Protecting independent businesses and farms from expansion of the sales tax base tops the legislative agenda for Wisconsin Independent Businesses going into the 2009-10 session, the business group says. Health care costs, business contracts language, unemployment insurance and small claims court reform round out the top five agenda issues WIB will place before the new legislature, as it enters its 32nd year serving owners of independent businesses and farms in Wisconsin.

“Expanding the sales tax base is a terrible idea,” says Wayne Corey, executive director of WIB, pointing out Wisconsin has historically encouraged economic growth by never taxing business services and farm necessities. “To reverse decades of sound tax policy at the height of a bad recession is the height of folly and WIB will help legislators understand that a broad-based approach to new state revenue is the wise path to take,” Corey adds.

WIB has been involved with development of plans leading toward the proposed BadgerChoice health insurance reform proposal. “We expect to be able to actively support it if it is part of the Executive Budget Bill,” Corey says.

Legislation requiring large multi-state companies to timely notify Wisconsin firms about automatic renewal clauses hidden in lease & service contracts returns as a leading priority for 2009. “This legislation has passed the Senate three times and been killed by Assembly leaders or a committee chair the past three sessions. Those people are no longer in power and, in some cases, no longer in the legislature. We expect this important common sense bill to pass handily,” Corey says.

The state Unemployment Insurance Fund seems poised to run out of money soon, according to WIB. If new legislation is needed to shore up the system WIB will strongly support protection for small stable employers who have a positive balance in their UI account.

Small claims court reform rounds out the top five independent business priorities for the upcoming session. WIB will promote an increase in the small claims court jurisdictional limit above the current $5,000 and WIB will promote new funding ideas to help cash-strapped counties that often must fund the small claims system.

“Independent business and farm owners have proven they are the backbone of Wisconsin’s economy. The challenges faced by small business and farmers are great. WIB will work to protect our members in these very difficult times,” Corey says.

Wisconsin’s economy will benefit from the WIB’s strong advocacy this year.

MY LAST EDITION AT THE HELM: This will be the last edition of Corporate Report Wisconsin for which I will serve as Editorial Director. Over nearly two years, it has been my pleasure to provide you with insight and trends on the business scene in Wisconsin. Now I’ll be moving to the next phase of my professional life, unknown to me as of this writing, and I turn the helm of the magazine over to Laurie Arendt, contributing editor and longtime contributor to the magazine. Laurie will bring fresh energy as well as a long-term perspective to your statewide source for business news. Thank you for the opportunity and I wish you all a great 2009!

By Bob Warde