Obama orders measures to aid small businesses

July 12, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON

President Barack Obama on Wednesday ordered new practices meant to help small firms by speeding up payments for federal contractors, cutting paperwork and easing access to loans and tax credits.

The actions come as Obama tries to fight off charges from Republicans that his latest tax plan would hurt small businesses. Obama called on lawmakers this week to extend only the portion of the Bush-era tax breaks that cover household incomes of less than $250,000 a year, allowing the cuts on higher earnings to expire — including, according to GOP critics, many small-business owners.

Under Wednesday’s round of executive actions, Obama is directing agencies to make contract payments on an accelerated time line to all prime contractors. He expects those businesses will then speed up payments to their small-business subcontractors, said Jeff Zients, Obama’s acting budget director.

The administration also is revamping a small- dollar loan program by raising the maximum loan amount from $250,000 to $350,000; doing away with five “unnecessary forms” for contractors who apply for surety bonds; and similarly cutting paperwork for the Small Business Administration’s Disaster Loan Program.

Obama also is asking Congress to raise the amount of investment small businesses can claim as expenses to offset their taxes next year.