Many of you I am sure have seen that a number of large companies are taking charges in the current quarter for reforms that came out of the health care bill. 300 large corporations have urged the President to repeal a provision that allows them to receive a subsidy on drug coverage and then take a tax deduction for the expense. The companies have said this would deal a significant blow to corporate profits and discourage companies from hiring more workers.
I don’t understand the large companies on this one as it seems to me that if I receive a subsidy I shouldn’t be allowed to then take a deduction. Seems like double dipping but maybe some of you can explain this to me.
Yesterday I received an inquiry from a reporter indicating that businesses are going to be allowed to reduce their prepayment on payroll taxes due to the economy. I have not heard of this. Are any of you familiar with this provision and if so will it help you?
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Waiver of fees and 90% guarantees extended/ IRS Scam/ On Bill Financing/ LA Times
I just received word from Tony Wilkinson of the National Association of Government Lenders that legislation has been passed by the House and the Senate to extend the 90% guarantees on SBA 7a and 504 loans through the end of April. It is expected the President will sign. While this is good it is another stop gap measure and what is really needed is the passage of HR4312 which would extend funding through the end of the year.
Yesterday I received an official looking email which appeared to be from the IRS. It appeared that they were checking information. Have any of you received this? If so it is a scam. My accountant told me the IRS does not send things through email.
Southern California Edison just filed with the California Public Utilities Commission[CPUC] their intention to do On Bill Financing as is being done by San Diego Gas. This would mean 0% financing for small businesses who do energy retrofits. The loans would be $5,000 to $100000. Unfortunately it is not clear when the program will start for small businesses. San Diego Gas has loaned over $6 million on the program and numerous small contractors are getting work they would not have received without the program. The amazing thing is that the default rate on these loans is around 1%.Small Business California and our Executive Director Hank Ryan is responsible for bringing On Bill Financing to California and has spent numerous hours testifying before the CPUC.
For more information on On Bill Financing go to www.smallbusinesscalifornia.org
I received a call the other day from a reporter at the LA Times. It seems they will be running stories about the impact of the health bill on small businesses. If you are in the LA area please let me know if you would be willing to speak to her.
For those of you in the Bay Area I will have my comments in the SF Chronicle Sunday. My comments were based on your responses to me.
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
Yesterday I received an official looking email which appeared to be from the IRS. It appeared that they were checking information. Have any of you received this? If so it is a scam. My accountant told me the IRS does not send things through email.
Southern California Edison just filed with the California Public Utilities Commission[CPUC] their intention to do On Bill Financing as is being done by San Diego Gas. This would mean 0% financing for small businesses who do energy retrofits. The loans would be $5,000 to $100000. Unfortunately it is not clear when the program will start for small businesses. San Diego Gas has loaned over $6 million on the program and numerous small contractors are getting work they would not have received without the program. The amazing thing is that the default rate on these loans is around 1%.Small Business California and our Executive Director Hank Ryan is responsible for bringing On Bill Financing to California and has spent numerous hours testifying before the CPUC.
For more information on On Bill Financing go to www.smallbusinesscalifornia.org
I received a call the other day from a reporter at the LA Times. It seems they will be running stories about the impact of the health bill on small businesses. If you are in the LA area please let me know if you would be willing to speak to her.
For those of you in the Bay Area I will have my comments in the SF Chronicle Sunday. My comments were based on your responses to me.
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Governor's Conference on Small Business & Entrepreneurship II
I have been asked by a reporter how the health bill will affect small business both directly and indirectly. Please provide me your comments today.
Please see below information on the Governors Small Business Conference May 6. Click on the image and zoom in to enlarge it.
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
Please see below information on the Governors Small Business Conference May 6. Click on the image and zoom in to enlarge it.
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
Monday, March 22, 2010
Health Bill Passes
I know many of you were opposed to the health bill but it now has passed. It is now time to move forward as there are many details to be worked out. Small Business California plans to be involved in those discussions.
The biggest issue I think for California small businesses is the development of an Exchange. Small Business California wants to be part of its development.
Do you want more information about what an Exchange is? Do you want to be part of this discussion?
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taravel Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
415-680-2188
shauge@cal-insure.com
The biggest issue I think for California small businesses is the development of an Exchange. Small Business California wants to be part of its development.
