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2007-2008 SESSION |
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The state budget passes without any
expansion of the sales tax base. WIB warns that the budget is balanced
using accounting gimmicks and says that the state cannot continue to budget
in this manner. Our words become prophetic in the last months of 2008 as
the accounting tricks combine with the national recession to create a
massive state budget deficit. Proposals to expand the sales tax base to
business services and farm necessities are rampant.
The Farmers Health Cooperative, created
through legislation pushed heavily by WIB, becomes operative and hundreds of
farm families sign up for quality health insurance at stable prices.
Several business-oriented cooperatives develop plans to become operative in
2009.
A bill to regulate use of automatic renewal clauses in
business contracts receives Senate approval but the chairman of the Assembly
Committee on Small Business, Rep. Terry Moulton, effectively kills the
bill. Moulton loses his bid for reelection. His gutting the business
contracts bill plays a large role in his defeat. This legislation remains a
top WIB priority.
Milwaukee County continues to lead opposition to WIB’s
efforts to increase the small claims court jurisdictional limit.
The Unemployment Insurance System continues to lose money as
the state pays more in benefits than it raises in UI tax revenue. The fund
appears it will need a fiscal bailout from the federal government in 2009. |
|
2005-2006 SESSION |
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Two additional Co-op Care bills win approval with WIB’s
leadership. One bill lifts the limit on the number of health insurance
cooperatives that can be formed. The other bill specifies that the
Commissioner of Insurance may not interfere with establishing Co-op Care
programs. Commissioner Jorge Gomez resigns in December, 2006.
Several “radical” health insurance reform plans are touted
at the State Capitol but none is close to passage. Most of the plans provide
close to universal coverage and promise to significantly reduce costs.
Some leading Democrats in the legislature propose expanding
the sales tax base to business services to raise more money for “property
tax relief.” WIB leads efforts to defeat sales tax base expansion. Governor
Doyle signs a “balanced” budget that WIB complains still uses too much
“smoke & mirrors.” WIB continues fight for honesty in state budgeting.
Three bills to regulate use of automatic renewal clauses in
business contracts get legislative hearings but were stalled in the
Assembly. The bills will be back in the 2007 session.
This legislation remains a top WIB priority.
Milwaukee County leads opposition to WIB’s efforts to
increase the small claims court jurisdictional limit. |
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2003-2004 SESSION |
|
WIB leads battle to kill proposal from WI Counties
Association and others to expand the sales tax base to provide more money
for local government. Governor Doyle’s first budget is precariously and WIB
continues campaign to get the state budget balanced honestly.
The legislature approves Co-op Care, an outgrowth of WIB’s proposal to allow
small businesses and farmers to join large purchasing pools to obtain health
insurance.
Main Street Crime legislation providing tougher penalties
for worthless checks and shoplifting is signed into law. Graffiti and damage
to property are added to the list of offenses that can be brought as either
criminal or civil action. Shoplifting by a minor now carries a $5000
parental liability maximum.
Legislation against hidden automatic renewal clauses in
contracts wins Senate approval but is blocked by the speaker of the
Assembly. |
|
2001-2002 SESSION |
Legislature approves startup funds for Private Employer
Health Care Coverage Program but governor vetoes. WIB leads defeat of sales
tax on custom computer software. Efforts to repeal Unfair Sales Act and
increase minimum wage defeated. Personal property tax removed from fax
machines and cash registers. WIB warns state budget is out of control and
disaster looms.
WIB fights for fiscal sanity as state faces worst fiscal crisis in 30 years.
WI Counties Association and numerous other groups call for expansion of the
sales tax base. WIB fights against it and prevails. WIB guides startup funds
for the Private Employer Health Care Coverage Program through the
legislature again. This time Governor McCallum signs it into law. McCallum
loses election bid to Attorney General Jim Doyle, who vows to support
allowing small and farm businesses to pool together to purchase health
insurance. |
|
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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