2012 January Archive

Archive for January, 2012

Restaurant, Golf Industries Push Tax Credit Renewals

Posted on: January 27th, 2012 by Ryan Ball No Comments

The golf and restaurant industries are continuing to push for the extension and inclusion of key tax credits designed to spur development and speed the economic recovery by offering incentives to hire certain long-term unemployed individuals, allowing businesses to build new restaurants or redevelop existing properties and helping golf courses that have been ravaged by natural disaster in recent years.

The restaurant industry is throwing its weight behind two key measures, the extension of the 15 year depreciation schedule for new restaurant construction and improvements and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, both of which expired at the end of 2011. Both tax credits were included in a larger “tax extenders” bill that the industry hoped would be part of the year end spending agreeement passed by the House and Senate at the end of 2011, but the extenders package proved too expensive to include in the final legislation, causing both programs to lapse on January 1, 2012.

The golf industry is continuing our push to be included in disaster tax relief legislation in and around the gulf coast. Golf courses were initially carved out of disaster relief legislation in years past, but continued lobbying efforts focused on the impact golf courses have on our economy, the jobs we contribute and the difficult situation many courses have found themselves in cleaning up after recent natural disasters, have created a much more positive environment for golf courses to be able to take advantage of the benefits offered.

Contact VGM Club Government Relations for additional information or help contacting your elected officials on these important issues facing our industries.

News You Can Use — 1/16/12

Posted on: January 16th, 2012 by Ryan Ball No Comments

We Are Golf Coalition Commits to Increased Job Opportunities for America’s Youth in White House Meeting — The White House program, Summer Jobs+, is a new call to action for businesses, non-profits, and government to work together to provide pathways to employment for America’s youth in the summer of 2012. Executives and golf industry leaders committee to making a concerted effort to hire more 16-24 year-olds. Some interesting statistics that put this new White House effort into context, 48.8 percent of youth between the ages of 16-24 were employed in July, the month when youth employment usually peaks. This is significantly lower than the 59.2 percent of youth who were employed five years ago and 63.3 percent of youth who were employed 10 years ago. MORE

GCSAA was also honored by the Department of Labor as a 2011 Summer Jobs Champion for committing to create 3,000 new jobs for America’s youth. MORE

USDA to Close 259 Offices Nationwide, Raising Possible Food Safety Concerns – The United States Agriculture Department recently announced the closure of 259 offices nationwide as part of an effort that is slated to save nearly $160 million in 2012. USDA operations in 46 states will be effected with some areas in the Midwest being eliminated completely on certain testing and enforcement requirements. The Dept. of Agriculture is feeling the pain from decreased funding having already implemented $90 million on cuts to travel and supplies and the closures will include nearly $60 million in additional budget cuts for 2012. MORE

California Club Workers Agree to Contract After One-day Strike — Workers at the prestigious California Club golf course have ended their one day strike that began with a walkout over proposed wage freezes last year. About 150 workers at the downtown Los Angelos club organized a walkout in response to an announced 6-month wage freeze on December 15th. Unite Here Local 11 spokesman, Leigh Shelton, said workers agreed to a wage freeze in 2009 and to higher healthcare contributions in 2010 because the club’s management said the business was struggling; employees balked at another wage freeze after the club spent a substantial amount of money on renovations last year. Workers ended up receiving $1.15 hourly raise over three years and increased health benefits. MORE

National Restaurant Association Files Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Health Care Showdown –The National Restaurant Association (NRA) has filed an Amicus Brief in support of the plaintiffs challenge to the constitutionality of the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA), passed into law in March 2010. The “friend of the court” brief states the NRA’s longstanding opposition to the employer mandate provision of the PPACA and discusses the importance of the Supreme Court overturning the legislation for restaurant owners across the country. The Supreme Court will begin oral arguments for the case in March 2o12 with a decision expected sometime over the summer of 2012, right in the middle of the Presidential election. MORE

New Model Food Safety Code Set for 2013 Release — The FDA releases a new version of the Food Safety Code every four years. The “code” is not a law, but it is used by state and local regulators, as well as food service operators, grocery stores, etc. The National Restaurant Association is hoping to have an impact throughout the creation of the new Food Safety Code guidelines by putting forward ideas on four main concepts favored by the restaurant industry: 1. Expand the use of “time only” as a public health control for keeping potentially hazardous foods safe. MORE

NLRB Delays Workplace Poster Requirement

Posted on: January 4th, 2012 by Ryan Ball No Comments

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently announced a three-month delay to a requirement that restaurants post information relating to the rights of employees to organize in a union. The delay, which moves the poster requirement back to April 30th, was issued at the strong urging of a federal district court, which questioned whether the NLRB had the standing to issue the requirement in the first place.

The poster mandate was initially proposed in December 2010 and requires all employers subject to the National Labor Relations Act to post a notice outlining employees’ rights to organize and collectively bargain. The failure to post the new employee rights notice brings an unfair labor practice citation if proven. The initial compliance date was Nov. 14, 2011, it was moved back to Jan. 31 after widespread complaints from the business community.

For more information on the delay, or the eventual requirements, click here.