Once deeply vulnerable, President Barack Obama has seen his fortunes take a dramatic turn for the better as the Republican Party splits between its historic business-friendly establishment and the powerful tug of more conservative and social issues voters.

Even if a flat tax rate would impact payments in 2012, 48 percent of business owners say they would not prefer one while 27 percent say they would prefer one and another 25 percent say they are indifferent, according to a recent survey by the Small Business Authority.

In an effort to strengthen employees' voices in the workplace, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is moving its Office of the Whistleblower Protection Program so that it now reports directly to the agency's Office of the Assistant Secretary rather than its Directorate of Enforcement Programs.

Drugstore chain giant Walgreens entered into a three-year contract with the AARP to deliver retail drugstore program benefits to its members belonging to the 50-plus age group, Walgreen and AARP said in a joint announcement.