ADVOCACY

Your Industry.
Your Voice.

The ORHA is pro-business on local, state and federal issues important to our members’ bottom lines.


Our approach to working with government officials is non-partisan. The ORHA respects all views and regularly meets with members of both governing parties to best represent Ohio's restaurant & hospitality industry.

WE PROTECTED TIPS

In 2024, outside special interest groups attempted to eliminate the tipped wage that is so important to servers, customers, communities and Ohio's hospitality industry.

SEE HOW WE SAVED TIPS ➝
OHIO RESTAURANT PAC

The ORHA supports ideas, legislation & proposed laws that stimulate the economy and protect the growth of Ohio's restaurant, foodservice & hospitality industry.

DONATE TO THE PAC ➝
JOIN THE FIGHT

Help equip the ORHA to fight issues and mandates that would be devastating to Ohio’s hospitality industry or negatively impact Ohio’s economy and future growth potential.

GIVE TO THE ADVOCACY FUND ➝

Become a member & strengthen your industry

Schedule a consultation and learn how the Alliance can help your business thrive.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT ➝
RESTAURANTS ACT

Join Forces to Fight for Our Industry

Restaurants Act gives restaurant operators and employees a seat at the table with policymakers and thought leaders at the federal level.

With your Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance membership you also receive membership with the National Restaurant Association, who tirelessly advocates for the restaurant, foodservice & hospitality community on national issues.

GET INVOLVED ➝
CREDIT CARD COMPETITION ACT

High swipe fees negatively impacts businesses and consumers. Download the poster to tell your guests to ask Congress to support the Credit Card Competition Act to lower credit card swipe fees.

DOWNLOAD THE POSTER ➝
EWEA ACT & HOW TO GET INVOLVED

EWEA ​is a non-immigrant temporary worker program that would help restaurants fill job vacancies while providing employees with valuable training, experience, and a career path.

TAKE ACTION NOW ➝
MONTHLY UPDATES

Want the latest Advocacy info? Watch Tod's Take!

Hear from Tod Bowen, Managing Director of Government Affairs, on what's happening now.
WATCH TOD'S TAKE NOW ➝
The Ohio Restaurant PAC

⦿ The PAC helps ensure your voice is heard

⦿ Your contributions support candidates running for the Ohio General Assembly

⦿ Personal or LLC contributions accepted

⦿ Corporations can NOT contribute

⦿ PAC dollars can NOT be used to support statewide issues or local government officials

GIVE NOW ➝
THE PAC & ADVOCACY FUND EXPLAINED

Protecting Ohio's Restaurant, Foodservice & Hospitality Industry

There is strength in numbers and our industry is stronger together. Your donations help ensure our collective voices are heard.

Advocacy Fund

⦿ Dollars can be used to support or oppose statewide issues that could impact our industry

⦿ Contributions from corporate entities, individuals, partnerships, LLCs and unincorporated businesses are permitted and are not subject to contribution limits

⦿ Contributions are discretionary and used in a bi-partisan manner to best serve Ohio's restaurant, foodservice & hospitality industry

DONATE TODAY ➝

Questions about the PAC? Reach out now.

SEND MESSAGE ➝

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OHIO RESTAURANT POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

Your PAC Questions Answered

Why a PAC?

A political action committee provides a practical and powerful means for the restaurant & hospitality industry to pool resources to maximize the impact our financial contributions have on the electoral and legislative process. In other words, it makes it more likely that we can help elect pro-business lawmakers and our message and positions on issues will be more effectively communicated to the members of the Ohio General Assembly.


The mission of the The Ohio Restaurant Political Action Committee (PAC) is to capture the political power of Ohio's second largest private sector employer to elect candidates for public office who support positions on issues critical to the success of Ohio's restaurant & hospitality industry.

Who can contribute?

The Ohio Restaurant PAC is made up of restaurant owners, operators, suppliers and friends of the restaurant, foodservice & hospitality industry. They band together to vet & elect candidates from both parties to the Ohio General Assembly who are supportive of the free enterprise system and want to allow hospitality businesses to operate successfully in the marketplace.


Ohio Law prohibits corporate contributions, so only personal contributions are allowed. However, Ohio law does not consider LLCs, sole proprietorships or partnerships to be corporations for the purposes of the campaign finance laws. 


Thus, LLCs, sole proprietorships and partnerships are allowed to contribute to the PAC.

Criteria for PAC Contributions

The PAC makes campaign contributions on a non-partisan basis. The criteria used to determine which candidates to support and the amount of that financial support includes:

⦿ Available funds

⦿ The candidate's voting record on issues impacting restaurant & foodservice businesses

⦿ The degree to which a candidate supports minimal government interference in business operations (may be based on candidate questionnaires)

⦿ The candidate's relationship with Alliance members

⦿ Our perception of whether the candidate is approachable and open-minded

⦿ The candidate's leadership skills

⦿ His or her electability

Ohio Restaurant PAC events are held annually throughout Ohio. All funds raised benefit the Ohio Restaurant PAC. Credit card or check is payable to the Ohio Restaurant PAC. Personal, LLP, partnership or sole proprietorship checks only. Ohio law prohibits corporate contributions.

RESOURCES

Government Agencies

Local, state and federal agencies important for foodservice operators

Ohio General Assembly ➝
Governor's Office ➝
Secretary of State ➝
Treasurer of State ➝
Ohio Revised Code ➝
Ohio Administrative Code ➝
Department of Health ➝
Division of Liquor Control ➝
Department of Agriculture Food Safety ➝
Department of Commerce ➝
Department of Insurance ➝
Department of Taxation ➝
Local Health Departments ➝
Bureau of Workers' Compensation ➝
Development Services Agency ➝
Federal Trade Commission ➝