The Working Lunch

A new MAGA-focused trade association is taking shape offering enhanced access to Trump Admiistration officials and to the President himself. The new group is forming at a time when the Business Roundtable and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have encountered some significant friction with the Trump White House. Is this a potential threat or opportunioty for brands and their traditional trade associations? We'll discuss. And a bipartisan working group in Congress has introduced legislation dramatically altering the playing field with regard to paid leave. Is the idea of a traditional, government-run paid leave program funded by payroll taxes a relic of the past? We'll take a look. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We sit down with Aaron Frazier, Vice President of Public Policy at the National Restaurant Association, to discuss the pending tax bill, reconciliation, and what operators should expect at the end of the process. And Republicans across the country seem to be taking aim at voter-passed initiatives on minimum wage and paid leave among other issues. The problem is that despite large majorities in Florida, Missouri and Nebraska, they have been stymied. We'll discuss why that is happening and if Republicans are ultimately pivoting on key business model issues. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Despite a terrible winning record the last few years, One Fair Wage seems to be making a stand in one of the last few big blue states, this time New Jersey. Is it their swan song or the beginning of a comeback? We'll discuss. And then we'll talk about tariffs and the 90- day window of breathing space the Administration gave us. Is it a given that the small guys are the most vulnerable or do the big ones have unique exposures themselves? We'll take a look. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

It looks like the MAHA train has pulled into Baton Rouge and offloaded one of the most expansive food policy reform bills we have seen to date. The legislation covers ingredients, oils, sugary beverages and even SNAP eligibility and appears to be a huge priority of the governor. We'll unpack what it means not only in Louisiana but elsewhere across the country. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Tariffs, tariffs, tariffs. This week the President laid out some of the most aggressive tariff policies in recent American history causing instability in corporate boardrooms, workforces, world markets and with our trading partners themselves. But how should industry leaders look at this? Well, to answer that question, we sat down with one. We had a conversation with Fat Brands Founder and Chairman Andy Wiederhorn who walked us through the challenges that these tariff policies are creating for their business model, their supply chain, their growth plans, and their relationship with current or prospective franchisees. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We'll take a stab at answering a question that likely has never been asked before - namely what do California and West Virginia have in common? The answer: They have both enacted strict laws regarding food additives, dyes and preservatives. But while California's laws were largely targeted at kids and school meals, West Virginia has taken aim at all products produced or sold in the state making them officially the first state to enact RFK Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again aagenda. We are joined once again by Maggie Gentile, a partner at Food Directions and a consultant to the National Restaurant Association to help us sort it out, what it means in the short term for suppliers and restaurants, and what else may be coming down the pike. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We sit down with the Independant Restaurant Coalition's Erika Polmer and Robert St. John to get a status report on the organization, the role it's playing in the industry and their agenda for 2025. And Gywnne Wilcox is back on the job at the NLRB bit with a huge asterisk hanging over her head. We'll take a look at that. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We're going to talk swipe fees with the NRA's Brennan Duckett to update you on the status of the industry's national effort to push back on the Visa and Mastercard payments duopoly that is bleeding restaurant owners dry. And then we'll take a look at a national boycott of Target, Amazon and Walmart over their DEI practices and discuss whether they are an effective tool and should restaurant brands be nervous? We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

The Independent restaurant Coalition has remade its Board Leadership and is looking to reingage in conversations Important to the industry. Is this a help or a hindrance to the industry's national issue agenda? We'll take a look. And this week the President released a target list - his words - of companies that his administration will be going after over their DEI-related policies and a couple of major restaurant and supplier brands ended up on that list. We'll assess the landscape for those companies and the broader industry going forward. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We sat down with Davis Bae, the Managing Partner of the Seattle Office of Fisher & Phillips to talk about the immigration issue and how operators need to prepare for the foreseeable future. Is this a passing fad or the new normal? We'll discuss. And we take a few minutes to discuss a future business model that includes cloud kitchens and what Travis Kalanick of Uber fame is up to in that area. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We sat down with Jonathan Gold, the Vice President of Supply Chain & Customs Policy at the National Retail Federation to talk about the President's tariffs policy and its impact on the industry and the broader economy going forward. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