Do you want more information about what an Exchange is? Do you want to be part of this discussion?
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taravel Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
415-680-2188
shauge@cal-insure.com
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
SBIR/IRS collects 4 cents and $202.31 in penalties/SBA Stimulus Funding
I have been asked why Small Business California should get involved in the Small Business Innovation Research[SBIR] debate.
I start with Ms Velazquez statement “Without the participation of venture -backed companies, the SBIR program has become little more than corporate welfare for marginal companies who are unable to secure external market based funding”.
Ms Velazquez is the Chair of the House Small Business Committee and in fairness to her she retracted her statement but still believes VCs should be allowed into the program.
The statement in my mind is an attack on the small businesses around the country and the SBA. Does she also mean that small businesses that get SBA 7a and 504 loans, which are not "external market based programs", are taking corporate welfare and marginal small businesses.
Will these programs only be legitimized if VC’s are allowed to use the program? It should be noted that VC’s that have less than 500 employees can use the SBIR or if they do not control the management of the small business those small businesses can use the SBIR program.
For background information there are 4000 companies getting venture capital in the US and there are 25 million small businesses in the US.
You might find the article by Bob Shallit interesting. It was in the Sacramento Bee. It is a story about a car wash owner who had two IRS agents show up at his business to collect 4 cents the IRS says was due. The penalties on this were $202.31
Click here: Bob Shallit: IRS visits Sacramento carwash in pursuit of 4 cents - Sacramento Business, Housing Market News Sacr
Last week I sent an email regarding HR 4213 which would provide $560 million stimulus funding to continue the 90% guarantees on 7a and 504 SBA loans and waive the fees on those loans.
It should be noted it does not include increasing the size of those loans from $2 million to $5 million. That would be done by passage of HR 4302 which Small Business California has strongly supported.
The provisions of HR4302 are in the Senate jobs bill which Senators Feinstein and Boxer have coauthored. We have been working on getting House members from California to coauthor HR 4302 and to date the Congress people that have signed on are Baca, Speier, Costa, Cardoza, Richardson, Davis and Woolsey.
Please ask your congressman to support HR 4302. If you want a sample letter please let me know. Please also tell me where you are located so we can set the letter up to the person in your district.
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
I start with Ms Velazquez statement “Without the participation of venture -backed companies, the SBIR program has become little more than corporate welfare for marginal companies who are unable to secure external market based funding”.
Ms Velazquez is the Chair of the House Small Business Committee and in fairness to her she retracted her statement but still believes VCs should be allowed into the program.
The statement in my mind is an attack on the small businesses around the country and the SBA. Does she also mean that small businesses that get SBA 7a and 504 loans, which are not "external market based programs", are taking corporate welfare and marginal small businesses.
Will these programs only be legitimized if VC’s are allowed to use the program? It should be noted that VC’s that have less than 500 employees can use the SBIR or if they do not control the management of the small business those small businesses can use the SBIR program.
For background information there are 4000 companies getting venture capital in the US and there are 25 million small businesses in the US.
You might find the article by Bob Shallit interesting. It was in the Sacramento Bee. It is a story about a car wash owner who had two IRS agents show up at his business to collect 4 cents the IRS says was due. The penalties on this were $202.31
Click here: Bob Shallit: IRS visits Sacramento carwash in pursuit of 4 cents - Sacramento Business, Housing Market News Sacr
Last week I sent an email regarding HR 4213 which would provide $560 million stimulus funding to continue the 90% guarantees on 7a and 504 SBA loans and waive the fees on those loans.
It should be noted it does not include increasing the size of those loans from $2 million to $5 million. That would be done by passage of HR 4302 which Small Business California has strongly supported.
The provisions of HR4302 are in the Senate jobs bill which Senators Feinstein and Boxer have coauthored. We have been working on getting House members from California to coauthor HR 4302 and to date the Congress people that have signed on are Baca, Speier, Costa, Cardoza, Richardson, Davis and Woolsey.
Please ask your congressman to support HR 4302. If you want a sample letter please let me know. Please also tell me where you are located so we can set the letter up to the person in your district.
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
Friday, March 12, 2010
SBIR
I have written about the battle in Washington between small business and the large venture –backed companies. Basically venture backed capital companies want to redefine the SBA’s criteria of small business.
