October 06, 2004
NASE “Election Watch” Equips Small Businesses for the Ballot
With so much at stake in November’s election on local, state and federal levels, the NASE launched “Election Watch 2004” this week, a micro-business owners’ guide to the issues and candidates.
“With this Web site, the NASE hopes to arm the self-employed and micro-business owners with the tools they need to cast their vote on November 2nd,” said NASE President Robert Hughes. “From registering to vote and finding your polling place to learning where the candidates stand on key small business issues, ‘Election Watch 2004’ can help.”
Found at http://advocacy.NASE.org, “Election Watch 2004” provides links to the two major party presidential candidates’ issue stances, links to federal and state candidates for all offices, and resources on how and where to vote across the country. The site will be frequently updated throughout the month with relevant news articles and informative materials to help in making educated choices at the ballot box.
The NASE is a nonpartisan association, and does not endorse or contribute to candidates. Working with Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, the NASE supports legislation that helps small businesses thrive and removes barriers to their growth. NASE’s access to legislators comes from its strong grassroots efforts, which puts association members in direct contact with their representatives.
For information on NASE priority issues, as well as to find “Election Watch 2004,” visit http://advocacy.NASE.org.
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Democrats Give Contracting Agencies a Failing Grade
Democrats on the House Small Business Committee released their annual report card on federal agencies offering contracting opportunities to small businesses last week. The 22 federal agencies scored, which represent over 99 percent of all government contract dollars, received an overall grade of “D”.
Under current law, federal agencies are supposed to award 23 percent of their contracts to small business, with five percent of those contracts reserved for women small business owners and three percent for firms in low-income areas. According to the Democrat’s scorecard, these goals have not been met for the past few years, costing small business an estimated $15 billion in contracting opportunities for 2003.
Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee, outlined solutions to the barriers facing small business access to the federal marketplace, including stopping the practice of contract bundling, and ensuring that small businesses are able to receive subcontracts and overseas contracts.
New Bill Could Help Regulation Compliance
A new bill introduced in the Senate could help small businesses comply with federal regulations, saving time and money. The bill, "The Small Business Compliance Assistance Enhancement Act of 2004" (S. 2834), amends loopholes in the 1996 Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act, which was meant to ease the burden of federal regulation compliance.
Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), introduced S. 2834. The bill stems from a General Accounting Office (GAO) report that found ambiguity in the original law, allowing federal agencies to skirt compliance assistance duties. The proposed new bill is intended only to clarify already existing requirements, and not to expand current law.
According to the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration, it costs small businesses almost $7,000 per employee annually to comply with federal regulations. That cost places a burden on small business that is 60 percent greater than costs incurred by large corporations.
For more information on the provisions of S. 2834, visit http://sbc.senate.gov/108press/sept2304.html.
For the GAO report (GAO-02-172) on the 1996 Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act, visit http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d02172.pdf.
Senate Small Business Committee
http://sbc.senate.gov/
President Declares October “National Breast Cancer Awareness Month”
President Bush proclaimed October 2004 “National Breast Cancer Awareness Month” in an effort to “raise awareness of this deadly disease, encourage early detection, and support research to find a cure.” It is estimated that 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and with this declamation, President Bush pledged to “continue our Nation's strong commitment to controlling and curing breast cancer.”
Find out more about breast cancer, detection and treatment at the Susan G. Komen Foundation Web site at http://www.komen.org/. Read President Bush’s proclamation here
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/10/20041002-4.html.
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