We have the federal budget version of three-card Monty going on with funding for the brand spanking new Rural Microenterprise Development program, part of Title VI of the Farm Bill. Mandatory funding be damned, says the White House. So what if I signed the bill, says President Bush.

Yeah, whatever.

Plus more on the tax gap and the money that’s getting left on the table while Congress chases after nonemployers, another microbusiness profile and, as always, this week’s Policy Matters.

Amazing headline, huh?

I had a long talk with Advocacy’s Brian Headd last week. Brian is one of the co-authors of the research covered in this week’s lead story and we spent a bit of time talking about what I often call “we-knew-that” research. It does happen and it happens often enough to be noticeable (if you’re paying attention at all). It all sounds stupid but it does need to be done.