuan piece of legislation. Senate and House leaders, President Bush and McCain and Obama have been rummaging through ideas new and old, desperately seeking ideas that might appeal to enough lawmakers to reverse the outcome and pass the $700 billion plan.
Here is an idea: Let's help small businesses searching for greater access to capital and credit. This economic situation has hurt many small business owners and since they are the backbone of America's economic engine, let's focus on small business rather than Wall Street. Why can't small business owners get?:
- Elimination of the Alternative Minimum Tax
- Lower corporate tax rate-20 to 25%
- Zero capital gains
- Expand federal deposit insurance (helps if small businesses have any money in the bank and makes us feel better to have a relationship with one banker)
What is on your wish list????? Let's see if we can get any of this in the package!!??