Prepared and Distributed by The Midwest Hardware Association, Inc.
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Illinois Businesses and Organized Labor Reach Agreement on Unemployment Insurance
By Alec Laird, MHA Illinois Lobbyist and Vice President, Government Relations for the Illinois Retail Merchants Association
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As many eHELPS readers know, the unemployment insurance system was created by the US Congress in 1935. As designed by the federal government, the system is funded by taxes on employers. These taxes fund the benefits to workers who are laid off thru no fault of their own. The only way to cut taxes for employers is to cut benefits for laid off workers and their dependents.
Unique to Illinois, business groups and organized labor reach agreements through an “agreed bill process” for any unemployment insurance related issues. The agreed bill process for unemployment insurance has been in place since 1984. It was created to end the wild swings that used to occur in the system - either benefit increases and tax increases or benefit cuts and tax decreases - depending on whose supporters were in control at the time. Since its inception, the process brings together representatives of labor and employers to solve problems in the system. Once agreed, the four leaders and the Governor agree to support and enact the agreement. Further, any votes in favor of the agreement are not used for campaign purposes.
After months of negotiation, a deal was reached to fund the unemployment insurance trust fund. Details of the agreement may be found in SB 1698 HA 1 include the following elements:
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Wisconsin Voters Elect to Keep Divided State Government
By Misha Lee, MHA Wisconsin Lobbyist
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Wisconsinites voted this past November to keep a divided state government as a new two-year legislative session begins early next year. Republicans will maintain control of the Legislature with even larger majorities in both chambers and Democrats will hold the top two constitutional statewide offices with the re-election of Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul.
Incumbent Governor Evers defeated his Republican opponent Tim Michels by a margin of 51 to 48 percent, while Attorney General Josh Kaul defeated his GOP opponent Eric Toney in a tighter race of 51 to 49 percent. Evers outperformed all other candidates on the statewide ballot with the most overall total votes cast and yielding more votes than he did in 2018 when he unseated Governor Scott Walker. Meanwhile, Evers’ opponent Tim Michels underperformed and garnered less overall votes than the Republican statewide candidates running for Attorney General and U.S. Senate. Michels received less total votes than when Walker lost in 2018. Evers' and Kaul’s re-election to another term represents a major win for Wisconsin Democrats in an election year where they faced strong political headwinds nationally. Generally, when one party controls both The White House and Congress, elections historically swing in the other direction. However, Evers and Kaul bucked that trend. And Evers is the first Wisconsin governor in more than three decades to win re-election in a midterm while a president from the same party held office. Evers' vote totals were due in large part by overwhelming turnout in the Democratic stronghold of Dane County which has accounted for an increasingly large share of Democratic votes statewide, and despite a lower turnout than usual in Milwaukee County. On the flipside, Michels failed to produce enough voter support and turnout in key areas of the state that historically produce large Republican votes. The race for Governor was the most expensive in state history with both candidates and groups spending in excess of $115 million.
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Let Your Voice Be Heard...by being a MHA Board Member |
We are currently searching for an individual in Illinois to join the Board.
For November 2023, we are recruiting members in:
Wisconsin (1)
Minnesota (1)
The types of qualities and skills we are seeking in board
members that are:
- Adaptive
- Big picture thinking
- Vision focuses
- Eager to increase association visibility
- Available now (for the Illinois spot)
The most important qualities are passion, leadership and an ability and
willingness to work for your fellow members and MHA staff.
Meetings are once a month, via zoom, for approximately an hour. 1-2 in person meetings may be scheduled throughout the year.
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2023 contribution limits for 401(k), HSA and HDHP, Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, QSEHRA, Commuter Transit and Parking, Adoption Assistance, and Earnings Subject to Social Security Payroll Tax have been posted. |
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If you'd like to place an ad, please contact Sam Schmidt at
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Here are the most recent Illinois, Minnesota-Dakotas, and Wisconsin hardware store sales trends, gathered from association members using the MHA's monthly accounting services. The figures derived for each region include sales data from the following number of stores:
Illinois - 16 stores
Minn.-Dakotas - 10 stores
Wisconsin - 51 stores
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MHA is the recognized leader in providing accounting to independent hardware stores of all sizes and of all wholesaler affiliations. We provide accurate, timely, complete monthly financial statements and, because we do accounting for hundreds of hardware stores across the country, we offer something that other accounting firms can't.
With MHA monthly accounting service you receive:
- Monthly Profit & Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow
- Accountant's Interpretation and Analysis Letter
- Complete reconciliation of all bank accounts, outstanding credit card transactions, merchandise payables, and other balance sheet items
- Preparation of sales tax, payroll tax, and other federal, state, and local tax reports
- Nationwide, toll-free telephone access to keep you in touch with the MHA staff
- Outstanding, professional service at reasonable prices
Our trained staff stays up to date on the latest tax developments and works closely with you to prepare and file returns that are accurate, complete, and on time.
Testimonial
“Because they work with other hardware stores around the nation, MHA gives us great insight on what to do when it comes to my accounting and finances. They are the best financial counselors to have for running a hardware store.”
David Tennies, Manager
Tennies Hardware
West Bend, WI
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