Government Affairs
Legislative Agenda
Click here for the 2011-2012 WGA Legislative Agenda.
This list represents the top priorities for the grocery industry and the Wisconsin Grocers Association, but is not all-inclusive.
Taxes, Tax Exemptions, Fee Increases: The WGA vehemently OPPOSES any financial increase whether a tax increase, program fee increase, repeal of a tax exemption, or sales tax increase or shift.
Health Care: The WGA OPPOSES the federal healthcare law and SUPPORTS any efforts to repeal or modify mandatory provisions of the federal law. The WGA opposes all state mandated benefit coverages. The WGA SUPPORTS tax exemptions and other forms of relief for businesses aimed at offsetting the continuously increasing costs of providing healthcare for employees.
Unfair Sales Act: The WGA SUPPORTS the Unfair Sales Act which includes a minimum mark-up on gasoline, alcohol and tobacco products and prohibits below cost sales of other products sold at retail.
Organized Retail Theft: The WGA SUPPORTS legislation that addresses organized retail crime by lowering the felony threshold to $500 and making theft with intent to re-sell a felony.
Civil Justice Reform: The WGA SUPPORTS legislation that improves Wisconsin’s product liability law by clarifying seller’s liability, product issues and remedial measures. The WGA SUPPORTS tort reform and efforts to address and reduce frivolous lawsuits.
Transportation: The WGA SUPPORTS a dependable transportation system and therefore SUPPORTS initiatives aimed at ensuring a reliable infrastructure without additional taxes or fees on highway users. The WGA SUPPORTS a constitutional amendment and any efforts aimed at ensuring revenues generated by use of the state transportation system are maintained in the transportation fund.
WIC-EBT: The WGA SUPPORTS a smooth transition from paper-based Women, Infants & Children (WIC) government nutrition program to an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system without passing the additional costs onto retailers.
Weights & Measures Municipal Agents: The WGA supports modifying s. 98.04, Stats., to allow municipalities with a population of more than 5,000 to establish their own weights and measures programs rather than current law which mandates.
DATCP Fee Formula: The WGA SUPPORTS reverting the DATCP funding formula of 60% program revenue/40% general purpose revenue to 50%PR/50%GPR.
Alcohol Sales: The WGA SUPPORTS modifying existing statutes to allow alcohol license holders to sell alcohol beverages between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (Current law is 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
Child Labor Laws: The WGA SUPPORTS revising Wisconsin’s child labor laws relating to minors 16-17 years old to reflect federal law.