Well the dems are in charge in the Wisconsin State Senate now and rather than focus on reversing some of the more punitive policies of the GOP legislators from the last 10 years, they’re focusing their energies on fringe bills which unnecessarily regulate business and will give them a reputation for being anti-business.

Senate Bill 80 seeks to put regulations on businesses who use traveling sales crews who overnight in any given target area. Erpenbach is focused on the tragic death of a van full of workers who died a few years back who, while traveling during an overnight sales blitz were in an accident that claimed all of their lives. While tragic, the crash was not a result of them working.

What you have to understand to get a good grasp of this issue is where the workforce is and what the dynamics of the workforce are. I cannot, for the life of me, understand how anyone who has had to hire anyone in this economy, would think it was a good idea to pile additional regulation onto businesses which are already operating on a thin profit margin. These businesses that Erpenbach is targeting are not cash cows — they are businesses which operate on the thinnest of margins in the hopes of squeaking out a profit. To require additional registrations of them will have the result of killing those businesses. Starting a business requires risk but that is also how our economy does well. By punishing risk takers, SB 80 will have the result of being anti-business.

Unfortunately there are several senators and assembly reps who have signed onto the bill and there are a few Republicans who have tossed their name on also. For instance, Ted Kanavas, the Republican Senator from Brookfield — what was he thinking? It’s not like Brookfield is a big pro-regulation community unless of course you’re talking about the way all the new construction homes look.

Where is the dem leadership and will they put the brakes on before goofy legislation like Senate Bill 80 passes?