Government Affairs

Political Advocacy

Your Strong Voice in Georgia’s Legislature

The GRA is your voice to influence regulatory and legislative issues that go right to your BOTTOM LINE!

GRA’s Government Affairs Consultants, Jean McRae and Mike Vaquer, of The Vaquer Firm, are at the State Capitol each and every day the legislature is in session to represent your interests.  They are well known by the elected officials, and are looked to for professional advice on issues that affect our operations.

As the Georgia Restaurant Association, we also have numerous opportunities to allow our restaurants to share their special talents. 

•       GRA-PAC –Political Action Committees (PACs) are an important aspect of American politics and the American electoral system. The GRA-PAC was established in 2005, for the purpose of soliciting financial support from companies and employees of companies, of Georgia’s foodservice industry, to support those candidates determined to be “pro-foodservice industry.” Members of the GRA-PAC participate in the planning and execution of all PAC-related fundraising activities.

•       Governmental Affairs Committee – For members that wish to learn more about the legislative and regulatory process, and influence the GRA’s political advocacy efforts, the GRA’s Governmental Affairs Committee

      The purpose of the Governmental Affairs committee is to fully represent the interests of all members of the association, and Georgia’s foodservice industry, in all pertinent areas of government activity at the state and local level, and national level as appropriate.               

Committee activities include examining all State legislative or regulatory proposals that may affect the hospitality industry and determining the position, if any, that the Georgia Restaurant Association should adopt with respect to each proposal. The committee will recommend a position to the Board of Directors on those governmental proposals or actions it considers appropriate for involvement by the Association and, where it deems appropriate, the extent of that involvement.

The committee will recommend corrective legislation or regulatory amendments where deemed appropriate and in the public interest. The committee's purview and responsibility includes cooperation with the Political Action Committee in providing guidance and direction to the Association's programs in political education to promote the awareness of its members of the critical role the individual can and should play in the political process.

The committee will pay particular attention to analysis of legislation and regulatory actions that either impede or promote the development of small business and will develop positions for submission to the Board that will materially assist this major segment of the foodservice industry.

•      Grassroots Efforts – Want to get involved, but don’t think you have the time to commit to a committee? Then join the GRA’s “Go Network,” and get involved in your community. Grassroots is the lifeblood of any political organization. You can support the industry, and the GRA’s efforts in political advocacy, by staying informed in your local community of both legislative and regulatory trends and practices that may impact Georgia’s foodservice industry.

•       Legislative lunches and dinners are co-hosted by GRA members frequently during the session and range from several legislators and staff, to full committees, and even extend to feeding the entire General Assembly lunch and dinner on the crossover day and the final day of the session.

•       Legislative Updates – The latest local, state, and national legislative news affecting the restaurant industry can be found on the GRA website. During the General Assembly Session, updates are posted weekly to keep you abreast of up to the minute changes in legislative initiatives

Recent Political Advocacy Efforts:

      HB 1303 - "Menu Labeling Pre-emption" prohibits any municipality, county, local government authority, board, or commission, from establishing any requirements as they pertain to menu labeling or nutritional disclosure.
 
SB 533 - "Country of Origin Labeling," would have required restaurants to indicate country of origin of all seafood items, on their menus.

Senate Bill 55 - "Merlot-to-Go" would allow restaurants to reseal a bottle of wine, place it in a sealed bag and let the diner leave with it. The bottle would have to be placed in the car's trunk, cargo area or glove compartment, in order to stay within the law.

HB 89 - "The Gun Bill" would allow Georgians with weapons permits to carry guns into restaurants that serve alcohol, state parks, and on MARTA trains and other public transportation. The legislation, which gun-rights proponents hailed as a major victory, also allows employees to leave weapons in parking lots as long as it's okay with the company.
 

 To get involved, please contact Ron Wolf, Chief Executive Officer, at ron@garestaurants.org, or 404-467-9000.

“The GRA clearly is in a position to take the representation of your restaurant to the next level. The united voice of Georgia's restaurants can protect all of us from a future that is uncertain and full of challenges. We need everyone to join today to let our elected leaders, our suppliers and our fellow restaurateurs know that we are an untied front to make for a bright future and a level playing field for our industry. Enjoy the benefit of joining the largest voices and stand and be heard, join today.”

“I joined the Georgia Restaurant Association to network with my peer foodservice executives in Georgia and to be a member of the state partner of the National Restaurant Association. The GRA has far exceeded my expectations with its industry advocacy thru its government affairs activities, with its broad cost savings Partner Membership program, and with its comprehensive professional workshops. It truly lives up to its mission of providing "a voice for the Georgia restaurant industry".

Jim Squire III, CFE