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Democrats Advance Another Anti-Business Measure

This is a bad idea. 

State Representative Kim Hixson (D-Whitewater) and a majority of his colleagues on the Assembly Committee on Workforce Development voted Assembly Bill 367 out of committee Thursday. Hixson is the lead author of AB-367, the “Job Seeker Protection Bill,” which would prohibit employers from discriminating against job seekers based on their credit history.

An employer always takes on a degree of risk when hiring anyone.  It’s impossible to know everything about a person before hiring them.  Looking at someone’s credit history is just one way to evaluate whether a person is right for the job.  Of course, it depends on the job.  Someone’s credit history may not matter a bit if you’re hiring factory line worker, but it’s certainly relevant when hiring a CFO.  Given how costly and disruptive a bad hiring decision can be, the government should allow employers as many tools as possible to try to make a good decision.

Posted by Owen at 1448 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

1. We are the 3rd worst state for business in the country and this dumbass is trying to sure we hit #1.

   Way to go.

   Credit scores are very important to look at when hiring. Imagine a sales person with a company credit card on the road…  if you can’t manage your own credit card - how are you going to do with a company card? Not good.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 24, 2009 at 2250 hrs
   
   
   

2. Unbelievably, it was not that long ago, we used to recruit and hire people without checking there credit scores. Back in those days, we also did not require a college education to sweep the floors.

   My bank says that we have the highest credit score they ever saw but not long ago we had a problem because a credit company put a problem on our report that did not belong to us. Have you ever dealt with that problem? By the time it took for us to solve that problem a job would have been long gone.

   The inflexibility of some employers is also to blame.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 25, 2009 at 1044 hrs
   
   
   

3. Is it difficult to prove a credit history check was conducted and the credit history check was connected with a job application?  Could a third party do the check and not report who hired them to perform the check? 

   WI Circuit Court access has been invaluable to me for checking out prospective tenants.  Granted, it’s not the most timely research tool, but no one necessarily knows I checked them out using this tool.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 25, 2009 at 1140 hrs
   
   
   

4. Really, we’re talking about CFOs and employees entrusted with company credit cards when traveling?  These are the people we’re trying to protect?  Somehow I wonder if these aren’t the people most hurt by the credit-check practice in the first place.

   Posted by scott on October 25, 2009 at 1308 hrs
   
   
   

5. Sounds like Hixson is attempting to help “Average Joe Sixpack” who’s looking for a job in a tough economic time.

   Here’s the full press release:

   Rep. Hixson: Job seeker protection bill passes Assembly committee
   10/22/2009

   CONTACT
   State Representative Kim Hixson/608-266-9650

   Rep. Hixson’s Bill Would Protect Workers from Credit History Discrimination

   MADISON – State Representative Kim Hixson (D-Whitewater) and a majority of his colleagues on the Assembly Committee on Workforce Development voted Assembly Bill 367 out of committee Thursday. Hixson is the lead author of AB-367, the “Job Seeker Protection Bill,” which would prohibit employers from discriminating against job seekers based on their credit history.

   Hixson said that the committee’s approval is a great step toward protecting job seekers during a tough economic climate.

   “The committee’s approval is a victory for every struggling job seeker in Wisconsin,” Hixson said. “I have heard from folks from around the state who have felt the negative effects of unfair workplace discrimination, and this bill works to eliminate that practice.”

   Hixson said that he wanted the bill to be pro-worker without being anti-business. That is why he introduced an amendment to the legislation that created safeguards for small businesses. These changes included both extending the legislation’s effective date to allow businesses the opportunity to better understand the new law and further narrowing the definition of “credit history” so employers could still obtain pertinent information from consumer reports. The amendment was adopted by the committee.

   “Determined job seekers across Wisconsin are frustrated with their inability to find a job,” Hixson said. Many of them hit the pavement every day to try to find employment to support their families. This legislation removes an unfair burden that many job seekers face on a daily basis.”

   AB-367 is now eligible for consideration by the general Assembly. Hixson said this bill was inspired by a constituent that faced employer discrimination based on his credit history, which was negatively affected by his son’s catastrophic health care bills.

   “Ordinary people often incur bad credit history through little or no fault of their own,” Hixson said. “Honest folks from every corner of this great state just want the chance to get back to work and support their families. They aren’t looking for handouts, they’re just looking for the opportunity to earn a living. This bill will help determined workers reenter the workforce and dig themselves out of debt.”

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 25, 2009 at 1724 hrs
   
   
   

6. And Scott, if your worried about CFOs and employees entrusted with company credit cards when traveling, please read section 6 111.333 which includes as an exception, “The circumstances of an individual’s credit history are substantially related to the circumstances of a particular job or licensed activity.”
   http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/AB-367.pdf

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 25, 2009 at 1751 hrs
   
   
   

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