The WRA Political Action Committee (PAC)
Change the way business is done in Washington!
The WRA PAC is one of the leading political action committees in Washington state today. As representatives of the state’s hospitality industry, we know how important it is your voice is heard in Olympia.
Every day new proposals are made affecting our industry, from mandatory health care benefits, a skyrocketing minimum wage, unfair business taxes and regulations, to the threat of de-funding our Retrospective Rating Program (Retro).
The only way to eliminate the threat of policies that will hurt our industry is to eliminate the anti-business way of thinking in Olympia. The WRA PAC was established to support pro-business candidates and initiatives in Washington state.
Why is the WRA PAC important to you?
We know how hard it is to be a business owner in Washington, and we fight everyday to keep your interests at the top our legislators’ minds. Our successes in Olympia directly impact your bottom line. Recent successes include:
• Protecting the current RETRO program, saving the average restaurant approx. $1430 per year
• Passing a phased-in B&O tax credit equal to the pop syrup tax paid by our members, saving our quick service members an average of $3,000 and our full service establishments between $800-$1,400 per year
• Demanding a phase-in approach to King County’s trans fat ban, giving our members time to find reasonably priced alternatives that do not cut drastically into their bottom line
• Negotiated a compromise with King County on their menu labeling ordinance, removing the requirement that nutritional information be placed directly on menus and menu boards thus saving our members thousands of dollars in the process
• Stopping the proposed $1 per Liter Spirit Tax, saving the average restaurant approx. $3,008 per year
• Protecting business with 50 or more employees from a Mandatory Paid Leave requirement, saving them approx. $900 per year
• Stopping the proposed Sprinkler Requirement, saving the average restaurant approx. $12,000
• Stopping the proposed Street Utility Tax, saving the average restaurant approx. $1,200 per year
• Stopping the proposed Energy Efficient Mandates, saving the average restaurant approx. $2,400 per year
Get involved with the WRA PAC.
Washington Restaurant Association members give voluntarily to the WRA PAC. From the small independent restaurant to the largest corporate establishment, the WRA PAC is reliant on all of our members to support our yearly funding goal.
Anti-business interests spend millions of dollars and we have to match them in kind. In the 2005-2006 election cycle, the WRA PAC was able to contribute to 85 percent of the available races, and we supported the winning candidate 88 percent of the time. Even in an off election year, the WRA PAC contributed nearly $100,000 to our preferred candidates. Last season we raised more than $368,000 with the help of members like you.
Our past numbers are impressive and they challenge us to work even harder this year to support our goals. Because of that, the WRA has set a goal to raise $500,000 for the WRA PAC in the 2007-2008 election cycle. We will reach this ambitious goal with contributions from major donors and through our new WRA PAC 20/20 Legislative Vision Campaign.
To join the WRA PAC 20/20 Legislative Vision Campaign, make a voluntary 20 percent additional PAC contribution when you renew your WRA membership. The amount is already calculated for you on your renewal form.
To contribute to the WRA PAC today please call Julia Clark at 800.225.7166, or send a check to:
WRA PAC
510 Plum Street SE, Suite 200
Olympia, WA 98501
“The WRA PAC really took a lead in the last election cycle. We were able to increase our PAC considerably, making us a strong force among the other political action committees in Washington. We’ve set the bar high and must continue to consistently grow our PAC from year to year,” Jim Brown, director of operations, Evergreen Restaurant Ventures, Inc, Outback Steakhouse.
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