|
2000 |
| Efforts to
significantly raise state minimum wage thwarted. New pilot program passes
providing grants for small business worker training programs to help hire
and retrain workers. WIB warns state budget is dangerously out of control. |
|
1999 |
| Health insurance
reform passes as legislature approves Private Employer Health Care Coverage
Program. Victory climaxes a decade-long battle for meaningful health
insurance reform to improve health care accessibility and affordability for
small business. WIB warns state budget remains out of control |
|
1998 |
| WIB succeeds in
efforts to stall "Taxpayer Protection" initiative, which could target small
business for huge tax increase in future. Unpopular recycling tax cut in
half. WIB warns state budget is still out of control. |
|
1997 |
| Small
business' rates for unemployment compensation taxes and workers compensation
are reduced. Legislature eliminates capital gains taxes f or sale of
business to family members. WIB warns state budget is out of control. |
|
1996 |
| Key parts
of WIB health reform plan passes, providing greater small business access
and restricting cancellation. Employers given liability protection in past
employee reference cases. Businesses share $1.2 billion property tax relief
effort |
|
1995 |
| Mounting threats
to target and expand important sales tax exemptions are met head-on as WIB
fights for property tax relief effort without saddling the small business
community with the costs. Improvements gained for businesses to collect in
small claims courts and civil actions on business property crimes. WIB works
with legislators to increase sales tax reimbursement rates to more equitable
levels. |
|
1994 |
| WIB unveils
Wisconsin Health Access Reform Program to address the desperate need for
affordable and accessible health insurance for small businesses and family
farmers. To help businesses collect bad debts, WI B pushes for passage of
new law which allows for continuous garnishee actions. |
|
1993 |
| WIB works to
promote passage of state budget which contains no new taxes small businesses
in Wisconsin. Another legislative effort to mandate employee break time
dies. |
|
1992 |
| WIB hears pleas
for a halt to health insurance rate increases and undertakes campaign to
reform health insurance in Wisconsin. WIB leads way with educational effort
to help businesses meet the standards Americans with Disabilities act
throughout Wisconsin. |
|
1991 |
| WIB launches
major effort to defeat legislation which would increase sales tax to six
percent (6%) and expand tax to critical services used by many small
businesses. Tax increase supporters tout property tax relief. WIB points to
$8 1 million in new taxes. |
|
1990 |
| Unemployment
Compensation tax rates go down! Legislation defeated to require employers to
provide mandatory employee break time. WIB effort succeeds to curtail prison
industries from unfairly competing with certain small businesses. |
|
1989 |
| Legislation
mandating employers to provide health insurance for all workers or face
massive health care tax is defeated. Hundreds of WIB members dominate the
hearings on mandated health insurance. New Unemployment Compensation Law
paves the way for lower UC Taxes |
|
1988 |
| WIB fights to
defeat $110 million sales tax increase and expansion proposal on renters and
lessees of commercial property. Seeks increase in the limits for small
claims courts to ease burden of collecting debts for small businesses
without expensive legal costs. |
|
1987 |
| WIB wins passage
of historic amendment to further reduce Unemployment Compensation tax for
Wisconsin's most stable small employers. New UC Law allows officers of small
incorporated businesses to exempt themselves from UC taxes. |
|
1986 |
| WIB helps pass
the Bad Check & Retail Theft Act of 1986 that allows a business take civil
court action against bad check passers and shoplifters. Businesses can now
win up to three-times the face value of a fraudulent check |
|
1985 |
| More legislative
efforts to expand sales tax to important goods and services turned back as
WIB takes fight to some legislators home districts. |
|
1984 |
| WIB supports
passage of bill to increase inheritance tax exemption. Opposes effort by
Governor to give bonuses to state employees because of state employee health
insurance fund surplus. Asks legislature for small business representation
UC Advisory Council. |
|
1983 |
| WIB works to
solve $740 million debt in Unemployment Compensation Fund and fights for
fair treatment for small business. Always looking for new tax money , the
legislature looks to expanding sales tax to important small business
services. The idea dies as important exemptions are preserved. |
|
1982 |
| WIB preserves
important protection for small businesses by successfully turning back
effort to repeal Unfair Sales Act ... one of the only protections against
predatory pricing tactics of some retail giants. Onerous proposed employment
laws which would prohibit employers from requiring personal appearance
standards are defeated. |
|
1981 |
| Threats to
require small businesses to install automatic sprinkler systems are thwarted
as WIB points out the backbreaking costs for small businesses. Small
businesses win equity in sales tax reimbursement formula for acting as tax
collectors for the state. |
|
1980 |
| Hearing the
problems small businesses face in collecting worthless checks and bad debts
in small claims courts, the Legislature, with pressure and support from WlB,
passes major changes. Incorporated small businesses are allowed to represent
themselves in small claims court without an attorney. Photo driver's
licenses become an important legal tool in identifying check writers. |
|
1979 |
| DILHR Secretary
proposes massive expansion of Unemployment Compensation fund surplus ... a
potential increase of $273 million. Extensive press coverage of WIB lobbying
effort results in the withdrawal of the proposed UC tax hike. |
|
1978 |
| Truck license
fees are hiked to unrealistic and irresponsible levels. WIB launches, and
succeeds, in a major effort to get fees reduced. |
|
1977 |
| Following years
of being ignored and bogged down by bureaucracies, WIB is formed to give the
small business community the voice they desperately need to be heard in by
state government. |
|
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