Topic: National Federation of Independent Business

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Election 101: Rick Santorum makes a bid for the White House

Rick Santorum’s 16-year career in politics can be charted through his rigorous positions on hot-button issues: welfare, abortion, gay rights. His boldness has made Mr. Santorum a politician that people either really like or don’t just as deeply.

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Stocks' worst day in 2012: Dow loses 213

The Dow slipped 213 to 12715, its biggest drop of the year and third triple digit loss in four days.
Tax VOX
How will the Supreme Court's health-care ruling affect taxes?

Obama's leath-care reforms include both tax increases and tax cuts. Even if the controversial individual mandate is struck down, most of those tax changes would survive—unless, of course, the High Court kills the entire act.
Obama health care law at Supreme Court: mega case for the history books

US Supreme Court takes up the Obama health-care reform law starting Monday. The case puts the high court center stage in a constitutional showdown that could define the scope of congressional power for generations – and perhaps affect Obama's reelection prospects.
Cash mobs: a new boost for local business?

Saturday is International Cash Mob Day. Like flash mobs, cash mobs use social media to organize. But they don't perform, they spend money at a targeted local business.
Dow jumps 218 on market's biggest 2012 day

Bank stocks led the market to its biggest single day gain of 2012. The Dow rose 218 points to close at 13177, its highest close since 2007.
Health insurance: Vermont plan riles firms

Health insurance reform passes the Vermont House. But business group pushes back, saying health insurance choices would be limited.
Gas prices: Could surge at pump derail recovery?

Gas prices in California rise above $4 a gallon. By spring, some areas could see gas prices rise to $5 a gallon.
Unemployment rate falls. Job gains ease fears of new recession.

The unemployment rate fell to 8.6 percent last month, down from 9 percent. It's the latest sign that the US economy is steering clear of a new recession. Still, pitfalls linger.
The New Economy
Black Friday: Small firms saw big bounce, too

Black Friday and Thanksgiving weekend sales rose 23 percent from last year for America's smallest businesses, according to a new survey. 'Small Business Saturday' helped sole proprietors, but Black Friday was where they saw the biggest gains. 
Economy's mojo and Washington's no-go

Economic indicators are up slightly. Do consumers and investors perceive an end to the great political uncertainty in Washington (and Europe)?
Boehner vs. Obama: Are US job creators really 'on strike'?

That's how House Speaker John Boehner characterized job creators in a speech Thursday, which came a week after President Obama outlined his own jobs plan to Congress.
Stocks go up for second straight day

The Dow rose 44.73 points to close at 11,105.85 after a choppy Tuesday session
Health-care reform law set back, setting stage for Supreme Court showdown

A federal appeals court rejects the individual mandate, the crux of Obama's health-care reform. With another appeals court having already upheld the law, a Supreme Court showdown is far more likely.
Dow takes another dive: what is making investors worried

Obama, Bernanke, and Geithner meet as investors worry that political leaders – in the United States and Europe – and central banks can't do much more to support a weak economy.
A recovery? Small businesses aren't so sure.

Two years into the recovery, the outlook among small businesses is gloomy. Will it be self-fulfilling?
Labor unions: the latest moves to empower or weaken them

The Obama administration is showing support for labor unions, while some states, like Wisconsin, work to strip some of their key powers. If the job market continues to weaken, could Obama's support for unions hinder his reelection campaign?
Election 101: Rick Santorum makes a bid for the White House

Rick Santorum’s 16-year career in politics can be charted through his rigorous positions on hot-button issues: welfare, abortion, gay rights. His boldness has made Mr. Santorum a politician that people either really like or don’t just as deeply.
Tea party faces unusual opponent in national debt limit battle

Usually natural allies, the tea party and the business lobby are at odds over if and how to raise the national debt limit.
Obama says 'Drill, baby, drill.' Will new oil policy ease gas prices?

President Obama used his weekly address to announce steps to promote greater domestic oil production and reduce the burden of high gas prices. Republicans say it's not enough.
Supreme Court should reject climate change nuisance suit

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in American Electric Power Co., Inc. v. Connecticut, an unprecedented “public nuisance” lawsuit brought against energy companies. The courts are hardly the place to set broad policy on climate change. Even Obama agrees.
Stocks close lower amid falling oil prices

Stocks and commodities fall sharply, after Goldman warns of substantial pullback in oil prices. Dow loses 117 points.
Obama's innovation push: Has US really fallen off the cutting edge?

Obama sees a push to innovate as the answer to a stalled economy and falling US status. Critics say staying on the cutting edge is not what ails America.
Health care reform struck down by judge

Health care reform is unconstitutional because in mandates that citizens must have insurance, judge rules.
Obama launches new push for US jobs, tapping GE's Immelt to help

The economy is 'not growing fast enough yet,' Obama acknowledged Friday, speaking to GE workers in Schenectady, N.Y. Will GE's CEO, Jeffrey Immelt, prove to be his guide to building a more competitive America?
Tax the rich, not small business

Small business growth powers the economy. If Obama extends the tax cuts on small business owners, will that hurt more than it helps?