Don't say the fast food industry never did anything for all that it gets from Congress, like a low minimum wage and support in the industry's efforts to keep workers from organizing unions or getting health care. Lee Fang reports that just this week, Taco Bell made its lobbying efforts tangible—
and edible:
On Tuesday afternoon, to thank congressional staffers for all they do on behalf of the fast food industry, franchisees hosted their annual reception at the Rayburn Office Building on Capitol Hill, a free food giveway in which staffers and interns gorged themselves on unlimited free Taco Bell tacos and nachos.
Workers at the event, which packed two rooms, said they gave away some 6,000 tacos in all.
What's Taco Bell looking for from Congress? Like the rest of the fast food industry, it's nervous about the National Labor Relations Board's decision to
hold McDonald's responsible for how workers are treated in McDonald's restaurants, and glad that congressional Republicans are talking about blocking the NLRB on that.
Additionally:
Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed a bill to change the cutoff for defining a full-time employee under the new health care law from 30 to 40 hours, a change that would relieve many franchisees from having to provide health insurance to their workers.
Sounds like a fair trade for 6,000 tacos, amiright?