Protecting Your Interests

Election '98 Recap The Michigan Restaurant Association endorsed a record number of candidates this election cycle and experienced unprecedented success. The MRA's endorsed candidates were successful in 90% of the races. Below are some of the highlights of the 1998 election: House Republicans regained control of the lower chamber with a 58-52 advantage. They currently are in the minority by the same margin. Republicans gained eight seats previously held by Democrats. All eight Republicans were endorsed by the MRA. The eight winners were: Gary Woronchak (Dearborn), Jennifer Faunce (Warren), Randy Richardville (Monroe), Clark Bisbee (Jackson), Jud Gilbert (Algonac), Larry Julian (Owosso), Gerald Van Woerkom (Muskegon) and Scott Schackleton (Sault Ste. Marie). The Senate GOP Caucus added one more seat to its majority, Bev Hammerstrom in Monroe and Lenawee counties. The MRA endorsed and supported Bev through the MRA-PAC. The Senate will remain under Republican control 23-15 in January, up from 22-16. MRA endorsed Governor John Engler and he easily won election to a third term in the governors mansion. Other statewide winners include Republican Secretary of State Candice Miller and Democrat Jennifer Granholm as Attorney General. The MRA also made its first foray into the Supreme Court races by endorsing current Justice Clifford Taylor and Court of Appeals Judge Maura Corrigan. Both were successful. Their victories mark a return to a free-enterprise minded majority on the state's Supreme Court.

Detroit Living Wage The Metro Detroit AFL-CIO placed an initiative on the November ballot in the City of Detroit to institute a „Living Wage‰ for all workers of businesses contracting or receiving financial benefits greater than $50,000 from city government. The initiative was passed by an 80%-20% margin. The "Living Wage" for contractors in the city is now $7.70 an hour if health benefits are being provided to the employee and $9.63 an hour if no health benefits are provided. Our major concern with this proposal is the speed with which it was placed on the ballot and the potential for its adoption in other municipalities. The union quietly gathered signatures to place the measure on the November ballot and it wasn&Mac226;t until October that business groups were made aware of its presence on the ballot. While this initiative is limited in its application to contractors with Detroit, its potential for damage to our industry if expanded is frightening. Please keep the MRA informed of any movements within your community to adopt a "living wage" provision. Washington State Minimum Wage Increase Worse than the Detroit „living wage‰ ordinance is the minimum wage increase adopted by the State of Washington. This increase, done by ballot initiative, raises the minimum wage to $5.70 an hour in January1999 and $6.50 an hour in January 2000. It also indexes the minimum wage to inflation beginning January 2001. This initiative was funded by the Washington State Labor Council.

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