Hospitality Political Action Committee Western Pennsylvania

Councilman Proposes Cutting Drink-Tax

admin — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 12:37:12 +0000

Check out this article by Len Barcousky from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Allegheny County Councilman Chuck McCullough will introduce a measure to trim the county’s controversial drink tax from 7 percent to 6 percent. The Republican from Upper St. Clair said today the current levy is bringing in more revenue than the county needs to provide local matching funds to help support Port Authority buses and light-rail trains.

With about $4 million left unspent in county coffers from taxes on poured alcoholic drinks and rental cars, the drink-tax rate should be cut, he said.

In return for the county providing 15 percent of the Port Authority’s operating budget, the Port Authority qualifies for almost $185 million in state mass transit aid. Additional dollars from the county, however, would not increase the amount of state aid allocated to Port Authority.

He will make his proposal when council meets Monday to take action on 2011 budget and tax-rate bills.

Click Here to View Full Article

PA Liquor Control Board Postpones Proposed Handling Fee Hike

admin — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:40:53 +0000

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) announced late afternoon
Thursday, November 18 that it would postpone its proposed handling fee hike
for at least six months. In addition, the PLCB placed a moratorium on any
manufacturer price increases for any items sold in its stores.
In response to industry opposition, the PLCB reversed its original plan to
implement the price increase on January 4, 2011. This change will provide
Governor-elect Corbett and the newly elected General Assembly time to learn
about the issue.

HosPac, the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association and other groups led efforts
to fight the price increase, along with a coalition of like-minded
organizations which sent letters to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Gov.
Rendell and testified against the proposal before the Senate Law and Justice
Committee.

This decision is a huge victory for the restaurant industry. We thank
Governor-elect Tom Corbett for raising his concerns regarding a significant
price increase and the timing of the PLCB’s initiative.

Check out this article about the decision to temporarily put increased handling fees on hold:

Post-Gazette Article: Nov. 19, 2010: Pa. Liquor Control Board Shelves ‘Handling Fee

We are 2 for 2: Onorato Loses Governor Race

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:00:11 +0000

The voters are in and Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett will be the next governor of Pennsylvania! Corbett (R) received 2,135,187 votes, compared to opponent Dan Onorato (D), who received 1,783,114 votes.

What makes Dan Onorato’s loss that much better? The County Executive lost his own county- Allegheny! Dan Onorato LOST Allegheny County by 335 votes. Click here to see county-by-county results:.

Hopefully, these numbers will play a part in Onorato’s job when he is up for reelection next year!

HosPAC is now two for two in the war against unfair taxation: first Brenda Frazier and now Dan Onorato. Let’s keep up the good work!

HosPAC Signs – On Nov. 2nd Remember The Drink Tax

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:43:10 +0000

Tomorrow is the Day

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:31:37 +0000

When you are heading to the booths tomorrow to vote for the next governor of Pennsylvania, please keep in mind HosPAC’s message: Remember the Onorato Drink Tax! It was Dan Onorato who was behind Allegheny County’s 10% Drink Tax, which unfairly taxed the hospitality industry.

Who Are You Voting For Nov. 2?

admin — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:19:27 +0000

Stay on the look out for these Yard Signs! On November 2, Remember the Drink Tax and keep Dan the Tax Man out of Harrisburg!

I’m Your Puppet

admin — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:54:30 +0000

Anyone else singing “I’m Your Puppet” to themselves right now? If not, click here – Oldies – Brenton Woods – I’m Your Puppet

Dan ‘dummied’ down

admin — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:40:29 +0000

HosPAC’s rally against Dan Onorato was mentioned in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review’s opinion page over the weekend. Click here to read ‘Dan dummied down’ or see below!

Dan dummied down – Pittsburgh Tribune Review, October 17, 2010

Flattering, the picture was not.

Opponents of Allegheny County’s drink tax held an anti-Dan Onorato rally Thursday as part of an attempt to ensure the Democrat Allegheny County executive is defeated in the gubernatorial race by Republican state Attorney General Tom Corbett.

The flier used to attract folks to the event featured a digitally altered picture of Gov. Ed Rendell as a ventriloquist holding an Onorato dummy.

We don’t have to spell out for intelligent readers like you the message that picture attempted to deliver.

The rally reminded voters that Onorato was the driving force behind the unpopular 10-percent tax on poured alcoholic beverages the county adopted in December 2007 and reduced to 7 percent in 2009.

The event, sponsored by the Hospitality Action Committee of Western Pennsylvania, was held at Mitchell’s Restaurant, Downtown.

That’s where owner Jim Mitchell famously challenged Onorato to a boxing match after the drink tax was enacted. Rather than resort to pugilism, Onorato agreed to a one-shot stint as a guest bartender at Mitchell’s for charity.

Keep Dan the Tax Man Out of Harrisburg Rally

admin — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:00:38 +0000

Remember…

THE ONORATO DRINK TAX

Rally & Fundraiser Event

to Keep Dan the Tax Man Out of Harrisburg

Thursday, October 14, 2010

PLEASE JOIN US,

the Hospitality Action Committe
of Western Pennsylvania,
for a special event to help
remind voters of

Gubernatorial Candidate
Dan Onorato’s 10% Drink Tax
in Allegheny County!

Thursday, October 14, 2010
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Mitchell’s Restaurant
304 Ross Street, Downtown

Cost is $10. Includes beer and snacks.

Allegheny’s poured drink tax ruined businesses, bar owners say

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:23:46 +0000

Here’s a great article by Tim Puko in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review:

Andrew Russell | Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Mike Speranzo considers himself a casualty of the Allegheny County booze tax. But at least he survived.

The owner of Mr. Small’s Funhouse said he needed a bailout from a friend and a break from his mortgage holder to pay $30,000 of overdue drink taxes and avoid closing his Millvale concert venue.

But more than 50 bars have closed — some shut down by the county for unpaid drink taxes, while others closed on their own while holding past-due balances. Several owners cited the tax as the tipping point toward bankruptcy.

“It killed me and put me into default with the banks,” said Speranzo, who borrowed money for a new register system to help staff calculate the tax quickly enough to keep up with the frenetic pace of a concert crowd. “I was a super casualty. I don’t think the system was designed for people like me in mind, people who didn’t have the ability to raise their prices.”

In the time since Treasurer John Weinstein began pursing scofflaws of the county’s 7 percent poured alcohol tax, his office has shut down 12 bars for lagging months behind on payments. About 50 bars are operating despite overdue bills, including The Sportspage in Wilmerding, which paid only once since the county implemented the tax in January 2008, according to Weinstein’s records.

The tax has brought in $80 million for Port Authority operations.

About 40 bars closed while their drink taxes were overdue, a factor several industry people point to as evidence the tax was an onerous measure on small businesses with small profit margins in a tough economy. County officials disagree, calling that claim an excuse. All but 5 percent of the county’s 2,000 bars have paid the tax without incident, Weinstein said.

Click here to keep reading…