Declaring the state of our state is “historically strong,” Governor Scott Walker renewed his commitment to small business by urging the Legislature to pass his Small Business Plan that includes lower taxes, streamlining regulations, ending unemployment fraud, and lawsuit reform.
He also proposed a Rural Economic Development Fund of $50 million per year to support the development, creation and expansion of small businesses in rural areas.
The Governor also believes the state needs to remove barriers to work and invest in schools, apprenticeships, higher education and worker training to help prepare the workforce for small business.
Small business wants the Legislature to pass every step of Governor Walker’s Small Business Plan. Everyone in Wisconsin benefits when small business does well. We thank Governor Walker for his leadership and for giving a strong voice to promoting the future of small business in Wisconsin.
While some have attacked the Governor’s speech as a campaign “kick-off,” there is no dispute more people are working than ever before in our state’s history, more dollars have been invested in K-12 schools than ever before, and the budget is not only balanced but has a large surplus. These are all positive facts about the state’s economy and help feed much of the optimism of small business owners throughout out state.
But our work is not finished. We are leading a coalition of organizations to pass legislation that will reduce the complexity and high transaction costs of civil lawsuits; we are fighting big business and organized labor for a small business seat on the Worker Compensation Advisory Council; and we are working hard to pass legislation that will create state preemption of local labor laws.
In short, as the Legislative calendar winds down over the next couple months, there is important unfinished business.
The opponents make passing a pro-small business difficult and challenging, but with the active participation of NFIB members located throughout our state – we will get it done.
Bill G. Smith
State Director
NFIB/WI
