Small Business
SBA Updates Size Standards for Computer Services
by Lamar Whitman on February 14, 2012
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced its final rule concerning size standards for “Computer Systems Design and Related Services,” on February 10th. Generally, businesses classified under this category (NAICS 5415) will be considered a small business provided their annual receipts do not exceed $25.5 million, up from $25 million. The SBA size[...]
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New Small Business Government Contracting Legislation Introduced
by Lamar Whitman on February 8, 2012
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
Introduced during the last week in the House, three bills aim to increase and strengthen small business participation in government contracting – a goal CompTIA has always supported. We have reviewed this legislation and believe that a number of provisions would help to direct more government contracting dollars to small businesses.
However, we need your input concerning[...]
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Senate Legislation: Small Business Tax Extenders
by Lamar Whitman on February 7, 2012
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
Senators Landrieu and Snowe, chair and ranking member of the Senate Small Business Committee, have introduced legislation (S. 2050, the Small Business Tax Extenders Act of 2012) that would extend certain expired small business tax provisions though 2012. Some provisions in the bill include: Section 179 expensing limitation of $500,000: Extended through 2012. Temporary[...]
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Providing Workforce Training for 21st Century Jobs
by Elizabeth Hyman on January 26, 2012
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy, workforce development
In his State of the Union Speech, President Obama set a national goal
of training two million Americans so they can transition to 21st
century jobs. As the leading global provider of vendor-neutral IT
workforce certifications, CompTIA applauds this goal and stands ready to
work with the Administration to meet this important challenge. The IT[...]
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Senate Nears Agreement on Cybersecurity Bill
by Elizabeth Hyman on January 25, 2012
Tags: cybersecurity, small business, Public Advocacy
A look at the week of January 24 in public advocacy for the IT channel: This week, an adviser to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said that the Senate plans to bring cyber legislation to the floor within the next month. President Obama will make the chief of the U.S. Small Businesses Association into a cabinet-level position. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is[...]
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2012 Priorities: Filling IT Jobs, Supporting Small IT Biz, Securing Tech
by Elizabeth Hyman on January 24, 2012
Tags: cybersecurity, small business, taxes, Public Advocacy, workforce development, Cloud
2012 promises to be an interesting year in Washington, D.C., with the upcoming presidential election dominating the political scene. Members of Congress will be anxious to wrap up the session so they can get home to campaign for reelection. This means that the calendar will be compressed and legislative achievements will be limited. That said, hot issues will kick up[...]
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IRS Releases New Tax Gap Estimates: 30% Attributable to Small Businesses
by Lamar Whitman on January 12, 2012
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
The IRS just released an update of its “tax gap” estimate, last revised in 2006 for the 2001 tax year. This study found that in 2006 lost tax revenues amounted to $450 billion, up from $345 billion in 2001. The “tax gap” is an important budget item as it represents the IRS’ estimate of the difference in tax that should be collected and that which is actually collected.[...]
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Tax Efforts Successful in 2011; Work Ahead in 2012
by Lamar Whitman on January 9, 2012
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
While the tax agenda for small businesses faces a number of challenges in 2012, there were two major successes in 2011. Congress repealed two provisions that should never have been enacted in the first place: New Form 1099 filing requirements and 3% withholding on government contracts. Both of these provisions found their way into tax legislation without public notice,[...]
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Crowdfunding, Equity Capital Legislation Still in Play
by Lamar Whitman on December 16, 2011
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
The Senate Banking Committee held a hearing on December 1, to consider whether easing the procedures for raising equity capital would impact job growth. CompTIA submitted testimony for this hearing urging Congress to increase the small issuer exemption and enact crowdfunding. Concerning the small issuer exemption, legislation that passed the House overwhelmingly on November[...]
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CompTIA Members Stress Access to Capital, Skilled Workers in D.C.
by Leslie Hague on November 21, 2011
Tags: cybersecurity, small business, Public Advocacy, workforce development
Access to capital and a skilled workforce are critical to the success of small- and medium-sized IT businesses, CompTIA members told Congressional members and Administration officials today.
On the final day of CompTIA's Washington D.C. Fly-In event, CompTIA members from across the country met with policymakers to stress the issues that are important to small- and medium-sized[...]
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Ramping Up U.S. Cybersecurity
by Elizabeth Hyman on November 16, 2011
Tags: healthcare it, cybersecurity, small business, Public Advocacy
A look at the week of November 14 in public advocacy for the IT channel: This week, Janet Napolitano, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, authored an op-ed citing the urgent need for cyber legislation. A bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill allowing states to collect sales tax on online purchases. The Institute of Medicine released a report[...]
