Posed on OpenLeft:

Is the Chamber of Commerce using bailout money to attack workers?

No. No we are not.

The Boston Herald looks at Card Check today in "Earth to unions":

At America's Small Business Summit May 11th through the 13th -- you are registered, right? -- we will be awarding the 2009 Small Business of the Year Award.  One of the highlights of the ceremony are short videos of the Regional Finalists in which they tell us their stories, give tips for success and talk about the issues affecting their businesses.

Funny, true and sad. Go here, watch this:

Nina Olson, the national taxpayer advocate at the Internal Revenue Service, says "We Still Need a Simpler Tax Code." She covers all taxpayers, but here is what she says about the small business burden:

Trade agreements and increased exports are vital to U.S. businesses, workers and farmers, as 96 percent of the world’s consumers live outside the United States. In this economy it is more important than ever to open world markets for America's businesses to sell products and services abroad. The mission of the U.S.

Over the past six months, visitors to ILR’s website FacesOfLawsuitAbuse.org have been invited to vote on the "Most Ridiculous Lawsuit of the Month."  Past "winners" have included: a man who sought $2 billion in damages from companies over their alleged use of brain-wave control, satanic rituals and witchcraft; an eBay seller who sued his customer ove

In a recent speech to 70 students and labor activists at Harvard Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern had this to say:

by Michael Gallis,  Michael Gallis & Associates

The U.S. trade deficit shrank 28% in February, narrowing to its smallest in more than nine years, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The Commerce Department reported today that U.S. exports climbed in February by 1.6% from the previous month, reaching $127 billion. Imports fell by 5.1%. A sharp global recession is restraining demand for U.S. goods and services in key overseas markets.

Good news from the higher education world.

The Lumina Foundation has launched an initiative to help ensure the quality of postsecondary education, through a pilot project called Tuning USA. The organization is working with education officials, students, and faculty members from Indiana, Minnesota, and Utah on the year-long project.

On Monday, May 11, at America's Small Business Summit, small business owners and chamber and association executives will come together around common concerns, hear the latest on pressing policy issues from the experts, and bring the collective voice of business to Congress.

Columnist Victor Davis Hanson says it’s hard to decide who is more at fault for the financial crisis, Democrats or Republicans. After recounting how each party made fatal mistakes, he ultimately decides the fault lies in us. He writes:

I had multiple 'aha' moments reading this story: (h/t ebmindc):

The administration is taking some flack over the president's new science adviser characterizing global warming as so severe a problem we should consider geoengineering the climate – perhaps shooting pollution particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect the sun's rays. “It's got to be looked at," said John Holdren. "We don't have the luxury of taking any approach off the table … [global warming is like being] in a car with bad brakes driving toward a cliff in the fog."

Rian Wathen, former Organizing Director for the UFCW Local 700, Indianapolis, discusses different tactics union organizers use to get employees to sign union authorization cards with Heritage:

Rep. Eric Cantor, in the Washington Times, articulates well the need to help, not punish small businesses:

If America is to preserve and create millions more meaningful jobs, let's focus on helping the job creators, not hurting them. And who generates most of the jobs in this country?

We have always believed that honesty is the best policy when it comes to addressing climate change, hiding the costs to hood-wink the public will only doom any chance of energy sustainability and security. The New York Times’ Tom Friedman wrote on this very topic today, saying that the Obama administration is barking up the wrong tree with cap-and-trade:

A case study from the Wall Street Journal:

In a surprise visit to Baghdad yesterday, President Obama praised the performance of U.S. troops and told them it was time for them to step aside and let Iraqis do things for themselves.