On March 4 a document passed by the House contained the following statement put forth by Chair of the House Small Business Committee Nydia Velazquez:
“Without the participation of venture-backed companies, the SBIR program has become little more than corporate welfare for marginal companies who are unable to secure external market based funding."
The passage of the document was with the proviso that the document could be changed to make punctuation and technical changes.
For some background information, if you go to the www.sbir.gov website, you will see The US Small Business Administration[SBA] Office of Technology administers the Small Business Innovation Research[SBIR] Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer{STTR] Program. Through these two competitive programs, SBA ensures that the nation’s small,_high-tech innovative businesses are a significant part of the federal governments research and development efforts.
Eleven federal departments participate in the SBIR program; five departments participate in the STTR program awarding $2 billion to small high-tech businesses.
It should be noted that the SBIR program does not prohibit venture-backed companies from participating in the SBIR program just those that do not meet the definition of small business put forth by the SBA.
There was a firestorm around the country about Ms. Velazquez' comments. As a result Ms.Velazquez revised her statement to say:
“In addition, SBA should permit venture capital-backed small businesses to be able to fully participate in the Small Business Innovation Research program. Such participation is essential for high- growth small firms seeking capital, particularly during this period of economic weakness”
Seems to me this is a bit more than punctuation and technical changes but the bottom line is that Ms Velazquez has become a real problem for small business. Not only on the SBIR issue but she prevented an amendment to include small businesses from being included on the credit card reform bill passed by the legislature and signed by the government and voted against the $125 million included in the Defense bill which extended stimulus funding for SBA loans
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
On March 4 a document passed by the House contained the following statement put forth by Chair of the House Small Business Committee Nydia Velazquez:
“Without the participation of venture-backed companies, the SBIR program has become little more than corporate welfare for marginal companies who are unable to secure external market based funding."
The passage of the document was with the proviso that the document could be changed to make punctuation and technical changes.
For some background information, if you go to the www.sbir.gov website, you will see The US Small Business Administration[SBA] Office of Technology administers the Small Business Innovation Research[SBIR] Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer{STTR] Program. Through these two competitive programs, SBA ensures that the nation’s small,_high-tech innovative businesses are a significant part of the federal governments research and development efforts.
Eleven federal departments participate in the SBIR program; five departments participate in the STTR program awarding $2 billion to small high-tech businesses.
It should be noted that the SBIR program does not prohibit venture-backed companies from participating in the SBIR program just those that do not meet the definition of small business put forth by the SBA.
There was a firestorm around the country about Ms. Velazquez' comments. As a result Ms.Velazquez revised her statement to say:
“In addition, SBA should permit venture capital-backed small businesses to be able to fully participate in the Small Business Innovation Research program. Such participation is essential for high- growth small firms seeking capital, particularly during this period of economic weakness”
Seems to me this is a bit more than punctuation and technical changes but the bottom line is that Ms Velazquez has become a real problem for small business. Not only on the SBIR issue but she prevented an amendment to include small businesses from being included on the credit card reform bill passed by the legislature and signed by the government and voted against the $125 million included in the Defense bill which extended stimulus funding for SBA loans
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
Thursday, March 11, 2010
ALERT Senate Votes, Extend SBA Recovery Act to 12/31
Please see below for the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders information to members. As you all know Small Business California and the National Small Business Association have been working closely with NAGGL to get this funding.
We now ask Speaker Pelosi and all members of the California House delegation to support passage quickly of HR 4213.
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
Senate Passes HR 4213, Includes NAGGL-Originated Amendment to Extend & Fund SBA Recovery Act Provisions through CALENDAR Year
March 10, 2010
Dear Members,
Just moments ago the Senate passed HR 4213, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes -- more commonly called the 'Tax Extenders Bill' to extend jobless benefits, tax breaks... and small business programs.
The bill includes an amendment sought by NAGGL that increases the amount of funding to further extend the SBA Recovery Act provisions. NAGGL argued that the additional $354 million proposed in earlier legislation would likely not support SBA lending stimulus provisions through even the end of the fiscal year.
Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Snowe (R-ME) (the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship) concurred with NAGGL. As part of a technical amendment, the Senate has increased the funding to $560 miliion (in addition to the $60 million for March). The $620 million total should be sufficient to get the SBA lending industry through the end of the CALENDAR year. The bill also includes an extension of the authorization of the SBA Recovery Act provisions through 12/31/2010.
What's next? HR 4213 now goes to the House for consideration. NAGGL is hopeful that all congressional work will be completed and the bill signed into law by the March 28 expiration of the recently extended stimulus provisions.
Thank you for your continued support. We'll keep you updated on naggl.org and through email alerts.
Anthony R. Wilkinson
& Your NAGGL Team
NAGGL
215 East 9th Avenue
Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074
We now ask Speaker Pelosi and all members of the California House delegation to support passage quickly of HR 4213.
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
Senate Passes HR 4213, Includes NAGGL-Originated Amendment to Extend & Fund SBA Recovery Act Provisions through CALENDAR Year
March 10, 2010
Dear Members,
Just moments ago the Senate passed HR 4213, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes -- more commonly called the 'Tax Extenders Bill' to extend jobless benefits, tax breaks... and small business programs.
The bill includes an amendment sought by NAGGL that increases the amount of funding to further extend the SBA Recovery Act provisions. NAGGL argued that the additional $354 million proposed in earlier legislation would likely not support SBA lending stimulus provisions through even the end of the fiscal year.
Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Snowe (R-ME) (the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship) concurred with NAGGL. As part of a technical amendment, the Senate has increased the funding to $560 miliion (in addition to the $60 million for March). The $620 million total should be sufficient to get the SBA lending industry through the end of the CALENDAR year. The bill also includes an extension of the authorization of the SBA Recovery Act provisions through 12/31/2010.
What's next? HR 4213 now goes to the House for consideration. NAGGL is hopeful that all congressional work will be completed and the bill signed into law by the March 28 expiration of the recently extended stimulus provisions.
Thank you for your continued support. We'll keep you updated on naggl.org and through email alerts.
Anthony R. Wilkinson
& Your NAGGL Team
NAGGL
215 East 9th Avenue
Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074
Monday, March 08, 2010
Proposition 16 June Ballot
PG&E will be putting on the ballot Proposition 16. This measure will require a two-thirds voter approval before local governments provide electricity service to new customers or establish a community choice electricity program using public funds or bonds.
Questions: Were you aware this would be on the June ballot? Do you support or oppose this initiative?
Last week I heard from Tony Wilkinson of the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders that the Senate has put forth an amendment that would provide $560 million for the SBA to provide 7a and 504 loans with a 90% guarantee and waives the fees on these loans for the calendar year. This is on top of the $60 million that is now in place with the extender legislation that was passed a couple of weeks ago. Small Business California has been at the for front of this effort along with our partners at the National Small Business Association.
Small Business California has delivered the results of our survey to every House member from California and the Governor’s office. We will be sending the surevey results this week to every member of the California legislature.
For the results for 2010 and the results of 2009 please visit our website at http://www.smallbusinesscalifornia.org/
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
Questions: Were you aware this would be on the June ballot? Do you support or oppose this initiative?
Last week I heard from Tony Wilkinson of the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders that the Senate has put forth an amendment that would provide $560 million for the SBA to provide 7a and 504 loans with a 90% guarantee and waives the fees on these loans for the calendar year. This is on top of the $60 million that is now in place with the extender legislation that was passed a couple of weeks ago. Small Business California has been at the for front of this effort along with our partners at the National Small Business Association.
Small Business California has delivered the results of our survey to every House member from California and the Governor’s office. We will be sending the surevey results this week to every member of the California legislature.
For the results for 2010 and the results of 2009 please visit our website at http://www.smallbusinesscalifornia.org/
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Workers Compensation/ AB 32 Global Warming
On Tuesday I spoke at the Department of Workers Compensation conference. Dave Belluschi from the Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Board also was a speaker and he reported that he expects that combined loss ratio for workers compensation for 2009 was going to be around 125%. The combined loss ratio for 2008 was 111%. As I have said before at some point there is going to be double digit increases for small businesses for their comp insurance.
You all may know that there is a movement afoot to put a measure on the ballot to suspend implementation of AB 32.The measure will delay implementation until California’s unemployment drops to 5.5% for a year. Currently the unemployment rate is just over 12%.
