SmallBusinessNewz

Small businesses will be able to look forward to help lasting through 2009, and not just the end of this year, if the National Retail Federation gets its way.  The NRF is supporting the Senate (as opposed to the House) version of a tax bill.

A statement explains, "The Senate on Tuesday voted 93-2 to pass a substitute version of H.R. 6049, the Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008.  The $120 billion package would extend through the end of 2009 dozens of business tax provisions that expired at the end of 2007 or which are scheduled to expire at the end of 2008."

In the other corner: "A competing version of the bill scheduled to be considered by the House today would extend the provisions only through the end of 2008, leaving businesses uncertain on what tax policy to expect in 2009."

And next to disaster, uncertainty is the last thing anyone needs right now.  Hence the NRF's push for a speedy and Senate-leaning decision.

Unfortunately, lawmakers have a lot on their plates at the moment, and aren't the quickest decision-makers even when the economy isn't said to be on the edge of collapse.  For the time being, businesses might just want to hope for the best while preparing for the worst.