The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) just published their annual report on federal regulations.  Matters have grown steadily worse when it comes to the imposition of federal rules impacting small businesses:

Increased regulation has the same detrimental economic impact as higher taxes. Costs are increased. Businesses fail. Jobs are lost.  Incentives for entrepreneurship and investment are diminished.  All of this bodes ill for business, consumers, the economy and society in general.