Vermont Main Street Alliance Members Play Key Role in Paid Sick Days Senate Approval

The member businesses of the Main Street Alliance of Vermont achieved a tremendous victory this month that was over ten years in the making. The Vermont State Senate approved the Healthy Workplaces bill (H.187) with a strong bi-partisan vote of 21-8. The approval came after several amendments were made by the Senate Committee on EconomicContinue reading “Vermont Main Street Alliance Members Play Key Role in Paid Sick Days Senate Approval”

Walmart’s Offshore Tax Havens Hurt Small Businesses That Support Communities

A recent report released by Americans for Tax Fairness exposed Walmart for their evasive tax practices and revealed that the retail giant is holding over 78 billion dollars in offshore subsidiaries. Our members were quick to speak out against these practices and took to the media to make their voices heard. Matt Birong, owner ofContinue reading “Walmart’s Offshore Tax Havens Hurt Small Businesses That Support Communities”

Los Angeles is Biggest City to Enact $15 Minimum Wage

Los Angeles has become the biggest city in the nation to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, Los Angeles City Council members voted 13-1 today to more than double the federal wage by 2020. Los Angeles City Council members signaled two weeks ago that they would raise the minimum wage, and tookContinue reading “Los Angeles is Biggest City to Enact $15 Minimum Wage”

Main Street to Microsoft: “Stop offshore tax dodging”

This week, hundreds of Washington state small business owners affiliated with the Main Street Alliance of Washington sent an open letter to Microsoft calling on tech giant to stop offshore tax dodging, the Seattle Times reports. According to BloombergBusinessweek, Microsoft tops the list of U.S. tech firms with the biggest overseas profit hauls, holding $76 billion inContinue reading “Main Street to Microsoft: “Stop offshore tax dodging””

Will SEC order a dose of sunlight for corporate political spending?

Mary Jo White, the new Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, was recently confirmed to a five-year term that secures her position until 2019. With that kind of job security, Ms. White should be able to rise above the partisan pressures of Washington politics and advance a proactive agenda at the SEC thatContinue reading “Will SEC order a dose of sunlight for corporate political spending?”

Sorting through the business lobbies’ diverse interests on tax reform

This fall a major showdown is brewing over tax and budget priorities in our nation’s capital.  Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana) and Congressman Dave Camp (R-Michigan) have been laying groundwork for a rewrite of the U.S. tax code.

WITH WALL STREET “TOO BIG TO FAIL,” IS MAIN STREET “TOO SMALL TO PREVAIL”?

Small business forum adds Main Street voice to growing momentum for megabank limits Today, small businesses owners from across the country added a Main Street voice to growing momentum for post-Dodd-Frank measures to end the era of “Too Big to Fail” banking in the lingering wake of the 2008 financial crisis and the Great RecessionContinue reading “WITH WALL STREET “TOO BIG TO FAIL,” IS MAIN STREET “TOO SMALL TO PREVAIL”?”

Nudging the Opposition Off Their Immigration Talking Points

Perhaps it’s just too darn logical that actually listening to the very people who drive our economy, who know something about business, and spending, about costs would be vital during this national debate on immigration reform. Small business owners have been outspoken proponents of comprehensive immigration reform—and for good reason.

Small Business Owners Support Immigration Reform with Roadmap to Citizenship

Small business owners across the country are weighing in on the immigration debate. Their message: small businesses support immigration reform with a roadmap to citizenship. At May Day rallies tomorrow, around the country, small business leaders will be addressing the crowds; speaking up for comprehensive immigration reform. It seems a good moment to remind ourselvesContinue reading “Small Business Owners Support Immigration Reform with Roadmap to Citizenship”

Tax Havens for Big Business? Small Business Owners Say ‘Not so fast’

Multi-Partisan small business owners spoke out earlier this month, further distinguishing their interests from those of Big Business. Wednesday, in his post “Has the Budget Crisis Du Jour Got You Down?” Bill Daley pointed out that if Congress were to close one tax loophole on offshore accounts, it could be enough to create a ‘jobContinue reading “Tax Havens for Big Business? Small Business Owners Say ‘Not so fast’”