In an unprecedented move, President Trump fired two members of the National Labor Relations Board as well as the General Counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo. While removing the GC is permissible, the removal of Board members without cause is legally tenuous at best and most likely not legal at all. We take a look. And the no taxes on tips conversation is raging at the state level with a number of states tackling the issue. Is this good news or another challenge for the industry to navigate? We'll do a deep dive on that. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Well it was a rock'em sock'em first week for the Trump Administration as countless executive orders, pardons and personnel changes have been executed in only the first four days. At the forefront of all this is the White House's determination to begin large-scale immigration raids any day now. We'll take a look at this fundamental threat to the industries' workforce, what may happen over the next days and weeks and what operators large and small should prepare for. And there are new sheriffs in town at two agency's important to all employers - the National Labor Relations Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. We'll go over what to expect and why it matters. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

The portable benefits issue is back in the news as DoorDash strikes another agreement - this time with the state of Georgia - to pilot a portable benefits program for its drivers. There is growing consensus within liberal and conservative circles that portable benefits regumes are here to stay and a plausible solution for millions of gig economy workers without traditional benefits. We'll discuss where the issue is going and whether the restaurant industry will meaningfully engage. Starbucks and their public bathroom policy is back in the news as they reverse their policy implemented by Howard Schultz in response to the PR debacle in a Philadelphia restaurant in 2018. Is Starbucks really protecting their employees or bending to the political winds? We would argue that they're doing both. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

After a nearly 20-year separation, the SEIU and the AFL-CIO have kissed and made and now are back on the same team, joining forces just before a potentially union-hostile administration takes office. We'll discuss the volatile history of the two organizations, why they reunited, and what it could mean for the industry. And this week, the U.S. Surgeon General called for expanded warning labels on alcohol, alerting consumers to the possible carcinogenic effects of drinking. Should the industry be worried either now or in the future? We'll discuss. And McDonald's got in line with other major American companies and walked back many of their DEI initiatives and hiring goals. We take a look at why this might be an increasingly complicated conversation for the industry going forward. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Starbucks is back in the news this week as their Workers United union has voted to authorize a national strike at any moment. What's going on behind the scenes? Is this a bargaining ploy as both slides sit down at the negotiating table this week or is it for real? We'll discuss. And we are joined by Maggie Gentile, a partner at Food Directions and a consultant to the National Restaurant Association to discuss the impact that the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda being led by Robert Kennedy, Jr. will have on the industry. Maggie's going to tell us what the food policy landscape will look like in 2025 and what operators should be paying attention to. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

It was a tough week for the National Labor Relations Board with the Senate failing to confirm Pres. Biden's nominations to the Board. This clears the decks for the incoming Trump Admnistration to remake the Board much quicker than anticipated. And just down the street, the agency lost a major court battle that could dramatically alter the roles - and tenure - of Administrative Law Judges. We'll discuss. And we are joined by Mike Whatley, the Vice President of State Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy at the National Restaurant Association to discuss some issues currently percolating, look back at 2024 and look ahead to 2025. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We have a conversation with Greg Astley, Director of Government Affairs for the Oregon Restaurant Association, about Oregan Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer and his team's working relationship with the new Cabinet member. What has been her record in Congress? What are her priorities? And what's her relationship with the Teamsters? We'll get the view from back home in Oregon. And then we'll talk about another major employer, Walmart, joining the growing group of companies pivoting on their DEI policies. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

In yet another surprise appointment, President-Elect Trump has nominated an outgoing member of Congress, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon, to run the Labor Department. Ironically, she is one of a small handful of Republicans to vote for the PRO Act, organized labor's signature piece of legislation in years. To say the least, the nomination is causing significant consternation in the business community. We'll take a deep dive into that. And Waffle House filed a lawsuit against the National Labor Relations Board questioning the consitutionality of the Board and charging that employers are denied due process. What does this mean to pending unfair labor practice accusations against the company as well as the broader corporate campaign being waged against it by the Southern Service Workers union? We'll take a look at that as well. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

The President-elect has been shocking allies and foes alike with his nominations for cabinet posts. While some will have more impact on the industry than others, the nomination of Robert F Kennedy, Jr will likely cause shock waves up and down the food supply as he goes after processed food, sodium, sugar and other additives. It's going to be a wild ride. And we are joined by David King, the Guidance and Outreach Director for the U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to talk about pending regulations regarding Beneficial Ownership Information that all employers must submit to the agency to comply with the Corporate Transparancy Act. He will walk us through the origin of the law, why it's necessary, and the responsibility of all business owners to file the information. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

It's finally over. In a surprise for most, Republicans have a huge night sweeping Donald Trump back into the White House. We'll discuss what happened this week both at the federal level as well as in the states and take a look at what the industry can expect going forward. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Well, the election is finally here and it can't come fast enough. While we don't know the outcome yet, we do know that it will be razor-close and legally contested. To help us sort it out, we're joined by our good friend Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Policy for the National Restaurant Assocation, who will help us get it all sorted out. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

