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.
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.
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.
Become a member & strengthen your industry
Schedule a consultation and learn how the Alliance can help your business thrive.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Questions about the PAC? Reach out now.
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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