This week’s “Small Businesses In the News” included the following stories:

Small Business Burden
Pittsburgh Tribune, 4/10/12, Letter by coalition member John LaFayette

Having owned a small business for long enough to know the ropes, I’ve seen that when regulators try to solve every conceivable problem with new regulations, it only leads to more problems. Unfortunately, that’s what we’re seeing from Washington. Today there are 4,200 new rules pending approval from regulators. It’s not a surprise that most people believe tax and regulatory burdens are the biggest challenge to U.S. competitiveness.

Small Business Owners Less Upbeat in March
Rochester Post Bulletin, 4/16/12

Small business owners are more pessimistic about the economy. The National Federation of Independent Business said its index of small business optimism fell nearly 2 points during March.

Small Business Hiring Hurt by Regulatory Uncertainty
Middletown Journal, 4/12/12, by Cornelius Frolik

Roger Geiger, NFIB OH state director, said the minor uptick in hiring has not changed the fact that consumers are spending less than they did before the recession, and businesses continue to be mired in economic uncertainty over weak consumer demand and potential government regulations.