PRLA Winter 2019

Winter 2019 • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters •  19 Retirees of Note  Historically, we have highlighted one legislator who either retired or did not win re-election. This year, we lost several great advocates for the industry: SEN. GUY RESCHENTHALER (R—ALLEGHENY) When we dubbed him a “Rising Star” in our last legislative issue, Sen. Reschenthaler took that role very seriously. Not only has he continued to advocate for the association as it pertains to alcohol issues, he was the prime sponsor of the Senate version of the online travel company loophole bill and is literally the only legislator who has called us, not to ask for anything, but to find out what our legislative priorities are. Well, PRLA is not the only one who recognized the commitment the Senator has for service: he recently won in the 14th Congressional district and will begin his first two-year term as a Congressman for the state of Pennsylvania. While we will miss him in Harrisburg, we are thrilled to have a voice of reason and champion of the industry representing us in Washington. REP. MARGUERITE QUINN (R—BUCKS) A question for our hotels and destination marketing organizations—how many years have we been trying to close the online travel company loophole? After almost two decades and numerous sponsors of the legislation, Rep. Marguerite Quinn looked at the issue, realized how important it was and got it passed in the first session of her being the prime sponsor. We had a champion who not only made a complicated issue easy to understand but also did not stop in her efforts to leap over road blocks and challenge those who challenged the bill—and she was successful in sending our bill to the Governor. Rep. Quinn was not successful in her bid for the Pennsylvania state Senate and will be very much missed in the legislature. REP. MARK MUSTIO (R—ALLEGHENY) If you were to ask any of PRLA’s politically engaged licensees who is the most knowledgeable on the industry and the struggles we face— and supports us? Mark Mustio would make the top three, if not number one. No one else understands the frustrations of the liquor code better, and while he has earned his self-imposed retirement, licensees across the state will miss him. REP. BECKY CORBIN (R—CHESTER) Do you know what makes a dream legislator? Someone who listens to your reasoning behind an issue, asks questions and takes the time to know the ins and outs so that when they decide to support you— they are all in. Becky Corbin has always been that type of legislator. In addition, she understands that as a Republican in the southeast part of Pennsylvania she would have to walk the increasingly thin line of being a moderate in a state that is becoming more polarized. She did that with grace and the reasoning and background to justify any vote she made. Unfortunately, voters in her district decided to become more polarized and she lost her re- election bid. We are sad to see yet another moderate legislator lose—especially one who always fought for our industry. The Moving On Up Award