People's Republic of Madison Strikes Again!

Madison continues to pass laws that take away rights to business owners and threaten the ability for small business owner from doing business and making a profit(and the side affect of people losing jobs)

First Minimum Wage increase. Many small businesses had to cut back on the number of employees they had. So nice increase for those who still have a job.

Second Inclusionary Zoning Law. Its nice for Madison to dictate that. I sure like looking for a nice apartment complex and willing to pay a little more and having low income familys in the same building so my car or storage area can continually get broken into. Hate to be stereotypical, but that always seems to happen.

Third Smoking Ban. Ok I am a non smoker and always have been, to me this is a bad law. I enjoy going into a bar a little more now that the smoke doesn't bother me, but no one is there! At least at the bars I frequent that happen to be at the edges of town. The bars are saying a 40% to 60% decrease from this time last year! More jobs down the tube, and probably higher prices.

And the latest Required Sick Leave. Again this is hurting businesses in Madison and not in the City's best interest!(or ours) This Mandate lacks the flexibility needed and imposes more restrictions on doing business.

All these ideas look good on paper, and of course I think people always can use and in alot of cases need a bigger paycheck, sick leave, and/or affordable housing...but I feel these laws are not helping!

As a business owner I should be able to decide these choices. If I run a place that pays poorly, people will work elsewhere and I will have to increase what I am offering. If I have benefits that don't meet someone's needs, then they should look elsewhere. If I have open apartments because rent is too high, I can open it up at a lower price. If I want to run a bar that is non smoking because I feel I can create a niche for myself, then I should be able to choose that.

Madison is making doing business in Madison a risky choice. It is putting the existing businesses in the city at a disadvantage to outside competitors, and signaling to outside vendors that doing business here is difficult.

So in the end who gets screwed by all of this...the people who these laws are supposed to benefit.