McDonald's was all over the news this week for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was a visit to a Pennsylvania restaurant by none other than The Donald himself. Besides his work at the fry station and his voluminous lunch order, what was the key takeaway politically from his visit, both for himself and for the industry? We'll discuss. And the Gallup organization released survey data regarding American attitudes toward taxes, tax fairness and tax reform. While results were all over the board depending on political ideologies, one thing the vast majority of Americans agreed on was that corporate taxes are too low. We'll take a look at how that environment may shape the pending tax debate in 2025. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

The very liberal governor of Massachusetts made a splash this week when she came out strongly against Question 5, the pending ballot proposal to eliminate the tip credit in the Bay State by 2029. The former server demonstrated her first hand knowledge of the issue and its ramifications for both workers and operators. This is a huge deal and could have implications for how the industry manages the issue across the country going forward. We'll take a deep dive into this one. And One Fair Wage puts on quite a show in Michigan, upping the ante with an event in downtown Detroit equating tipping with shackles and chains. Oh my. Lots to unpack there. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We do a deep dive into next month's general election and discuss not only the top of the ticket, but of importance to operators, what is happening at the state and local level that may impact their bottom lines. And Jeff Hanscom, Vice President of State & Local Government Relations & Public Policy for the International Franchise Association, stops by the pod to talk about a big win in California and the collective efforts of both franchisors and franchisees working together on what could be a model going forward. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

This week, NRA Board member Tom Boucher, along with other panelists, testified before a Congressional Subcomittee egarding the labor community's efforts to eliminate the tip credit as well as the onerous complications from the Administration's 80/20/30 rule. Also on the panel was One Fair Wage head Saru Jayaraman. Let's just say Tom had a better day. We'll dive into that. And former President Trump upped the populist ante this week calling for both the elimination of taxes on overtime wages as well as a 10% cap on credit card interest rates. Both are likely impossible to achieve but it sure makes his audiences respond. We'll take a look. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We'll discuss how One Fair Wage, despite their abysmal record on getting legislation passed and ballot initiatives certified, continues to knock it out of the park when it comes to headlines and influence. Just this week, Vice-President Harris announced her economic plan which includes elimination of the tip credit. How is One Fair Wage doing it? We'll discuss. And we'll have a quick recap of the presidential debate and see if there are any learnings in there for us there. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Just when we thought we were done dealing with the Joint Employer issue, it pulls us back in - this time it's the NLRB saying Amazon is a joint employer with a third-party delivery service. We are joined by Ed Egee, Vice President of Government Relations and Workforce Development for the National Retail Federation who will walk us through that situation and highlight what operators need to know. He will also discuss the ramifications of the seismic decision by a US Appeals Court squashing the Labor Department's 80/20 rule.And the pressure is on in the DEI space as conservative activists continue collecting corporate scalps targeting companies for their policies. This week saw Lowe's and the Ford Moror Company change direction on this increasingly volatile sace. We'll take a look.We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

The credit card interchange fee issue is raging right now as the news cycle is full of stories about all-time high ATM fees, all-time high debit card fees and accordingly, all-time high bank and credit card industry profits. Yet at the same time, the banks and credit card companies are crying poor mouth and pretending that any restrictions on their business practices will be the end of the republic as we know it. We'll talk to our industry's point man on the subject, Brennan Duckett, Director of Technology & Innovation Policy at the National Restaurant Association, to help us sort it all out and tell us what we can expect moving forward. We'll talk about that, a brief recap of the Democratic National Convention, and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We'll talk about the economic plans released this week by both presidential candidates and discuss the prominence of the tip taxation issue in both agendas. Is the tip issue just populist rhetoric or a legitimate policy proposal? We'll dive into that. And the Wall Street Journal published a major piece this week regarding the political program at McDonald's and their large investment in local politics - particulary in California. Was the article good or bad for the industry? Or maybe a lot of both? We'll discuss. And Brian Niccol left Chipotle this week to take the reins at Starbucks. He's no stranger to union organizing so what does this mean for the most high-profile union organizing campaign in industry history. We'll take a look. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We are joined by Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association to give us the latest from Washington, DC on our ongoing national conversation around taxation of tips, corporate tax legislation, the upcoming Democratic convention and more. And we do a deep dive on Tim Walz, Kamala Harris' new running mate, and examine his record on core business mode issues like wage, beenefits and unionization. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We are joined by Colm O'Comartum, the co-founder of public affairs firm 50-State and the former head of the Democratic Governors Association to get his take on the new dynamics of the presidential election and what that means for the top of the ticket as well as Congress, Governors and state legislatures. I think you'll enjoy his perspective. And the courts - whether Supreme, federal, or district - have turned our regulatory environment upside down in the last few months. How should the business community react to the new environment and does it change which branch of government should be our focus? We are joined by Angelo Amador, Senior Vice President, Legal Advocacy & Regulatory Counsel for the National Restaurant Asociation - and the head of the Restaurant Law Center - to help us unwind this new knot and give us his insight on what our regulatory relationship with the federal government may look like going forward. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

