Coalition Against New Taxes launches new Web site – WICANT.com
June 10, 2009 – When members of the State Bar of Wisconsin and other statewide business groups began to hear comments from key legislators suggesting their interest in expanding the state’s 5 percent sales tax to include a range of professional services (including legal services), a diverse coalition of professional and business leaders responded by forming CANT (Coalition Against New Taxes). The group was chartered in February to oppose any expansion of the sales tax to professional or business services.
The mission of the coalition is to educate both policy makers and the public about the detrimental effects this new tax would have on both small business operators and consumers. Law firms and other businesses impacted by the tax would face substantial new record-keeping and tax-filing requirements. Imposing this added burden on small businesses already impacted by the economic downturn can only slow the recovery and reduce job opportunities. CANT also stresses that the tax would be passed along to consumers, making it a back-door tax increase for Wisconsin families.
The State Bar, which is an active member of the coalition, has emphasized that expanding the tax to include legal services would increase the cost of those services and diminish access to justice for low- and moderate-income families. The State Bar has also noted that a sales tax on legal services would fall hardest on consumers who can least afford to pay, making it even more difficult for Wisconsin residents to get the legal help they need. Clients who seek legal advice on divorce, bankruptcy, child support, or probating the estate of a loved one would have to worry about paying more to resolve their hardships.
Recently, the coalition launched WICANT.com to highlight these and other policy concerns. For more information please contact Cale Battles at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6077 or (608) 250-6077 or visit WICANT.com or taxingjustice.com
Rotunda Report is a new newsletter, issued once every two weeks, from the State Bar of Wisconsin that highlights legislative, judicial and administrative developments that impact the legal profession and the justice system. It is produced by the Bar’s Government Relations Team and is distributed free to attorneys, public officials and others who help shape public policy in Wisconsin. We invite your suggestions to make the Rotunda Report more informative and useful and we encourage you to visit our Web site for the most current information about justice-related issues.
© 2009, State Bar of Wisconsin
