According to the Small Business Administration, regulations imposed by the federal government cost our economy more than $1.75 trillion annually.  To illustrate the problem, a recent Wall Street Journal article detailed the experience of small businessman Allen Ash, owner of a toy making company whose compliance with a myriad of federal regulations have negated any profits the 135-person company has made since 2008.  Moreover, new federal requirements have forced Ash to hire four compliance officers to oversee federal product-safety rules, while at the same time having to lay off 20% of his company's staff.  Although federal regulations are intended to protect workers and ensure consumer safety, the recent increase in regulations has stifled economic growth and disproportionately affected small businesses--the backbone of the American economy. It costs about $2,830 more for firms with less than 20 employees than those with 500 or more employees to comply with government regulations on a per-employee basis. In specific areas such as tax and environmental compliance, firms with 20 to 499 employees also pay significantly more than large firms.