BACKGROUND

Senate Bill 560 (SB 560) bans advertising a price for a product as reduced by a mail-in rebate unless the discount is offered at the time of sale. The bill effectively bans mail-in rebate programs that are popular with consumers, retailers and manufacturers.

Under the bill, according to the non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau, it is deceptive to advertise the price of merchandise as reduced by an available rebate of a portion of the purchase price unless the rebate is provided to the purchaser at the time of purchase.

Current law generally prohibits untrue, deceptive, or misleading advertising for real estate, merchandise, securities, employment, or services. Current law also identifies specific practices as prohibited deceptive advertising. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection enforces the current provisions and investigates violations. Violators are generally subject to a forfeiture of $50 to $100 for each violation. Also under current law, a person who suffers pecuniary loss as a result of a violation may bring an action against the violator to recover the amount of the loss and attorney fees.

Please contact your senator and the members of the Senate Committee on Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection to urge them to oppose this bill that limits consumer choices, and bans honest marketing practices.

The bill has had a hearing and is now scheduled for a committee vote for Wednesday, March 31. 

Save Jobs! Stop the Wisconsin Global Warming Bill!
Please Contact Your State Lawmaker Today

Americans for Prosperity CALL TO ACTION

ISSUE: The Wisconsin Legislature is currently debating sweeping new global warming regulations that will significantly increase the cost of energy, and result in thousands of lost jobs. Senate Bill 450 and Assembly Bill 649 are projected to increase the cost of electricity by at least $15 billion when fully implemented, and cost each Wisconsin citizens $1,012 per year in higher energy costs.

SUMMARY OF SB 450 & AB 649: The bills propose more than a dozen new global warming policies ranging from expensive renewable energy mandates and higher monthly energy taxes, to boutique fuel standards for Wisconsin motorists and adoption of California tailpipe standards for Wisconsin automobiles. Virtually every sector of Wisconsin's economy would be directly regulated by this legislation. Please visit the WMC Global Warming 2010 Briefing Center for additional information.

AFP POSITION: AFP opposes SB 450 and AB 649 because these bills will dramatically increase the cost of energy in our state, making our employers less competitive. If enacted, the sweeping new global warming regulations would increase monthly electric and heating bills in Wisconsin, increase the cost of gasoline, and reduce our state economic output. According to a recent independent economic study, these policies will have a devastating impact on Wisconsin's economy when fully implemented:

These harmful go-it-alone global warming policies will make Wisconsin's business climate less competitive, and make it more difficult for Wisconsin employers to create jobs at a time when we need them most. We have already lost 160,000 jobs in the last two years here in Wisconsin, including 60,000 from the manufacturing sector alone. We cannot afford to worsen the situation by hitting our economy with expensive new global warming regulations that will not impact global temperatures or sea levels.

ACTION REQUESTED: AFP has drafted a sample letter for your convenience that can be emailed directly to your state legislators. You may edit the letter as you see fit.