Small Business Bill Takes Huge Step

A look at the week of September 14, 2010, in public advocacy for the IT channel

This week, the Senate voted to move forward with the Small Business Jobs Act, providing increased loans, programs and tax cuts for small business.  Meanwhile, a growing demand for technology services and electronics is stabilizing tech-heavy metro regions even as the broader economy risks a double-dip.  Although cybersecurity legislation has been listed as a priority for Congress, its passage is far from certain.

Small Business Bill Takes Huge Step - Legislation aimed at boosting the flow of credit to small businesses finally cleared a procedural hurdle in the Senate.  The Washington Business Journal reports that, by a 61-37 vote, the Senate voted to move forward with the Small Business Jobs Act, which would provide community banks with as much as $30 billion for small business loans and would expand Small Business Administration loan programs.  The bill also includes a variety of targeted tax cuts for small businesses.

Tech Spending Cushions Some Metro Areas - The Wall Street Journal reports that increased demand for technology services and electronics has helped stabilize the economies of some of the country’s tech-heavy metro regions.  Demand in the technology sector has improved both from consumers’ willingness to splurge on electronics and from companies upgrading software.

Senate Aims to Pass Cybersecurity Bill this Year - According to Reuters, Capitol Hill staffers have made progress combining several cybersecurity proposals into one 200-plus page bill, with Senate leadership putting it on their short list for passage this year.  Reuters also reported, however, that other Congressional sources have indicated prospects for passage of any cybersecurity legislation are dim.