Why Support MRLA Advocacy?
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Every day, Lansing lawmakers make decisions that can make or break your business.
By supporting our hospitality industry through political giving, you can join the MRLA work as we work to promote pro-business candidates, negotiate policies that helps instead of hinders hospitality industry, and educate elected officials on key industry issues. |
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MRLA Political Action Committee |
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The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association Political Action Committee (MRLA PAC) is the bipartisan political action arm of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association. The MRLA PAC holds several events throughout the year and enables Michigan restaurateurs and hoteliers to become directly involved in the election process by supporting candidates who promote sound business policies for the hospitality industry. The MRLA PAC, in conjunction with the MRLA, promotes candidates and issues that will positively impact the hospitality industry.
Why does the hospitality industry need the MRLA PAC?
Lawmakers constantly weigh issues that affect your bottom line, making decisions that can raise or lower your taxes, enact or repeal burdensome employer mandates, and mitigate or exacerbate unreasonable regulations. The MRLA PAC is committed to electing lawmakers who will best represent our industry's objectives – lowering taxes, repealing burdensome employer mandates, and eliminating unreasonable regulations.
By contributing to the MRLA PAC, you know you are helping to elect legislators who help make positive steps for our industry. By electing lawmakers who are supportive of our industry, we can be assured that the MRLA will have maximum impact in shaping policy issues in Lansing and Washington. We will be at the table - not on the menu - when decisions impacting the hospitality industry are being made.
What's at stake if I don't contribute?
Higher taxes, more mandates, and more regulation are at stake. Electing pro-business lawmakers is at stake. Choosing who makes decisions is at stake. Other organizations – namely unions and trial attorneys – are actively promoting agendas that are detrimental to the hospitality industry and the pro-business climate in Michigan. Those organizations are working hard to elect lawmakers who are sympathetic to their agendas. If they are successful, it will impact your bottom line.
How will I know which candidates the MRLA PAC supports?
Every MRLA member receives weekly newsletters, magazines, blog posts, and other communications offering regular information to the industry, including timely reports about legislative issues, MRLA PAC fundraising updates, and election developments. In addition, the MRLA PAC produces an election guide to inform members on candidate endorsements.
Prior to deciding which lawmakers and candidates to support, the MRLA PAC & Government Affairs committee conducts extensive candidate reviews. The candidate reviews consist of:
Who can contribute to the MRLA PAC?
The MRLA PAC can accept voluntary contributions from owners, operators, and employees of MRLA member and allied member organizations. The MRLA PAC can accept personal contributions, or contributions from businesses organized as sole-proprietorships, partnerships, or LLCs (Limited Liability Companies). Contributions can be made in the form of check or credit card. The MRLA PAC is prohibited by state and federal law from accepting corporate contributions.
Under state law, single filers can deduct up to $50 ($100 for joint filers) of their annual political contributions on state income tax returns. Contributions to the MRLA PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions.
Why does the hospitality industry need the MRLA PAC?
Lawmakers constantly weigh issues that affect your bottom line, making decisions that can raise or lower your taxes, enact or repeal burdensome employer mandates, and mitigate or exacerbate unreasonable regulations. The MRLA PAC is committed to electing lawmakers who will best represent our industry's objectives – lowering taxes, repealing burdensome employer mandates, and eliminating unreasonable regulations.
By contributing to the MRLA PAC, you know you are helping to elect legislators who help make positive steps for our industry. By electing lawmakers who are supportive of our industry, we can be assured that the MRLA will have maximum impact in shaping policy issues in Lansing and Washington. We will be at the table - not on the menu - when decisions impacting the hospitality industry are being made.
What's at stake if I don't contribute?
Higher taxes, more mandates, and more regulation are at stake. Electing pro-business lawmakers is at stake. Choosing who makes decisions is at stake. Other organizations – namely unions and trial attorneys – are actively promoting agendas that are detrimental to the hospitality industry and the pro-business climate in Michigan. Those organizations are working hard to elect lawmakers who are sympathetic to their agendas. If they are successful, it will impact your bottom line.
How will I know which candidates the MRLA PAC supports?
Every MRLA member receives weekly newsletters, magazines, blog posts, and other communications offering regular information to the industry, including timely reports about legislative issues, MRLA PAC fundraising updates, and election developments. In addition, the MRLA PAC produces an election guide to inform members on candidate endorsements.
Prior to deciding which lawmakers and candidates to support, the MRLA PAC & Government Affairs committee conducts extensive candidate reviews. The candidate reviews consist of:
- Researching lawmaker voting records
- Conducting candidate interviews
- Reviewing candidate responses to the MRLA's candidate questionnaire
- Determining candidate "electability" and,
- Soliciting input and opinions from the MRLA Membership.
Who can contribute to the MRLA PAC?
The MRLA PAC can accept voluntary contributions from owners, operators, and employees of MRLA member and allied member organizations. The MRLA PAC can accept personal contributions, or contributions from businesses organized as sole-proprietorships, partnerships, or LLCs (Limited Liability Companies). Contributions can be made in the form of check or credit card. The MRLA PAC is prohibited by state and federal law from accepting corporate contributions.
Under state law, single filers can deduct up to $50 ($100 for joint filers) of their annual political contributions on state income tax returns. Contributions to the MRLA PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions.
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MRLA Legislative Action Committee |
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The Legislative Action Committee (LAC) is a non-segregated fund created within the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association’s status as a 501c(6) non-profit organization to educate and advocate on issues and individuals important to the hospitality industry. The fund can accept corporate contributions, which can be used for issue advocacy, member education, ballot questions, direct contributions to eligible entities, and covering travel, food, and lodging costs.
Why did the MRLA create the LAC?
The hospitality industry is a large industry of small businesses operating on narrow profit margins. Each time an interest group or a legislator proposes a new mandate, or a new tax, restaurants and hotels are hit hard. The LAC serves as a catalyst to mobilize, educate, and execute the hospitality industry’s political efforts here in Michigan and to successfully defend our business interests.
While the Political Action Committee (PAC) has without a doubt been a powerful and effective tool for the MRLA, a strong corporate counterpart is also critical to expand the impact and reach of the MRLA's advocacy in the right direction.
State law allows for many uses of these non-regulated dollars in the legislative and political arena: issue advocacy, member education, ballot questions, direct contributions to eligible entities, covering travel, food, and lodging costs, etc.
In addition, today, more and more legislative leaders, non-leadership legislators, other office holders, candidates, political parties, legislative caucuses, and other entities have established funds and foundations that are eligible to receive corporate, non-regulated dollars, for a variety of uses: political, campaign-related, issue advocacy, district and constituent work, travel, etc.
Why did the MRLA create the LAC?
The hospitality industry is a large industry of small businesses operating on narrow profit margins. Each time an interest group or a legislator proposes a new mandate, or a new tax, restaurants and hotels are hit hard. The LAC serves as a catalyst to mobilize, educate, and execute the hospitality industry’s political efforts here in Michigan and to successfully defend our business interests.
While the Political Action Committee (PAC) has without a doubt been a powerful and effective tool for the MRLA, a strong corporate counterpart is also critical to expand the impact and reach of the MRLA's advocacy in the right direction.
State law allows for many uses of these non-regulated dollars in the legislative and political arena: issue advocacy, member education, ballot questions, direct contributions to eligible entities, covering travel, food, and lodging costs, etc.
In addition, today, more and more legislative leaders, non-leadership legislators, other office holders, candidates, political parties, legislative caucuses, and other entities have established funds and foundations that are eligible to receive corporate, non-regulated dollars, for a variety of uses: political, campaign-related, issue advocacy, district and constituent work, travel, etc.
