Bailout to Benefit Small Businesses

Cash-strapped consumers who are cutting back on spending? Check. Rising commodity costs? Check. Stratospheric energy prices? Check.

Small businesses have been hit with a triple whammy of challenges this year. Now comes what might be the biggest blow of all: traumatized credit markets.

It couldn't come at a worse time. Just when business owners are most in need of loans to help them survive slowing sales and rising prices, the meltdown of banks such as Lehman Brothers(LEH Quote) and Washington Mutual(WM Quote) have made other institutions wary of lending to anyone, no matter how good their credit. ...