small business

Last week, the Department of Labor issued a rule change that makes it possible for small businesses and associations to offer more affordable health care plans, known as association health plans.

In this episode of the weekly Budget & Tax News podcast, managing editor and research fellow Jesse Hathaway talks with Mercatus Center senior research fellow Veronique de Rugy about the “Overtime Rule,” a regulation passed down by the U.S. Department of Labor revising federal overtime provisions contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

What’s a more iconic American postcard than young kids operating their own lemonade stands? What’s a quick way to teach kids the impact of government regulations on entrepreneurs? Shutting down their lemonade stand.

Managing Editor of Budget and Tax News, Jesse Hathaway was a guest on The Brian Thomas Show on 550 WKRC-AM where he discussed Civil Asset Forfeiture Laws. Hathaway and Thomas discussed examples of when these laws are enforced and how they trample on due process.

While our attention is focused on events in the Middle East, a domestic enemy of the nation is doing everything in its power to kill the provision of electricity to the nation and, at the same time, to control every drop of water in the United States, an attack on its agricultural sector. That enemy is the Environmental Protection Agency.

Regulations have a way of growing like weeds: unless they are rooted out, they spread. Regulatory compliance has always been a headache for small business owners who do not enjoy the cozy relationships with big government that large corporations often develop. In fact, they are frequently ignored by legislators both in Washington and in the states. John Lieber, chief economist of Thumbtack, recently joined Heartland’s own Steve Stanek for a talk on the business climate in America today. Thumbtack is an online marketplace that brings together service providers and consumers who can negotiate and organize jobs.

The Barack Obama Administration is back at it — yet another big government power grab is in the works. The Administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) again resurrecting Network Neutrality — an all-encompassing Internet usurpation twice unanimously killed by court as an illegal overreach.

In case you’re feeling safe and secure from the reaches of ObamaCare, not so fast! Surprises will be in store for you on your insurance premiums and income tax bills.

Uber, a tech start-up and on-demand transportation service, is under attack by anti-innovation regulation in Washington DC.

Starting any new business is tough. It’s even tougher in Chicago. And it’s even tougher if you’re starting a business that includes interest groups trying to keep you from succeeding.…