Almost 100 Walmart store managers from across Wisconsin met on Feb. 14 for their annual Capitol Day. This year’s event focused on the Unfair Sales Act, a bill from Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield) and Rep. Jim Ott (R-Mequon) that provides exemptions for prescription drugs and general merchandise under Wisconsin’s Unfair Sales Act.  Those exemptions would allow retailers to sell prescription drugs and general merchandise for the same price they can in other states.  This would save consumers money and make it easier for Wisconsin “brick and mortar” retailers to compete with online retailers.

The day began with Sen. Vukmir addressing the group about the Unfair Sales Act, recent activity in the Capitol, and her upcoming U.S. Senate campaign. Following Vukmir’s speech, attendees headed to the Capitol for a committee hearing on the Unfair Sales Act.

The hearing was highlighted by Walmart managers and pharmacists telling their stories about how the law negatively impacts their customers.  Some opponents of the bill were concerned that the bill relating to prescription drugs and household goods might somehow down the road affect their state government mandated markup on gasoline.

Later in the afternoon, Walmart joined Rep. Ott, the MacIver Institute, and the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, for a press conference asking the legislature to move on the bill.