The Repubican National Convention is in full swing and while there aren't a whole lot of surprises, there has been a decidely anti-corporate feel to it. Should large companies in general, and their CEOs in particular, be worried about this. We'll take a look. And with most Republican elected officials in Milwaukee all week, there hasn't been much opportunity for policy making so we will wrap it up with a very short legislative scorecard.

The national conversation on tips hit overdrive this week as former president Trump's new cause - eliminating taxes on tipped income - has found its way into the Republican party platform at the upcoming convention. We'll discuss what that means to the industry, as well as talk about the big win in Ohio and significant developments in Massachusetts. And the Supreme Court continues to alter the regulatory environment with regard to how we run our businesses. The latest decision revoking the Chevron doctrine could be the most important one of all. We'll do a deep dive into that. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Last week, we discussed how the former and possibly future President of the United States, Donald Trump, suggested that if elected, he would eliminate taxes on tipped income. This week, his loyalists in the U.S. Senate followed suit introducing legislation to do just that. While the bill may ever see the light of day, the conversation itself is putting the labor community and their friends on the blue team in a serious political jam. We'll discuss. And Minneapolis continues to be the national hotbed of labor organizing with additional high-end restaurants facing unionization campaigns this week. What is going on up there in the city of lakes? We dive into that. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

This week, the former and possibly future President of the United States, Donald Trump, suggested that if elected, he would eliminate taxes on tipped income. Two questions. Doesn't he need a willing Congress to do that and secondly, how did tips find their way into being a presidential campaign issue? We'll discuss. And it was an important week on the minimum wage ballot front with big news out of both Arizona and Massachusetts. The landscape for the November ballot got a lot more clarity this week and we'll dive into it. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We're joined by Justin Winslow, the President & CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, who will discuss his organization's successful legal battle before the state supreme court to remove a pending ballot measure to increase the minimum wage and eliminate the tip credit. But the issue is far from over and we talk about what's coming next. And California is at it again - this time creating a Fast Act for Janitorial Workers. We'll talk about the SEIU's continued focus on sectoral bargaining and what that could mean down the road for other industry players. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

A unionization effort at a high-profile restaurant in Minneapolis could be the equivalent of the early efforts in the coffee sector in both Boston and Buffalo that led directly to Starbucks. Operators large and small in Minneapolis better buckle up and operators everywhere should be paying close attention. We'll explain why. And we are joined by Mike Whatley, Vice-President of State Affairs & Grassroots Advocacy at the National Restaurant Association to talk about the state of play of the minimum wage ballot initiatives in Arizona, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan and Missouri. We'll also talk about junk fees and outline the industry priorities on the ground this summer. We'll talk about that important development and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We are joined by Phil Wilson, President & General Counsel of the Labor Relations Institute to talk about the recent application of the Cemex decision in a restaurant organizing effort and forcing the operators to bargain. Is this a one-off or just the beginning as the labor community continues to focus on the industry. We'll talk about that important development and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

With a new union focused on organizing QSR's in the South, and pro-union think tanks disparaging the “Southern Economic Model”, the escalation of the southern prison labor issue is not happening in a vacuum. How should the industry view what is happening down South and more importantly, how to prepare for it. And the landmark Cemex decision has barreled headfirst into the restaurant industry with a New York landmark restaurant facing the possibility of being the first in the industry ordered to recognize a union without an election. We will dive into that. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Minneapolis has successfully engineered a labor standards board for nursing home workers that will set benefit and wage levels for that sector. So far advocates have considered it a big success building momentum for the concept. Any guesses as to which industry is next on their agenda? You guessed it. We'll discuss what's coming down the pike for the restaurant industry. And under the guise of “we missed the memo”, how, when and why did the restaurant industry and its supply chain partners end up in the middle of most of the biggest political and policy issues of our day? We'll try to figure that out. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We are joined by Sean Kennedy, the EVP of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association to reflect on last week's summiting of Capitol Hill by hundreds of restauant operators during the Assocation's annual Public Affairs Conference. What did Members of Congress learn from us and what did we learn from them? We'll discuss. And in the wake of political blowback, are leading companies shying away from their corporate diversity and inclusion goals or are they merely just talking about them less. We'll take a look at that. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

