Nation Needs a Strategy to Secure Supplies
By Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
As the summer driving season gears up, gasoline prices are once again headed upward, pinching the pocketbooks of consumers and small business owners. Our nation continues on a high-speed roller coaster of energy price spikes and declines.
The U.S. Chamber has been recognized for its online grassroots advocacy work in 2006 with two Pollie Awards-earning a Silver recognition for an e-mail/viral marketing campaign and an honorable mention in the persuasion online advertisement category. The Pollie Awards are given annually by the American Association of Political Consultants.
NORTHEASTDelawareState Task Force Issues Conservation Recommendations
Americans' level of confidence in small business leaders continues to grow compared to other public and private institutions, according to a poll conducted by Harris Interactive®. Some 45% of Harris poll respondents expressed a great deal of confidence in leaders of small business. Since being added to the list of institutions in 2005, small business has consistently ranked near the top of the Harris Interactive Confidence in Leadership Index.
NORTHEASTMarylandGovernor Signs State Living Wage LawGov. Martin O'Malley (D) signed a first-in-the-nation state "living wage" law last week, setting a higher minimum wage for those employed by state contractors. It is unclear how many workers will be affected by the Maryland law, which sets minimum wages for employees of government contractors at $11.30 an hour in the Baltimore-Washington area and $8.50 an hour in the rest of the state.
As we sputter through the first half of 2007, the economy continues to overcome obstacles in its path, but the lack of momentum has clearly raised anxiety levels among commentators, the media, and some economists. I still believe that the economy will gradually accelerate through the year and approach its long-run potential growth rate by year-end, but it is likely to be a nail-biter.
AlabamaHealth Plan Appeals to Small BusinessesGov. Bob Riley (R) has proposed allowing business owners with 25 or fewer employees to deduct twice the amount they pay in health care premiums from their state income taxes. Source: The Montgomery Advertiser
Face-off: What Conditions Should Be Included in the Deal?Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA)Member, Committee on Ways and Means
NORTHEASTConnecticutVocational Agriculture Programs Underfunded Despite Demand
The Chamber applauded the introduction this week of the Investment in America Act of 2007, a bi-partisan bill that will strengthen and make permanent the Research and Experimentation (R&E) Tax Credit.
