Georgia Restaurant Association Position Statements
Business Meal Deductibility
The Georgia Restaurant Association supports an increase of the current 50 percent to 80 percent in federal tax deduction for business meals.
Credit Card Interchange "Swipe" Fees
The Georgia Restaurant Association encourages transparency and fairness in setting interchange “swipe” fee rates and rules so merchants and their guests understand the cost of these hidden fees.
Estate Tax Repeal
The Georgia Restaurant Association supports a supports a permanent repeal of the death tax.
Federal Cash Wage Increase
The Georgia Restaurant Association opposes any increases in the federal cash wage/tip credit structure.
Garnishments
The Georgia Restaurant Association supports HB 683 to allow non-attorneys to file information for their companies in garnishment actions.
Health Care Reform
The Georgia Restaurant Association supports the repeal and replacement of the PPACA, including the repeal of the employer and employee mandate. Further, the Georgia Restaurant Association supports measures that address lowering health care costs, including tort reform and employer access to coverage across state lines.
Immigration
The Georgia Restaurant Association supports comprehensive immigration reform, but only at the federal level, including increased border security, a workable employment verification system, a worker program and an earned path to permanent residence for certain undocumented immigrants.
Minimum Wage
The Georgia Restaurant Association opposes any further federal- or state-mandated increases in the starting wage.
Paid Sick Leave
The Georgia Restaurant Association supports employer efforts to provide flexible, voluntary leave benefits for their workforces.
Street Food
The Georgia Restaurant Association supports Georgia Public Health officials in working with the private sector to ensure that guidelines managing the sales of food from a mobile location "Street Food" vendor meet all state requirements ensuring the service of safe and wholesome food.
Tax Reform
The Georgia Restaurant Association supports abolishment of the state tax on business inventories, as well as a revenue-neutral plan to cut state income tax.
Transportation
The Georgia Restaurant Association supports the change of the election date for the regional sales tax (T-SPLOST) vote from July to November. Further, we support the passage of the regional transportation sales tax in regions across the state.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit
The Georgia Restaurant Association supports permanent extension of WOTC.
