Broken Fences | Bruce Krasting / Zero Hedge

When I (and others) book a job three months in advance, the contractor can hire more workers knowing when checks will be coming in. My visibility creates the contractors visibility. The predictability of revenue creates the opportunity for economic expansion and job creation.

The Federal Reserve is operating monetary policy using a simple formula:

Lower interest rates across all maturities ALWAYS increases economic growth.

My personal example proves this formula to be flawed. I think the formula is more complicated:

Lowering interest rates across all maturities has both positive and negative consequences. As interest rates approach zero, (with the prospect that they will remain so for years to come) the negative consequences outweigh any benefits.

The idea that lower interest rates are hurting savers is an old one. The question is, “How significant are the negative consequences of low interest rates?” The multi-decade efforts in Japan to reflate an economy with low interest rates is a shining example of policy that has not worked.

Read this article, you will have, in nutshell, exactly our economic situation. Read at least some of the comments. If you filter out the hyperbole of a few, the comments form a kind of crystal ball, with some sobering predictions.

A Majority of Americans (Including Both OWS and the Tea Party) AGREE on the Most Important Issues … We Just Don’t Realize It | ZeroHedge

I have repeatedly demonstrated that – despite the false divide-and-conquer tactics of the mainstream parties and mainstream media – the overwhelming majority of Americans agree on the most important issues facing our country.

Read Article.

How the Deficit Got This Big | NYTimes.com

Despite what antigovernment conservatives say, non-defense discretionary spending on areas like foreign aid, education and food safety was not a driving factor in creating the deficits. In fact, such spending, accounting for only 15 percent of the budget, has been basically flat as a share of the economy for decades. Cutting it simply will not fill the deficit hole.

Read Article.

Seven Problems a Recovery Won’t Fix – Umair Haque – Harvard Business Review

It’s time to stop looking for “recovery” (as in ways to resurrect this drooling zombie of an industrial economy) and start seeding transformation (as in building a 21st century economy, that turns most or all of the toxic dynamics above upside down). It’s time to stop thinking about getting back to yesterday’s prosperity — and time to start thinking about how to get past it.

Read Article.

The Obama Deception: Why Cornel West Went Ballistic – Chris Hedges | Truthdig

“He makes a bee line to me right after the talk, in front of everybody,” West says. “He just lets me have it. He says, ‘You ought to be ashamed of yourself, saying I’m not a progressive. Is that the best you can do? Who do you think you are?’ I smiled. I shook his hand. And a sister hollered in the back, ‘You can’t talk to professor West. That’s Dr. Cornel West. Who do you think you are?’

Read Article.

Small Business Bill HR 5297 | An Overview

HR 5297 passed the Senate last week. It will rush through the house and likely be signed into law by President Obama as early as Friday of this week. This bill will have a huge impact on business. Here, courtesy of Jack Kykendahl and Tom Yuhas is a quick run down of the bill:

Links to FedConnect and Federal Grants Sources

This is a little old, but still valuable…

Important Application Information for New Small Business Funding

Earlier today, our office sent you an email regarding yesterday’s announcement for $30 million in funding from the Recovery Act and FY 2010 budget appropriations which will be made available to qualified small businesses to support the commercialization of promising new technologies.

Qualified small businesses can submit applications through Grants.gov to be considered for award. Use the Grants.gov “Basic Search” feature to search for the Xlerator program. Questions relating to the content of the FOA must be submitted through the FedConnect portal at www.fedconnect.net. While there is not a direct link to the SBIR Phase III FOA, applicants can search for it by typing “DE-FOA-0000397″ in the search box under the reference number search.

View Grants.gov here: http://www07.grants.gov/search/basic.do
View FedConnect here: https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/PublicPages/PublicSearch/Public_Opportunities.aspx

Please note that only DOE Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I and Phase II grantees from FY 2005 to FY 2009 are eligible to apply to this U.S. Department of Energy Phase III Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).

For additional information please review the attached FOA for the DOE FY2010 Phase III Xlerator Program for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Electricity Delivery, Energy Reliability, Fossil Energy, and Nuclear Energy.

Small Business Dashboard | U.S. Department of Energy – Office of Economic Impact and Diversity

Transparency, Accuracy, and the Small Business Dashboard

With small businesses creating two out of every three net new jobs, holding more patents than the largest corporations and universities combined, and employing half of all working Americans, we can’t afford to ignore opportunities to improve and advance federal contracting opportunities to small businesses.

