SALES TAX BASE EXPANSION - Protecting independent businesses and farms from expansion of the sales tax base leads the legislative agenda for Wisconsin Independent Businesses.  Wisconsin has historically encouraged economic growth by never taxing business services and farm necessities.  Decades of sound fiscal policy should not be reversed at the height of a serious recession.  Wisconsin is counting on independent business and farm owners to lead our state into recovery and new prosperity.  Placing a new tax burden on them will serious harm the recovery.  WIB will support a necessary broad-based approach to new state revenue. 

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE - The state Unemployment Insurance Fund is expected to run out of money in the early months of 2009.  The state has been paying more in UI benefits than it has collected in UI taxes since 1996.  The onset of the national recession speeded the decline in the UI fund balance and the state is expected to be forced to borrow from the federal government.  If new legislation is needed to shore up the system and repay principal and interest to the feds, WIB will strongly support protection for small stable employers who have a positive balance in their UI account. 

BUSINESS CONTRACTS - Legislation requiring large multi-state companies to timely notify Wisconsin firms about automatic renewal clauses hidden in long term lease & service contracts returns as a leading priority for 2009.  The Senate has approved this legislation the past three sessions.  Assembly leaders who killed the bill in previous sessions are no longer in Madison.  WIB believes this important small business consumer protection legislation must pass early in the 2009 session. 

SMALL CLAIMS COURT REFORM - WIB will promote an increase in the small claims court jurisdictional limit above the current $5,000.  WIB will promote new funding ideas to help relieve the burden on cash-strapped counties that often must fund the small claims system.  

RURAL FENCE LINES – New surveying techniques have led to serious disputes over property lines in rural Wisconsin.  WIB will support legislation to grandfather in historic existing property lines on farmland.