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Tax hikes approved

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Yesterday, the Oregon House of Representatives approved two revenue bills that, combined, would raise an estimated $733 billion to fund state programs and services over the next fiscal biennium. The Oregon Senate is expected to follow suit, and Gov. Ted Kulongoski is certain to sign it. From there, the measures may be referred to voters […]

How to set prices in a recession

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Entrepreneur magazine has a short-but-thorough primer up on the art of setting prices for your products during a recession. Although it doesn’t mention nurseries specifically, all of the information is applicable, and a few of the points are particularly germane. Specifically: Are you offering an affordable luxury? During a recession, most consumers may still be […]

Schrader’s help enlisted in trade dispute

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Major agricultural producers from Oregon met today with U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) to ask for his help in resolving a costly trade dispute between Mexico and the United States. There’s a press release about it here (PDF). The issue came to a boil in March, when Congress voted to scrap a pilot program that […]

Enforcement to focus on employers

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The Los Angeles Times, citing administration officials who for the most part spoke on condition of anonymity, reported last week that the Obama administration – and Director of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano – will focus its immigration enforcement efforts on arresting and prosecuting employers rather than employees: The shift in emphasis will be outlined in revamped field […]

The pros and cons of furloughs

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Sad though it may be, many employers resorting to layoffs and terminations as a means to reducing costs. After all, labor is the largest expense for many employers. During the current recession, a different option has become increasingly popular. Furloughs are mandatory, unpaid time off for a larger group of employees. Unlike layoffs, furloughs keep […]

Armageddon down to business

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Armageddon, noun. 1 a: the site or time of a final and conclusive battle between the forces of good and evil b: the battle taking place at Armageddon 2: a usually vast decisive conflict or confrontation “This will be Armageddon,” Randel Johnson, vice president for labor policy at the United States Chamber of Commerce, told […]

More on the COBRA subsidy

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Last week we talked about new requirements being placed on employers as a result of President Obama’s economic stimulus package. Terminated employees are getting a 65 percent federal subsidy if they elect continuing health care coverage through their former employer under COBRA, but it’s the former employer that has to initially pay that portion of […]

Card check consequences

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Proposed card check legislation, also known as the Employee Free Choice Act, is one of the main concerns of business groups this year. Now the Law and Economics Consulting Group (LECG) has a report out concluding that if passed, the act would increase union membership, but it would also increase unemployment due to higher wage […]

Phishing scam circulates

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We received this information from the Small Business Administration this morning: The U.S. Small Business Administration issued a scam alert today to small businesses, warning them not to respond to letters falsely claiming to have been sent by the SBA asking for bank account information in order to qualify them for federal tax rebates. The […]