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Are You Ready for Conceal and Carry?

Posted on July 8, 2011 by

Today, at the Grand Lodge in Wausau, Governor Walker signed into law a bill that allows qualified individuals to carry concealed weapons, except in certain places such as courthouses and police stations. The law, which becomes effective on November 1, 2011, contains a number of provisions that will affect public and private employers in Wisconsin. […]

IRS Announces Mid-Year Adjustment of Business and Medical Mileage Rates

Posted on June 23, 2011 by

Due to the increases in the cost of gasoline since establishing the 2011 rates last year, the Internal Revenue Service is increasing mid-year the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expenses. Effective July 1, 2011, the optional standard mileage rates will be 55.5 […]

Assembly Version of Budget Bill Changes Landscape of Municipal Bargaining Somewhat

Posted on June 16, 2011 by

The Assembly passed its version of the Budget Bill early this morning. That version will now be submitted to the Senate for consideration. It is anticipated that the Senate will pass the Assembly version without change, but that remains to be seen. There are several changes to the Municipal Collective Bargaining Law as amended by […]

DOL Helps Employees to Track Work Hours

Posted on June 6, 2011 by

Under the Obama administration, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has increased its enforcement of the wage and hour provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Previously in such claims, if the number of worked hours were disputed and an employee had kept hand written records of the hours that he or she allegedly worked, […]

What is the Price of Dignity and Privacy?

Posted on May 25, 2011 by

You have faithfully and scrupulously carried out your Mom’s wishes. You are her primary agent under her durable and healthcare powers of attorney because Mom wants you. She wants your companionship. She wants your care and attention. She moved from the homestead to live near you because you are the one she wants. She not […]

Public Safety Employee Bargaining: Possible Changes

Posted on May 18, 2011 by

New legislation has been proposed that greatly affects collective bargaining with police, fire, and deputy sheriff (public safety employees) bargaining units. Assembly Bill 127 (which has been referred to the Joint Committee on Finance) amends Section 111.70 and Section 111.77 of the Wisconsin Statutes relating to collective bargaining for public safety employees. One of the […]

2012 Health Savings Account Cost-of-Living Adjustments

Posted on May 16, 2011 by

The Internal Revenue Service has announced the cost-of-living adjustments for the HSA contribution limits and for High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Unlike last year, there have been some adjustments in the limits for 2012. HSA/HDHP Requirement  Cost-of-Living Adjustments Limit on HSA Contributions – Self-only HDHP 2011 – $3,050 2012 – $3,100 […]

Will There Be an End to Tax Incentives for Profitable Oil and Gas Companies?

Posted on May 9, 2011 by

On April 29, Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus said he would introduce legislation to end “billions of dollars in tax breaks” for large, multinational oil and gas companies. This movement towards new legislation likely arose from recent announcements of record profits along with high energy consumer costs.   The largest oil and gas companies […]

Structuring Decisions of Leveraged Partnership Transactions After Canal

Posted on May 4, 2011 by

On August 5, 2010, the Tax Court applied an anti-abuse rule in the Treasury Regulations to hold that a leveraged partnership transaction designed to defer the recognition of gain on a nonrecognition contribution to a partnership was in actuality a “disguised sale” and an immediate taxable sale of assets. The case provides insights into the […]

Wisconsin FMLA Law Expected to Federalize

Posted on May 2, 2011 by

Wisconsin’s Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) became law in 1987. The federal FMLA became law in 1993. As almost all Wisconsin human resources (HR) personnel are aware, provisions of the two laws differ in many ways. As a result, complying with both laws has been difficult at best and has caused many HR professionals […]