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Senate Votes 3% Withholding Repeal; Veteran Tax Credit Attached
by Lamar Whitman on November 11, 2011
Tags: Veterans, small business, taxes, Public Advocacy
Since its enactment, CompTIA consistently has called for repeal of the 3% federal tax withholding on government contracts. Finally, the Senate has acted, passing H.R. 674 by a vote of 95-0. This follows overwhelming passage by the House on October 27. However, the bill must now return to the House for a vote, as an amendment (which passed by a 94-1 vote) was added to[...]
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Enzi-Alexander Sales Tax Legislation: Huge Compliance Burdens
by Lamar Whitman on November 9, 2011
Tags: small business, taxes, Public Advocacy
In prior blogs, we’ve discussed our concerns about the Main Street Fairness Act and the Marketplace Freedom Act and how any increased compliance burdens may be imposed on many small businesses. We understand the concerns of many states that they are losing tax revenues due to the failure of purchasers to voluntarily file and pay use taxes on out-of-state purchases.[...]
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Senate Should Pass Crowdfunding Legislation
by Lamar Whitman on November 9, 2011
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
As the economy dived, small businesses found capital to be hard (if not impossible) to secure. Consequently, many small businesses are still working their way out of tough economic times, and most have had difficulty growing and adding employees. While there is no single answer to this urgent problem, there are a number of small steps that Congress can take that will[...]
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Another Take on Internet Sales Tax
by Lamar Whitman on October 25, 2011
Tags: small business, taxes, Public Advocacy
Congress continues to look at the complications of collecting sales taxes for interstate transactions completed via the Internet. Earlier we discussed the Main Street Fairness Act, which would require interstate sellers to collect and remit sales taxes to the states into which sales are made. Our concern with that legislation was that it failed to define a[...]
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Sizing Up the Small Business Jobs Machine
by Elizabeth Hyman on October 21, 2011
Tags: cybersecurity, small business, Public Advocacy
A look at the week of October 17 in public advocacy for the IT channel: This week, the SEC updated a disclosure requirement to press companies to report data breaches and cyber attacks. Agencies[...]
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The Search for Capital
by Lamar Whitman on October 20, 2011
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
As small businesses across the country continue to search for reliable sources of capital, Congress has fallen short of providing real solutions. While there is no magic bullet that will free up much[...]
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Jobs Bill Stalls in Senate
by Lamar Whitman on October 13, 2011
Tags: jobs, small business, Public Advocacy, IT Workforce, workforce development
The President’s $447 Billion jobs bill, S. 1660, the “American Jobs Act of 2011, ” failed to garner the votes needed to move forward. By a margin of 50-49, the Senate vote fell short of the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster. This jobs bill was made particularly unpopular to most Republicans after Senate leadership changed the funding mechanism to a “millionaire[...]
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Cuts to E-Gov Fund Could Slow Federal Cloud Transition
by Elizabeth Hyman on September 28, 2011
Tags: cybersecurity, small business, Public Advocacy, Cloud
A look at the week of September 26 in public advocacy for the IT channel: This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved three controversial data breach bills. Spending cuts might limit the government’s ability to transition to cloud computing and take advantage of long-term cost savings. A new Senate bill aims to stop large firms from pirating federal[...]
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Hospitals Put Out Help Wanted Sign for IT Personnel
by Elizabeth Hyman on September 14, 2011
Tags: healthcare it, cybersecurity, small business, Public Advocacy, workforce development
A look at the week of September 12 in public advocacy for the IT channel: This week, Obama revealed a new jobs plan with tax cuts targeted at small businesses. Now that Congress is back in session, cybersecurity is topping their agenda. The healthcare industry reports it is understaffed, in terms of its IT needs. Small Business Is Focus of Tax Cuts—[...]
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Presidential Job Bill: How Does It Affect the IT Workforce?
by Lamar Whitman on September 13, 2011
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy, workforce development
The President’s $447 billion jobs bill includes a number of provisions that would benefit small businesses. This legislation, which was sent to Congress on Monday, would:
•Provide a 50-percent reduction in payroll taxes for the first $5 million in wages. Approximately 98 percent of all businesses pay out less than $5 million in wages.
•Eliminate employer[...]
