A Healthier America at a Lower Cost
Paul S. Speranza Jr.
Chairman of the Board
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
"Imagine" is the most powerful word in the English language. Imagine a healthier America at a lower cost.
Most Americans have decided that climate change is happening and that human activity is a contributing factor. Today, the real debate is over what to do about it. Policymakers and the public have a range of views about how we should respond to climate change—and so does the business community.
Where does the Chamber stand, and how are we approaching this debate?
BILL NAMESUMMARY OF BILL AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOUU.S. CHAMBER'S POSITIONSTATUSADA ExpansionH.R. 3195 ADA Restoration
There are a number of changes for tax year 2007 that small business owners need to take into account.Increased Section 179 limits. The maximum Section 179 deduction for property placed in service in 2007 is $125,000. Under a new law recently signed by the president (see cover story), Section 179 expensing allowances will double to $250,000 for 2008.Domestic production activities deduction. This deduction percentage increases from 3% to 6%.
GeorgiaUnemployment Claims Jump Almost 38%The Georgia Department of Labor reported Thursday first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits spiked 37.7% in February. Some 40,963 laid-off workers filed first-time claims, compared with 29,738 in February 2007. The rise in claims is the eighth consecutive increase since July 2007, DOL noted.Source: Atlanta Business Chronicle
JOIN THE CONVERSATIONThe positions of the major presidential candidates on key business issues were presented in "Presidential Primary Season Lifts Off" (uschamber.com, January 2008). The story generated a number of responses from visitors to www.uschambermagazine.com, including calls to cover more candidates and more issues.
Lobbying Produces Results for BusinessThe U.S. Chamber helped push through Congress a $168 billion economic stimulus package designed to spark small business growth and revive a struggling economy.
The U.S. Supreme Court on March 19 heard arguments in a case challenging a 2000 California law that prohibits state contractors and other companies that receive more than $10,000 from the state from using those funds "to assist, promote, or deter union organizing."
