Bush orders agencies to protect small business

President Bush last week signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to adopt policies that protect small businesses when they are writing new regulations.

Under the order, agencies have 90 days to submit to the Office of Advocacy at the Small Business Administration (SBA) plans for addressing small-business needs within department or agency rulemakings. Thomas Sullivan, chief counsel for advocacy, said the new order will help "tear down the regulatory barriers to job creation for small businesses."

SBA will review the plans and offer comments to federal agencies, which must consider them when implementing rules.