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Agencies Gave IT Workers $14M in Bonuses in 2009
by Elizabeth Hyman on August 30, 2011
Tags: healthcare it, small business, Public Advocacy, workforce development
A look at the week of August 29 in public advocacy for the IT channel: This week, government agencies take steps to expand health IT to rural areas. States and businesses struggle over sales tax as more transactions take place in cyberspace. A new report finds that IT workers received millions of dollars in recruitment, retention and relocation incentives[...]
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Digital Taxes: What’s Fair?
by Lamar Whitman on August 29, 2011
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
The “Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act of 2011” (H.R. 1860 and S. 971) would bring some certainty to an endless tangle of state tax rules and regulations. This legislation would restrict collection of sales taxes on digital goods and services to the jurisdiction encompassing the buyer’s tax address. It also would bar a state from imposing multiple[...]
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President Announces New Jobs Initiatives for Rural America
by Lamar Whitman on August 18, 2011
Tags: healthcare it, small business, Public Advocacy
The President announced new initiatives recommended by the White House Rural Council for creating jobs in rural America. These initiatives are intended to help rural small businesses access capital, expand rural job search and training services, and increase rural access to healthcare workers and technology. CompTIA has long-noted similar needs within the[...]
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IT Jobs Thriving Despite Lackluster Economy
by Elizabeth Hyman on August 17, 2011
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy, workforce development
A look at the week of August 15 in public advocacy for the IT channel: This week, the National Institute of Standards and Technology released a plan to improve U.S. cybersecurity by focusing on education. A new Treasury report finds fewer small businesses than previously thought. Unemployment in the IT sector remains much lower than the national average[...]
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SBA Announces New Loan Fund for Small Businesses
by Lamar Whitman on August 5, 2011
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
Enacted last year, the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 established an “Intermediary Lending Pilot Program” to provide direct loans to non-profit intermediaries for the purpose of making loans to small business. This pilot program will terminate after three years. Under this pilot, loans of as high as $1 million will be made to 20 organizations[...]
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Small Tech Companies Have New Caucus
by Elizabeth Hyman on August 3, 2011
Tags: cybersecurity, small business, Public Advocacy, workforce development
A look at the week of August 1 in public advocacy for the IT channel: This week, the House established a Congressional Small Business Information Technology Caucus to address issues faced by small tech firms. The Senate introduced data security legislation. Cybersecurity bills are stalling in the House despite a growing sense of urgency over recent[...]
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Main Street Fairness Act Introduced: Requires Interstate Sales Tax Collection
by Lamar Whitman on August 2, 2011
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
Both the House and Senate introduced legislation to require sellers to collect and file sales tax returns on all interstate sales. In the Senate, Sen. Durbin introduced the bill (S. 1452) with co-sponsors Sens. Reed and Johnson. And in a surprise move in the House, Rep. Conyers introduced a companion bill (H.R. 2701), with co-sponsors Reps. Shuler and Welch.[...]
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Congressional Support Grows for Repeal of 3% Withholding Requirement
by Lamar Whitman on July 21, 2011
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
We have written earlier concerning our opposition to this new withholding requirement. Enacted into law in 2006, this provision requires all federal, state and local government entities and instrumentalities to withhold three percent of payments made for goods and services. Initially set to go into effect in 2010, legislative extensions had pushed the effective[...]
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Funds Released to Community Banks Under Small Business Lending Act
by Lamar Whitman on July 12, 2011
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
When the small business lending legislation (HR 5297) was enacted into law last September, it was heralded as a step to stimulate loans to small businesses by community banks. Under this legislation, $30 billion has been directed to a “Small Business Lending Fund” administered by the Department of Treasury. The purpose of this fund is to provide capital investments[...]
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Business Activity Tax Legislation Moves Forward
by Lamar Whitman on July 8, 2011
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
The House Judiciary Committee favorably reported out H.R. 1439, the “Business Activity Tax Simplification Act of 2011,” by a voice vote yesterday. Now, this legislation can be considered by the full House, although the timetable is uncertain.
This legislation sets up a physical presence nexus standard, which means that in order for a state to tax a business activity,[...]
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Geithner Says U.S. to Start Lending Small-Business Capital Soon
by Elizabeth Hyman on June 30, 2011
Tags: healthcare it, small business, Public Advocacy, workforce development
A look at the week of June 27 in public advocacy for the IT channel:
This week, small medical practices adopting health IT systems are reporting that the lack of a standard code and software makes communicating between systems a challenge. The Department of Homeland Security plans to release guidelines for organizations to avoid the most common types of[...]
