| September 01, 2003 |
| NEWSLETTER - MRA Serves Up Hefty Legislative Plate for Fall |
As the saying goes, a hot fire sucks up all the available oxygen around it. And in the beginning of this year's legislative session in Lansing, the hot fire that sucked up all the oxygen was the state budget deficit, choking off attention to most other issues until the flames burned out. But that issue is largely resolved, and other issues will be able to breathe new life as legislators prepare to return to Lansing in September. Here is a sampling of the items on the legislative menu we are watching at the MRA this Fall:
Youth employment flexibility
The proverbial clock ran out on a bipartisan House-passed bill in the last legislative session, but we will continue the push to increase the number of hours that school-age youth can work during the school year and to simplify the rules. Despite news of an economy that continues to struggle while showing improvement, many restaurant operators are still struggling to find workers who can fill critical slots. In addition to being a great way to provide a source of income and savings for themselves, restaurant jobs beneficially round out a student's education by instructing them on building a strong work ethic, showing up on time, working to attain customer satisfaction, and learning the value of an earned dollar.
Create a new catering liquor license
Under current law, if you hold a class C liquor license and you wish to cater a private party or event, you may do so, but you cannot use your own liquor or simply purchase it from your authorized state distributor. You must go through yet another middleman who must sell it to you at a higher price than you can get yourself. Does that make sense to you? A bill in the Senate would allow class C license holders to provide their own liquor.
Prevent "living wage" ordinances
More and more Michigan localities have adopted local starting wage ordinances as a means of reducing poverty in their jurisdictions. But just like minimum wage laws, we know these ordinances do nothing but increase the burden on the very businesses that are expected to provide the growth and jobs our policymakers continue to demand. And while some restaurant owners may point to these ordinances and say, "They only affect those with city or county contracts, not me," think again. Some cities and counties around the country have gone a step further and are considering a blanket minimum wage for every employer! A bill that passed the House and awaits Senate action would put an end to this activity in Michigan.
Give employees "comp time"
Currently, archaic federal and state labor laws prohibit giving employers and employees flexibility to design a compensation and benefits package that suits them. More and more employees are demanding time off, or "compensatory time" off, in lieu of overtime pay, satisfying their needs for family and personal time. A bill introduced in the state House would help give employers and employees who each voluntarily agree to enter these agreements the flexibility they need.
Go after the true drunk drivers
Now that the state has lowered the allowable blood alcohol content (BAC) from .10 to .08 without creating a new lower impairment standard, the MRA remains committed to going after those who have been the problem all along: the problem drinker who registers well above .10 and has zero regard for the laws, his or her own safety, or the safety of others. Legislation has been introduced that creates tougher penalties for those who register a "high BAC" over .15. MRA will support these efforts to get the problem drivers off the road while making them safer for the rest of us.
Liquor price hikes
Some legislators in Lansing have made rumblings about increasing the cost of liquor to retailers and restaurants as a way of raising money for the state. Some bills have already been introduced. The MRA will argue against any bill that results in an increase in the cost of liquor to restaurant operators. The economy is still struggling and restaurant operators are working harder than ever to survive. If there is ever a time to consider increasing the price of liquor, this surely is not it.
Statewide smoking bans
In a survey earlier this year, MRA members spoke loudly and clearly that the decision on whether to ban smoking in restaurants should be in the hands of the restaurant operators and their customers. Over the past several years, thousands of Michigan restaurants have decided on their own, without government nannying, to prohibit smoking within their establishments. Likewise, there are thousands of restaurateurs who, regardless of their views on tobacco, value the rights of their customers to have the option to smoke in a restaurant if they chose. The MRA will continue to oppose legislation that threatens this freedom.
Hike in the starting wage
Just like death and taxes, another certainty in life is that there will be legislative proposals to increase the starting wage and the tipped wage. Depending on the make-up of the Legislature, the MRA has won some battles and lost some. We are hopeful that the current pro-business composition of the Michigan House and Senate will help us be successful. But it's not that easy. Pro-business legislators will be under immense pressure to give in to the labor bosses and increase your labor costs. Without your input, some lawmakers may weaken, so we must continually make our voice heard at the state level.
Highway rest areas = unfair competition
Just when you thought everyday competition for customers was tough enough, now there may be more. Legislation has been introduced that would allow the commercialization of Michigan highway rest areas. In other words, the state would handpick restaurants to be located at state rest areas, resulting in unfair competition for restaurants located at nearby interchanges - restaurants that put up several hundreds thousand of their own dollars to start up and operate a business. The bill would likely shift - not increase - sales, and hurt existing restaurants in the process. The MRA will oppose this legislation.
This is just a sampling of the issues the MRA has served up on its plate for the fall legislative session. |
