"The Republican drive to cut spending, which begins in earnest this week, marks a political gamble that the public's hunger for smaller government will trump its appetite for benefits, subsidies and other federal support."

"Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., calls it the '$64,000 question,' and then promptly answers it."

"'People will be supportive of almost any decreases in spending as long as they believe they're done in an open, equitable and fair manner,' said Price, a member of the party leadership."

"Last fall's GOP Pledge to America cited a goal of $100 billion for the year, and even though the fiscal year is more than half over, that's what many of the conservatives want as a strong first step."

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“Women-owned small businesses can begin taking steps to participate in a new federal contracting program [effective] Friday, Feb. 4, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced. The new Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Program will be fully implemented over the next several months, with the first contracts expected to be awarded by the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011."

"'Implementing the Women-Owned Small Business contracting rule has been a top priority for the Obama Administration and SBA,' said Administrator Karen Mills."

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"Here's how it works: a member of the President’s senior staff will post a short video to let you know what they are working on at the White House and give you an opportunity to give us your advice, feedback and opinions about key issues."

To check out the latest videos and questions, click the link below.

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"In what administration officials describe as a major milestone, the federal government spent $15 billion less on contracts for outside products and services last year, the first year-to-year cuts in such costs since 1997."

"Government contracts totaled $535 billion in fiscal 2010, down from $550 billion the year before, the White House said Thursday. With those reductions, the Obama administration is on course to achieve its two-year goal of eliminating at least $40 billion on contract spending, according to Office of Management and Budget Deputy Director Jeffrey D. Zients."

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"In a sign that life may be getting easier for big U.S. corporations, large banks are beginning to make loans more available."

"Citing increased competition as an important factor in their decision, banks are starting to ease their standards for lending to big companies, a new survey from the Federal Reserve suggests. But while this may be good news for those at the top of the corporate ladder, it's unclear whether borrowing will lead to new jobs, or whether it will significantly propel the increasingly uneven economic recovery."

"While three banks said they'd eased their standards for lending to small companies, seven said they'd eased up on big borrowers. In every category of loan terms -- size and cost of credit lines, collateral requirements and others -- more banks had eased up for big borrowers than for small ones."

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"A month before Obama reached out to businesses, the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee sent 171 letters to various businesses and their trade associations. He asked for help in 'identifying existing and proposed regulations that have negatively impacted job growth.'"

"This Thursday, Issa is giving business representatives an opportunity at a hearing by his committee to vent their frustration with government requirements issued by unelected bureaucrats. He wants Obama to include their responses in a review of government regulations the president ordered last month in the administration's effort to find rules that cost Americans jobs."

"Large and small businesses and trade associations told Issa, R-Calif., that they want to change or eliminate more than of 100 regulations - more than half related to the environment and others governing financial rules, the workplace and transportation."

"Obama on Monday defended government regulations in a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, even as he promised to eliminate those that are too burdensome."

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