Immigration reform
This year will see policymakers revisit comprehensive immigration reform legislation, according to Rob Green, president of the National Council of Chain Restaurants. Green said the White House and congressional leaders are expected to make the immigration issue a priority in 2013. With its growing workforce — which is expected to reach 13.1 million in 2013 — the restaurant industry generally supports a workable and efficient solution to the problem of undocumented workers that encompasses a path to legalized citizenship for many undocumented workers, effective workplace enforcement and stronger borders.
Labor
After scoring several victories against organized labor over the past few years, the foodservice industry is once again preparing to confront the unionization issue. Many in the industry applauded a U.S. District Court judge last year for invalidating a National Labor Relations Board regulation that would have sped up the time frame allowed for union elections. However, union organizers and fast-food workers staged a widely publicized one-day strike in New York that drew hundreds of participants. The organizers have vowed to step up their efforts to unionize quick-service employees in 2013.
Health care
With the U.S. Supreme Court and the 2012 presidential election all but ensuring that President Barack Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will not be repealed, foodservice operators have begun to study the law’s extremely complex regulations in earnest. Foodservice associations have said they will be working with federal policymakers this year to find flexibility in the law that will help ease some of the potential burdens and costs the PPACA is expected to bring.
Comprehensive tax reform
The industry is expected to push for comprehensive tax reform that encompasses both corporate and individual rates. According to Steve Caldeira, president and chief executive of the International Franchise Association, the United States has the highest corporate tax rate in the world, and the country must become more competitive in the global economy.
“But it can’t come on the backs of the small-business community,” he said, adding that small business creates two-thirds of net new jobs in the United States.
Menu labeling
While menu labeling was voted into law as a provision of the PPACA in 2010, the industry has been waiting for the government to finalize the regulations. Scott DeFife, the National Restaurant Association’s executive vice president for policy and government affairs, said he expects the new rules will come out this year.
“We know the general parameters,” he said. “Most things are clear. But there are a couple of things they have yet to define. Will they dictate size and font? Will they be proscriptive or allow flexibility? Obviously, we have asked for as much flexibility as possible.”
Contact Paul Frumkin at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @NRNPaul.
