|
|
 
 
|
The
end of the 2007-08 legislative session provided both parties an opportunity
to take positions they hoped would help in the November 2008 election. Based on the election results, Republicans
either emphasized the wrong issues or didn't get their message across
because Democrats won control of both houses of the Legislature. These are some of the issues from the past
session of greatest importance to independent and farm business owners: |
| |
|
SALES TAX BASE EXPANSION |
| |
The state budget passed without any
expansion of the sales tax base. With a national recession creating a
massive state budget deficit there were proposals to expand the sales tax base to
business services and farm necessities. The issue never goes away.
In 2007 some leading legislative Democrats said they could find $3 billion a
year in new state tax revenue by “closing loopholes” in the sales tax law.
As is often the case, the “loopholes” weren't really loopholes at all, but
historically justified exemptions to the sales tax code affecting small
business services and farm necessities. All efforts failed but the
issue could return. WIB will continue working to protect the needed
exemptions that protect small businesses and farms. |
| |
|
CO-OP CARE |
| |
|
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. |
| |
|
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE |
| |
| The Unemployment
Insurance System fund is decreasing. With the balance falling the
State will have to seek ways of stabilizing the fund. WIB has been
there to insure that the interests of the small business owner are
protected. |
| |
|
BUSINESS CONTRACTS |
| |
|
Some large companies keep using tiny print to write hidden automatic renewal
clauses in business service contracts. It is unfair and unscrupulous but it
isn’t illegal. 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. This was a
classic “Good guys versus black hats” battle with WIB opposed by Waste
Management, Onyx Waste, A-T-T, Cingular, GE, TDS, Nextel, Time Warner, Dell,
and the Water Quality Association. Small businesses with a contract with any
of the firms on that list should review every clause of their contracts very
carefully. |
| |
|
SMALL CLAIMS COURT |
| |
| WIB continues to
lead the fight to increase the decade old small claims limit of $5,000 to
$10,000. Opponents to the bill feel that it would be an unfunded state
mandate on the counties and courts. |
| |
| |
| |
back to top |
|