There are some important restaurant states this year with minimum wage and tip credit elimination measures on the November ballot. Ohio is at the top of that list. We are joined by John Barker, CEO of the Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance as well as Tod Bowen, their head of External Affiars & Government Relations, to level set on their pending measure to both incease the minimum wage to $15/hr and eventually eliminate the tip credit. We will also review the general state of play of those wage issues across the country as many legislative sessions are close to wrapping up. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

DoorDash is working with the state of Pennsylvania on a portable benefits pilot program that, if successful, could completely alter the dynamics of the national paid leave and benefits conversation. Is there a way for the industry to seize this opportunity and extricate itself from these reputationally-draining issues? We'll discuss. And the media is having a field day in California documenting the peridicted and also unforeseen negative ramifications of the new $20/hr minimum wage for QSR workers. How can the industry best capture this energy and leverage it in similar legislative battles across the country? We'll take a look. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We sit down with Doug Kantor, the general counsel of the National Association of Convenience Stores, to discuss the biggest story this week - the preliminary settlement of the class action lawsuit brought by a group of retailers almost 20 years ago accusing the credit card companies and their electronic payments systems of being an anti-competitive monopoly. We'll discuss the merits of the settlement, whether it will be approved by the courts, and what it means for pending legislation in Congres to reign in out-of-control interchange fees. And California's minimum wage for fast-food workers is rising to $20/hr next week, the highest statewide wage in the country. But the media coverage this week, somewhat unexpectedly, has been highlighting the impact to operators and the industry and reporting on closures, job losses and other negative ramifications. It's not been quite the media week the SEIU was hoping for. We'll dive into that. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

We sit down with Brennan Duckett, the Director of Technology & Innovation Policy at the National Restaurant Association and discuss the junk fee and service charge issue both federally and its explosion at the state level. And the industry had a big win at the end of last week when the NLRB's joint employer rule was thwarted in a Texas courtroom. What's next for the agency, for the unions and for operators in the near future. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

The President gave the annual State of the Union address this week and his war on junk fees was front and center - the same week his Council of Economic Advisiors said that restaurants made up close to 10% of all junk fees. Is the industry potentially heading for some major backlash? We'll discuss. And the SEC put out their long-awaited climate disclosure regulations and believe it or not, the worst aspects of it were removed. In a major victory for the business community, the reporting requirements around Scope 3 emissions - the carbon footprint of one's supply chain - were removed. We'll dig into that. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

The author of the Fast Act in California has filed additional legislation to exempt certain industries from the new law he championed. Was this an altruistic gesture to relieve the pressure on a host of small businesses or inside baseball among the unions and the legislators that carry their water? We are joined by Jot Condie, the President & CEO of the California Restaurant Association to help us sort it all out. And Wendy's was in the news this week but for all the wrong reasons - managing a kerfuffle regarding their possible adoption of dynamic pricing. The company's comments were later clarified but what does it mean for the industry's potential adoption of surge pricing models? We'll discuss. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Starbucks was in the news this week on a number of different fronts, none of them very good. This past Tuesday, workers at 21 stores filed petitions with the National Labor Relations Board to conduct elections, the most in one day since the campaign began two and a half years ago. And on top of that, a coordinated effort on college campuses has sprouted up pressuring administrators to throw Starbucks stores off campus. We will dig into the week that was for the coffee giant. We'll talk about that and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

A Committee Chair in the U.S. House of Representatives is demanding information from the Commissioner of the IRS regarding the lobbying and electioneering activities of One Fair Wage and whether their actions are in violation of their nonprofit status. Is the IRS looking the other way? We'll discuss. And then we are joined by Jeff Hanscom, the Vice President of State & Local Government Relations & Counsel for the International Franchise Association to get the latest on the pending, onerous legislation in Georgia and a look around some other states that we should be paying attention to. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Two big legislative items this week popped up in California and Georgia that operators should take note of, one exempting a lot of folks out from under the FAST Act and the other a franchisee bill of rights proposal that should have parent companies pretty nervous. We'll take a look. And then we are joined by Aaron Frazier, the Vice President of Public Policy at the National Restaurant Association to give us the latest and greatest on the pending tax package currently before the senate as well as where the new regulations on service and “junk” fees may be going. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.