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21
Fall 2012 Issue
PUBLIC POLICY
the Ohio General Assembly. We have something in writing to
provide for their consideration, and typically do so when the
bill is early in its course of the legislative process.
Many times, the committee is instead asked to take a position
on an amendment to an existing piece of legislation. We may
have something in writing, but often all we have to offer the
committee is a concept presented to us by a lawmaker or
lobbyist. It can be worse, though.
There is a saying: “politics is the art of compromise.” Whether
it is or not, there is no doubt that interest groups like the
ORA are frequently put in a position to accept or reject a
compromise. Not all compromises are created equal. Some
are easy, some are absolutely unacceptable and many fall
somewhere in between. The Government Affairs Committee,
the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee all help
the ORA make those tough decisions.
You may be asking where I, as the association lobbyist, fit
into all of this? First, I always remind myself that my job is
to represent the interests of our members and those interests
are determined by the members. I understand “how a bill
becomes law,” have actually met and know all 132 members
of the General Assembly (and most of the new ones who will
come into office next January) and even know where all the
bathrooms in the Capitol are hidden.
However, perhaps my most important contribution to
our leaders’ decision-making process is to provide an
understanding of the politics that impact the issue before us:
the inter- and intra-party relationships; the role a particular
committee chair plays; the legislators’ personalities with a
special interest in the issue; the relative influence of other
lobbyists involved in an issue; what the current administration
may or may not want; it does get complicated. Navigating the
landmines and hurdles that are a part of any political process
is absolutely critical to successful advocacy.
Just because the ORA has taken a position on a piece of
legislation, an amendment or a proposed regulation,
regrettably, does not mean that we will prevail. We still
need factual, persuasive communications; we still need our
members to tell their local legislator what they think about
the issue; and we still need a political action committee
that elevates the restaurant industry’s perceived and real
influence in the elections.
By Richard Mason,
Director of Government Affairs,
Ohio Restaurant Association
Jamie Richardson, Chair
Robert Abruzzi
Brenda Baker
Bronwen Bash
Brooks Broadhust
Lynn Brown
Rick Cassara
Thomas Coffman
Amanda Conochallla
Charlie Corbin
Edward O. Elliott, Jr.
David Frissora
Roy Getz
Brad Haber
Robert L. Himes
John R. Irmscher
Nick Kostis
Kent Little
Gary Lucarelli
Kevin Lundy
Jeff Miller
Roger Parker
Ed Pickens
Stephen Shafer
Patrick Sheehy
Mike Sopko
Michael Sylvester
Dan Young
White Castle System Inc.
Abruzzi’s Hot Peppers
Fast Eddie’s Pizza
Raising Cane’s
Eat’n Park Restaurants
Outback Steakhouse
John Q’s Steakhouse
The Clarmont
McDonald’s Corp.
Bob Evans
Farm Restaurants
Plaza Inn Restaurant
Wendy’s/Arby’s Group, Inc.
Raising Cane’s
Milano’s Atlantic City Subs
A Catered Event
CJ’s Highmark
Pickwick & Frolic
OSI Restaurant Partners
Café Sausilito
Yum! Brands
Buffalo Wild Wings
Mancy Brother’s Catering
Café on Main
Bob Evans
Farm Restaurants
Cracker Barrel
OSI Restaurant Partners
Hide-A-Way Buffalo Grill
Young’s Jersey Dairy
Columbus
Warren
Bellville
Grandview Hts.
Homestead, PA
Columbia Station
Cleveland
Columbus
Chicago, IL
Columbus
Mount Victory
Columbus
Columbus
Dayton
Columbus
Celina
Cleveland
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Louisville, KY
Lewis Center
Toledo
Mansfield
Columbus
Lebanon, TN
Delaware
Canton
Yellow Springs
2012 ORA GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE