Blog
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Small Businesses to Congress: Enough Dithering on Immigration David Brodwin
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Microloans - The Future for Small Farmers Lucy Dagnillo
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Building an Ownership Economy Michael Peck “In this nation I see tens of millions of its citizens, who are denied the greater part of what the very lowest standards of today call the necessities of life. I see millions of families trying to live on incomes so meager that the pall of family disaster hangs over them day by day. I see millions whose daily lives in city and on farm continue under conditions labeled indecent by a so-called polite society half a century ago. I see millions denied education, recreation, and the opportunity to better their lot and the lot of their children. read on... |
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Federal Procurement Policy, A Weapon with Promise. Nathan Havey
According to the Census Bureau, the 89,476 local governments in the United States spend approximately $1.6 trillion in total expenditures annually. Add that to the roughly $3.5 trillion Federal budget, account for some d read on... |
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Do-It-Yourself Economic Growth Heidi Pickman “Granting corporate incentives has become standard operating procedure for state and local governments across the country “ – costing taxpayers a minimum of $80 billion each year. In early December 2012, The New York Times published a big investigative piece called “United States of Subsidies.” According to the piece, read on... |
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Wisconsin's New Health Care Marketplace: Questions We Must All Answer Steve Kagen In 2006, I ran for public office for the first time in my life to end discrimination against my patients with pre-existing medical conditions – and I succeeded. After a century of trying, we finally established health care is a Civil Right. Beginning next January no insurance company, anywhere in these United States, will be allowed to decline insurance coverage to any citizen. In other words, if you’re a citizen, you’re in. As a physician, I know this is a really big deal. read on... |
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The Business Case Against the Keystone XL Pipeline David Levine Business leaders across the nation understand that climate change, if not addressed, will impose substantial economic costs on the US. All of us will spend more money to harden our infrastructure, repair storm-damaged homes, pay more for health care and fresh water and watch property values deteriorate. These costs will make the US economy less productive and less competitive. This is especially bad news for the small to mid-size businesses that create the most jobs in our country. read on... |
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Why Business Should Confront Externalities Head-On Jason Scorse Externalities are costs (or benefits) not directly borne by those engaged in an economic transaction. Pollution is the most ubiquitous negative externality in the world. All externalities allow companies, large and small, to effectively cheat by pushing costs onto society that they should bear. With climate change accelerating, the failure to address externalities is literally threatening the future of human civilization. read on... |
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Vermont Leads the Way in Health Care Reform Daniel Barlow When Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility polls its members about what is working and not working for their companies, one message is always clear: The cost of health insurance is crippling our economy. Year after year, our members identify the double-digit premium increases as the number one obstacle to the success of their businesses. That outpaces concerns over taxes, regulations, and workforce training. read on... |
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The Investment Case for a Forward-Thinking Energy Policy Scott Sadler As a direct result from our unbridled use of fossil fuels, we are witnessing the most destructive climate conditions of our lifetime. And if that weren’t bad enough, we also know that a growing global population of energy-intensive consumers will only exacerbate these problems. Scientists have yet to be wrong in their predictions about climate change, and they tell us that we have a finite window to address these issues before they become unmanageable. Will we step up and demand comprehensive energy policies to protect our property, our health and our national security? read on... |
As Congress, the White House, and the nation debate immigration policy, it's important to consider how immigration affects the U.S. economy and, most importantly, the small business sector. After all, fast-growing small businesses contribute the majority of all net new jobs in the United States.
In late January 2013 the USDA introduced a new and potentially game-changing .JPG)
