Gluten-Free Stores - Wisconsin Grocers Association

Legislative Profile
Lieutenant Governor Kleefisch
Rebecca Kleefisch was elected
Wisconsin’s Lieutenant
Governor on November 2,
2010. A small business owner
and former news reporter,
Kleefisch serves as
Wisconsin’s 44th Lieutenant
Governor.
Rebecca is a graduate of the
University of Wisconsin-Madison
and was a marketing major before
she turned to journalism.
In 1997, Rebecca took a job
reporting the news for then-CBS
affiliate, WIFR-TV, in Rockford, Illinois, where she soon
anchored two hours of morning coverage. Rebecca was charged
with the same duties at Milwaukee ABC affiliate, WISN-TV.
She retired from television news to work from home. She
started her own media and marketing company, Rebecca
Kleefisch Enterprises, Inc., to work on rebranding, public
relations, media strategy and writing for her clients.
As Lieutenant
Governor, she has
quickly taken to
the task of
recruiting business
to Wisconsin while
delivering on the
administration’s
pledge to help
create 250,000 jobs.
Rebecca is married to State
Representative Joel Kleefisch
and they reside in
Oconomowoc. Rebecca is
active in her community and
church. Her daughters, Ella
and Violet, are also active in
church, love fishing with dad,
and gardening with mom.
As Lieutenant Governor, she
has quickly taken to the task
of recruiting business to
Wisconsin while delivering on
the administration’s pledge to
help create 250,000 jobs.
Governor Walker has directed her to travel the state listening to the
challenges of small business owners and develop ways the state can
help them compete locally and globally.
In addition to identifying challenges and creating an environment
for commerce to grow, the administration will look closely at
reducing taxes, litigation reform, unemployment insurance and a
renewed emphasis on the tech trades and schools as part of
workforce development and job growth in Wisconsin.
REVIEW GROCERS IN THE CAPITOL DAY CONTINUED
such as those present in Missouri and
Iowa, would result in more revenue for
Wisconsin grocers and the state; it would
maintain limitations to avert alcohol
abusers from purchasing alcohol
throughout the day and night.
The WGA is in favor of SB 44, which was
introduced by Senator Glenn Grothman
(R-West Bend) and AB 63, which was
introduced by Rep. Evan Wynn (R-
Whitewater). Both bills have received
hearings and are hoping to get them
passed out of committee.
Organized Retail Crime
Rep. Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc) and
Senator Van Wangaard (R-Racine) have
been working with WGA to draft
legislation to combat Organized Retail
Crime (ORC). In Wisconsin, approximately
$631 million in merchandise is stolen each
year, resulting in a loss of over $31.5
million in sales tax revenue for the state.
Assembly Bill 56 lowers the felony
threshold for retail theft from $2,500 to
$500. Currently, the total value of stolen
merchandise must reach $2,500 before the
crime is considered a felony. Also, this bill
requires proof of ownership for certain
items sold at flea markets. Attendees
encouraged their legislators to support AB
56, which has been referred to the Assembly
Committee on Criminal Justice.
Bad Checks
The WGA has been working closely with
Representative Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah),
owner of two small businesses that accept
checks, to draft legislation to prevent bad
checks. In the bill, the felony threshold
would be changed from $2,500 to $500.
Writing a bad check for up to $500 would
be a Class A misdemeanor, and any bad
check over $500 would be considered a
Class I felony. Although this bill is still
being drafted, the WGA supports its
efforts to deter the number of bad checks
and address the lack of assistance grocers
are receiving from their local law
enforcement agencies.
Child Labor Laws
Federal law regulates 14- and 15-year-olds
and determines the times of day, the
number of hours, and maximum number
of hours they are able to work; however,
the federal law does NOT regulate 16-
and 17-year-olds. Wisconsin currently has
specific regulations for this age group,
which supersede the federal law. With the
exception of Michigan, none of our
surrounding states (Minnesota, Iowa,
Illinois) have specific guidelines for 16-
and 17-year-olds. In essence, these
restrictions negatively impact employers
and the future of Wisconsin since the
restrictions make it practically impossible
for minors to get work experience. The
WGA supports federalizing Wisconsin’s
child labor laws for 16- and 17-year -olds
because of the burdens that the
restrictions place on employers.
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