Today President Obama’s Interagency Task Force on Federal Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses put forward thirteen recommendations to:

• Develop clearer and more comprehensive small business contracting policies;
• Provide for a better workforce and hold agencies accountable for meeting small business goals; and
• Leverage technology to enhance transparency, increase federal procurement accessibility for small businesses, and improve data quality.

Transparency, Accuracy, and the Small Business Dashboard

Read the Executive Summary here.

Small business contracting goals, started in 1978, help agencies map out the percentage of annual prime contract spending that should be awarded to small businesses every year. The thirteen recommendations that the Interagency Task Force put forward today will address the gap between the annual government-wide goal for contracting and the actual annual prime contract spending. While the Department of Energy received an “A” grade for FY 2009 achievement from the Small Business Administration, we are fully committed to improving government-wide small business contracting.

The brand-new Small Business Dashboard is a reflection of this commitment. On the Small Business Dashboard visitors can see government-wide goaling information, design their own data feeds from small business data, perform detailed searches on government contractors, view top types of contracts used and states by vendor locations, and learn more about the contracts at each Federal agency.

Visit the Small Business Dashboard here.

The Department of Energy’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization is looking forward to working with the Task Force as we implement the recommendations put forward today and evaluate progress. We hope resources like the Small Business Dashboard prove useful to your small business, and we welcome the opportunity to continue talking with you.

This is the Problem – Exhibit 2

Please forward this to as many people as possible.

This is the Problem – Exhibit 1

Please forward to as many people as you can.

Spoiler Alert: The government does not care about you.

This isn’t a Democrat or Republican problem. This is good old fashion thievery.

Congress fails to pass SBA Recovery Act – Old Rules Apply

On a vote of 57-41, the U.S. Senate defeated legislation that would have keep the increased guarantees and fee waivers in place for another year. While lending to small business has been difficult at best, the return to the old rules will mean even fewer deals get done, since the banks will have more risk.

For working capital (7a) loans less than $150,000, banks will receive an 85% guarantee and will charge a 2% fee on the guaranteed portion. From $150,001 to $700,000 the guarantee is 75% and the fee is 3%. Loans above that amount will be 75% guaranteed with a 3.5% fee.

For SBA Express loans, the cap is$350,000 with a 50% guarantee and a 2% fee.

Most banks will allow rolling these additional fees into the loan.

California’s Contracting with Small Business and Disabled Vets Exceeds State Goals

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California state agencies in two of the last three years exceeded goals for contracting with small businesses and set a record for contracts with firms owned by disabled veterans, the Department of General Services announced today, releasing reports for the 2007/08 and 2008/09 fiscal years .

Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation for Green Tech Manufacturing Equipment Sales Tax Exemption to Create Jobs

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Contact: Aaron McLear/Kira Heinrichs
916-445-4571

Building on his commitment to clean technology growth in California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed SB 71 by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) to create a sales tax exemption for the purchase of green tech manufacturing equipment in California. This tax exemption is a part of the Governor’s California Jobs Initiative, a legislative package that will create or retain at least 100,000 jobs.

California Recovery Task Force Launches Interactive Web Portal

Press Release

For Immediate Release:  03/23/2010

Contact: Aaron McLear/Eric Alborg
916-445-5880

California Recovery Task Force Launches Interactive Web Portal

In an effort to provide unprecedented transparency of stimulus spending in California, the California Recovery Task Force has launched an interactive Web Portal (www.recovery.ca.gov) that tracks the more than $85 billion in cash and tax benefits expected overall for Californians.

“Tracking stimulus money has further underscored the need to break through the silos of government at the federal, state and local levels,” said Senior Advisor to the Governor and California Recovery Task Force Director Herb K. Schultz.  “Our Web Portal will continue to evolve in order to provide the most transparent picture of government spending in U.S. history.”

SBA Recovery Act Funding Extended

Extension of SBA Recovery Lending Programs Will Support $1.8 Billion in Small Business Lending

Agency plans to restart Recovery loan approvals on March 10

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama signed legislation Tuesday extending until March 28 the U.S. Small Business Administration’s ability to provide small business loans that are enhanced with special provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), including a higher guarantee of SBA-backed loans and a waiver of loan fees normally paid by borrowers.

SBA estimates the additional funding will support about $1.8 billion in small business lending.