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Spring 2017
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PENNSYLVANIA
RESTAURANT & LODGING
matters
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19
Federal Items
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA)
President Trump signed an executive order that would
give federal agencies the ability to change, delay or waive
provisions of the ACA if they deemed those provisions
to be overly costly to insurers, doctors, drug makers,
patients or states. That is about as far as the President can
go without having the ACA repealed by Congress, which
has not happened yet, but is expected to be done shortly.
SWIPE FEES
There continues to be a push in Congress to repeal the
2010 Dodd-Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection
Act,
which limited the ability for institutions to charge
unreasonable debit card swipe fees on transactions.
Because of Dodd-Frank, debit fees are nearly half of what
they used to be. Contact your legislators to urge them
not
to repeal Dodd-Frank.
PUZDER WITHDRAWS AS LABOR
SECRETARY NOMINEE
Andy Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, withdrew as
President Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Labor.
President Trump nominated Alexander Acosta, a Florida
law school dean and former assistant attorney general for
civil rights, to the open position.
ADA EDUCATION & REFORM
ACT INTRODUCED
Congressman Ted Poe (R—Texas) has reintroduced the
ADA Education & Reform Act
(H.R. 620).
This legislation
will allow for a notice and cure provision that would give
business owners time to address an alleged ADA violation
before any legal proceedings can move forward.
Local Issues
PHILLY BEVERAGE TAX
The Commonwealth Court has expedited the appeal
on the Philadelphia Beverage Tax ruling. Briefs were
due in February and oral argument will be scheduled
in Pittsburgh during the Court’s April 3–7 session.
Unless the Commonwealth Court rules otherwise, the
Beverage Tax will remain in effect. PRLA has signed on
to an amicus brief opposing the tax.
COMMONWEALTH COURT HEARS
ORAL ARGUMENTS ON PITTSBURGH’S
PAID LEAVE MANDATE
Oral arguments on the lawsuit filed against the City of
Pittsburgh’s paid leave mandate were held before the
Commonwealth Court. PRLA continues to maintain
that the paid leave mandate violates the city’s Home
Rule Charter and therefore cannot take effect. We
expect the Court’s ruling imminently.
PHILADELPHIA FAMILY LEAVE
THREAT CONTINUES
Despite having some of the highest taxes in the nation,
in addition to passing the highest beverage tax in the
nation, Councilman Bobby Henon continues to publicly
state his desire to file legislation mandating paid family
leave in the City of Philadelphia. As of the printing of
this magazine, legislation has not been introduced.
State of the Legislature | Tourism Funding
Mandated Paid Leave Preemption | Speaking of Budget
Affordable Care Act | Swipe Fees
ADA Education & Reform Act Introduced
Philadelphia Beverage Tax | Philadelphia Family Leave Threat Continues