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Action Due July 5! Oppose Increased Tax Compliance Costs
by Lamar Whitman on June 28, 2011
Tags: small business, Public Advocacy
In April, we noted that legislation had been introduced in the House to require a distinct physical presence as a prerequisite for the taxation of interstate business activities. If this legislation is not enacted, businesses could be subjected to conflicting income tax requirements of competing states on the same transaction, and this will result in increased compliance[...]
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Three Simple Principles for Tax Reform
by Lamar Whitman on June 17, 2011
Tags: small business
Even as discussions about tax reform are continuing in D.C., the reality that reform might not be accomplished soon is beginning to set in. Sure, we need a simpler and more efficient tax system, and we also need additional tax revenues that can be gained from closing loopholes. However, considering the ongoing impasse in Congress, how do we get there? [...]
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Oppose 3% Withholding: Sign on Now!
by Lamar Whitman on June 8, 2011
Tags: small business
As a member of The Government Withholding Relief Coalition, we urge you to add your name to the National Sign-on Letter calling for repeal of the new 3% federal tax withholding requirement on payments made by most government entities. Scheduled to go into effect in 2012, this law would require all federal, state and local government entities and instrumentalities to withhold[...]
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GOP Launch of Technology Working Group Agenda
by Elizabeth Hyman on June 8, 2011
Tags: small business
Last week, Speaker John Boehner, Rep. Bob Goodlatte and House Republican Leadership released the Technology Working Group agenda for the 112th Congress. The agenda focuses on technology issues to help America maintain and expand its competitive edge in the technology sector while creating jobs to fuel economic growth. The key components of the agenda are:
· Promote[...]
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SBIR/STTR Temporary Extension Passes
by Lamar Whitman on June 2, 2011
Tags: small business
By a vote of 387 – 33, the House voted yesterday to extend the popular SBIR/STTR programs which were set to expire on the same day, May 31. The Senate already had passed the extension on May 26 by unanimous consent. The extension is only for two months and will expire after July 31. All anticipate that the President will sign this extension into law.
In an[...]
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Legislation Would Fund Small Tech R&D Efforts
by Lamar Whitman on May 11, 2011
Tags: small business
Legislation remains pending in both the House and Senate that would re-authorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. Both programs are set to expire on May 31st. The Senate legislation would extend the program through 2019, while the House legislation would extend through 2014. [...]
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SBA Advocacy Report Questions IRS Targeting Small Business
by Lamar Whitman on May 11, 2011
Tags: small business
SBA Advocacy recently released an important report, “An Examination of the 2001 IRS Tax Gap Estimates’ Effects on Small Businesses.” The “tax gap” is the difference between the tax that is collected and the tax that should be collected. In the current budgetary climate, this term is becoming more important. In 2007, the IRS released a report on the estimated[...]
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Legislation Would Require Sales Tax Collection on all Interstate Sales
by Lamar Whitman on May 5, 2011
Tags: small business
Legislation is expected to be introduced in the Senate that would require any seller to collect and file sales tax returns on all interstate sales. Long-supported by a number of states, this anticipated legislation would bring some uniformity to state sales tax requirements but would require even small businesses to collect sales tax and file returns for any sales[...]
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Tax Reform: Talk, But No Action Yet
by Lamar Whitman on April 27, 2011
Tags: small business
For years now, Congress has kicked the subject of tax reform down the road. Even so, most everyone is in agreement that the tax laws and regulations are too complex, that the system is inefficient, and that compliance costs are too high.
The last major tax reform occurred in the 1980s. Lessons to draw from that exercise are that any industry – including[...]
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$5M in Funding for Small Business Mentoring Program
by David Valdez on March 17, 2011
Tags: small business
The Obama Administration’s Small Business Jobs Act is kicking in $5M for a small business mentoring program. The Small Business Administration is providing grants ranging from $250K to $500K for organizations to provide support and mentoring for small businesses. The deadline for submitting grant applications is April 11, and the grant recipients will be announced[...]
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Small IT Businesses Need Support for Healthcare IT Efforts
by Lamar Whitman on March 11, 2011
Tags: healthcare it, small business
Successful small businesses that grow into medium-sized and large businesses are the key to this country’s future, President Barack Obama told an Ohio audience last week at the “Winning the Future Forum on Small Business”. “When our small businesses do well, America does well,” Obama said.
Standing at the intersection of the small business community and healthcare[...]
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House Passes Repeal of 1099 Requirement
by Lamar Whitman on March 3, 2011
Tags: small business
Thank you for your support! Supported by your response to the TechVoice Action Alert, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to repeal the new 1099 reporting requirement that would impose an undue burden on small businesses. H.R. 4 passed the House on March 3, 2011, by a vote of 314 to 112 (238 Republicans and 76 Democrats voted yes).
The next step is[...]
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ACT NOW! Tell Your U.S. Representative to Repeal Onerous 1099 Requirement
by Matthew L. Evans on March 2, 2011
Tags: small business
TechVoice urges the House to pass H.R. 4, which would repeal a new 1099 reporting requirement that would impose an undue burden on small businesses. Unless this provision is repealed, beginning in 2012, all businesses will be required to file a form 1099 when they pay any business or individual $600 or more for goods or services during a year.
The House is expected[...]
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Amazon Tax Hits Illinois; Legislation Would Enact Virtual Nexus
by Lamar Whitman on March 1, 2011
Tags: small business
In Illinois, legislation that would shut down many small internet businesses has been passed by both houses and sits on the governor's desk for signature. Dubbed the Amazon Tax, the new law would require any non-Illinois seller to collect Illinois sales tax if that seller acquires customers through a link on the Internet website of the Illinois business. This requirement[...]
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2012 White House Budget Increases Cyber IT Funds
by Elizabeth Hyman on February 23, 2011
Tags: healthcare it, cybersecurity, small business
A look at the week of February 21 in public advocacy for the IT channel
The Senate-approved version of the 1099 tax provision repeal bill clashes with a version of the repeal approved by House Ways and Means Committee regarding how the government can pay for the repeal. This week, the Senate's cyber bill was updated with language explicitly prohibiting the President[...]
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Senate Votes To Repeal 1099; House Ways and Means also Advances Repeal
by Lamar Whitman on February 18, 2011
Tags: healthcare it, small business
Unless the 1099 reporting requirement is repealed, beginning in 2012, any business that pays a single vendor $600 or more for goods or services during a year would be required to issue a Form 1099-MISC to that vendor, and this form also must be filed it with the IRS. We have has worked consistently with other technology associations to encourage Congress to repeal[...]
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Growth Ahead for Federal IT Services Contracts
by Elizabeth Hyman on February 16, 2011
Tags: healthcare it, cybersecurity, small business
A look at the week of February 14 in public advocacy for the IT channel
This week, the House Ways and Means Committee will begin looking over the 1099 tax provision repeal bill passed in the Senate. Republican plans for a cybersecurity bill may contrast with efforts in the Senate. Federal IT contracts are expected to increase, despite budget cuts. House Ways and Means[...]
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Congressional Committee Cites CompTIA in Jobs Report
by Lamar Whitman on February 14, 2011
Tags: small business, workforce development
Darrell Issa (CA-49), chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform issued a report this week detailing the committee’s findings on regulations that impede job creation. This purpose of this report was to identify regulations that hinder job growth, with a particular focus on the concerns of small businesses. Issa’s committee has significant power to influence[...]
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Senate Moves Forward on 1099 Repeal
by Elizabeth Hyman on February 11, 2011
Tags: healthcare it, cybersecurity, small business
A look at the week of February 7 in public advocacy for the IT channel
This week, the Senate voted to repeal the 1099 provision from the healthcare bill. After watching the Egyptian government dismantle Internet communications to stifle protestors, Senators are facing tough questions about the scope of proposed cybersecurity regulations. Dr. David Blumenthal, the[...]
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Funding Broadband for Underserved Communities in Review
by David Valdez on February 11, 2011
Tags: small business, workforce development
Yesterday, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held the first (of possibly several) hearings focused on scrutinizing the rollout of the $7 billion fund administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Rural Development Agency.
Testimony from the Inspector Generals from each respective agency indicated that there was[...]
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CompTIA Submits Testimony Supporting 1099 Repeal
by Lamar Whitman on February 11, 2011
Tags: healthcare it, small business
For the House’s Small Business Committee hearing held on February 9, we submitted testimony entitled “Buried in Paperwork: A 1099 Update”. During the hearing, committee members voiced bi-partisan support for repeal of the new 1099 requirement; the only question of discussion was how to “pay for” the repeal. But the bottom line seems to be that repeal is viewed as more[...]
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ChannelTrends: Stimulus for Entrepreneurs
by Brian Sherman on February 11, 2011
Tags: healthcare it, small business, workforce development
Is the latest $2 billion public/private commitment to small business a real opportunity for the channel? The answer may not come until this decade is complete (it's a 5-year program), but the details are worth a closer look by solution providers, vendors and business customers.
Though the word "stimulus" has taken on a somewhat negative connotation with some, IT channel[...]
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