Yesterday Valero Energy Corp and Tesoro Corp Texas based refiners have pledged $2 million to get signatures to put this on the ballot. What are your thoughts on this?
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
You all may know that there is a movement afoot to put a measure on the ballot to suspend implementation of AB 32.The measure will delay implementation until California’s unemployment drops to 5.5% for a year. Currently the unemployment rate is just over 12%.
Yesterday Valero Energy Corp and Tesoro Corp Texas based refiners have pledged $2 million to get signatures to put this on the ballot. What are your thoughts on this?
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
Monday, March 01, 2010
Survey Results/CARB Workshop
Please see link to the results of Small Business California’s 6th annual survey.
The top concerns for Small business are:
1. The Economy-88% Top or High Priority
2. Cost of Healthcare-79% -Top or High Priority
3. Quality of Public Education-74%
4. Repair of Infrastructure-66%
5. Access to Capital- 64%
6. Awarding state contracts to small business-61%
7. Regulations-60%
8. State Taxes-58%
9. Energy- 48%
We had over 2700 hundred responding. Thank you.
English results:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Shared/SharedResultsSurveyResultsPage.aspx?ID=L247A8TNDLL3
The California Air Resources Board has developed, and is hosting, a FREE workshop entitled “Taking Advantage of the Growing Green Economy – Real People. Real Solutions. Real Opportunities!” in conjunction with the Green California Summit on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, from 9:30AM to 4:00PM, at the Sacramento Convention Center. Please help us promote this workshop by distributing the attached agenda and flyer to your networks, colleagues, customers and clients.
The focus of this workshop is "Real California Small Businesses" learning from other "Real California Small Businesses" about what is working, what didn't work, how their respective businesses have benefited from the actions they've taken to “Green” their businesses by reducing energy and fuel use, becoming more efficient, accessing local assistance programs, and selling green products and services.
This is a fresh approach and the response thus far has been quite excellent. Our confirmed attendance figures to date have already exceeded our original attendance goals within the first three days of marketing, but we want to be even MORE successful with your assistance! We've expanded the room that was originally reserved for us so we still have capacity to accommodate additional small businesses who want to learn and GROW during this very challenging economy.
Thank you for your support and we hope to see you AT the workshop on March 16!
Jerry Hart
Air Pollution Specialist
CA Air Resources Board
ghart@arb.ca.gov
916-324-5941
The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy cost, see our web site at http://www.arb.ca.gov/
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
The top concerns for Small business are:
1. The Economy-88% Top or High Priority
2. Cost of Healthcare-79% -Top or High Priority
3. Quality of Public Education-74%
4. Repair of Infrastructure-66%
5. Access to Capital- 64%
6. Awarding state contracts to small business-61%
7. Regulations-60%
8. State Taxes-58%
9. Energy- 48%
We had over 2700 hundred responding. Thank you.
English results:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Shared/SharedResultsSurveyResultsPage.aspx?ID=L247A8TNDLL3
The California Air Resources Board has developed, and is hosting, a FREE workshop entitled “Taking Advantage of the Growing Green Economy – Real People. Real Solutions. Real Opportunities!” in conjunction with the Green California Summit on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, from 9:30AM to 4:00PM, at the Sacramento Convention Center. Please help us promote this workshop by distributing the attached agenda and flyer to your networks, colleagues, customers and clients.
The focus of this workshop is "Real California Small Businesses" learning from other "Real California Small Businesses" about what is working, what didn't work, how their respective businesses have benefited from the actions they've taken to “Green” their businesses by reducing energy and fuel use, becoming more efficient, accessing local assistance programs, and selling green products and services.
This is a fresh approach and the response thus far has been quite excellent. Our confirmed attendance figures to date have already exceeded our original attendance goals within the first three days of marketing, but we want to be even MORE successful with your assistance! We've expanded the room that was originally reserved for us so we still have capacity to accommodate additional small businesses who want to learn and GROW during this very challenging economy.
Thank you for your support and we hope to see you AT the workshop on March 16!
Jerry Hart
Air Pollution Specialist
CA Air Resources Board
ghart@arb.ca.gov
916-324-5941
The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy cost, see our web site at http://www.arb.ca.gov/
Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA 94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188
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