Bailout Funds for Small Business?



Bailout $ for small business?  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/10/AR2009071003206.html   Yes of course.  We all know where this is going.  Just how much money are we talking about here?  If recent precedent is any indication, not very much. 
"The administration has carried out several other programs to help small businesses through the $787 billion economic stimulus package passed by Congress in February. That measure doubled the SBA's budget to help it spark new lending. Since the bill passed, $6 billion worth of small-business loans have gone out the door, said Karen Mills, the administrator of the SBA." (3rd paragraph, 2nd page)
$6 billion, huh?  Don't spend it all in one place.   Seems just a tad underfunded, since small business is the "backbone of American jobs" (6th paragraph, 1st page) and since small businesses employ "60 percent to 80 percent of all workers, according to some economists"  (last paragraph, 1st page)  and since it's small business that will have to lead the recovery (4rth paragraph, 2nd page)   Hmmm ...
 
And of course there is no hurry.  
"Administration officials said discussions are in the early stages and that no plan is expected before the fall." (8th paragraph, 1st page)
Funny, last year the sky was going to fall if bailout funds were not made available immediately.  It was "act now, ask questions later" ... remember that?  Congressional martial law was declared to speed that through, etc ...   But yes, they should take their time on this one.  It's not like the economy is struggling or anything.  And we're just talking about small business here afterall.
 
In the meantime, it's the same old, same old:  public funds ... private meetings:

"The debate over the proposal has centered on whether taxpayers would be protected and whether banks that make these loans to small firms would lower their lending standards if the government promises to cover loans that go bad, according to participants present or briefed on the discussions. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the conversations were considered private." (11th paragraph, 1st page) 

Is it any wonder we are where we are?