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Former Chief White Home Funds Workplace economist Vance Ginn reacts to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s announcement that he’s stepping down as Senate chief.
A serious donor to Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom is predicted to reap the advantage of an obscure exemption to the state’s new $20 minimal wage rules for the quick meals trade that can enable a few of his eating places to proceed paying decrease wages.
Newsom pushed for the exemption, which permits eating places baking and promoting bread as a standalone merchandise to proceed paying the present fee of $16 to its staff. Which means billionaire Greg Flynn, a longtime donor to the governor, may save a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars} a yr per every of his two-dozen Panera Bread franchise places across California, in response to a report from Bloomberg.
The report famous that Flynn was beforehand concerned in enterprise dealings with Newsom, and had contributed to his political campaigns. It additionally famous his opposition to the legislation that initially included the brand new rules, referred to as the FAST Act, which led him to foyer Newsom’s workplace to exclude Panera Bread as a quick meals chain, sources instructed Bloomberg.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom attends an occasion with fellow governors within the East Room of the White Home in Washington, D.C., on Friday. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
Talks between labor teams and the quick meals trade finally result in a repeal of the legislation final yr — which initially set the minimum wage increased than $20 — and the implementation of compromised rules that included the bread exemption and the $20 minimal wage.
In response to the report, Flynn is the biggest franchisee within the U.S., and owns hundreds of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Wendy’s, Panera Bread and Applebee’s places.
Flynn has been a prolific donor to Newsom’s campaigns. State information present he gave $8,400 to Newsom’s 2018 candidacy and later got here to his rescue throughout his 2021 recall election with different big-name contributors.
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Signage outdoors a Panera Bread restaurant. (Bloomberg / Contributor / Getty Pictures)
In June 2021, Flynn donated $100,000 to the Cease the Republican Recall of Governor Newsom committee, placing him amongst its most outstanding particular person backers, alongside different billionaires comparable to Netflix govt chairman Reed Hastings and financier George Soros. The trouble to recall Newsom finally failed by nearly 24 factors.
Flynn later offered a mixed $64,800 to Newsom’s 2022 marketing campaign. He is additionally contributed hundreds of {dollars} extra to different highly effective Democrats within the Golden State, comparable to Legal professional Normal Rob Bonta and Treasurer Fiona Ma.
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When reached for remark, a spokesperson for Newsom instructed Fox Information Digital, “This laws was the results of numerous hours of negotiations with dozens of stakeholders over two years. The Governor’s workplace met with labor unions, enterprise leaders and dozens of franchise homeowners via the course of negotiations. Nobody particular person or firm held sway over the ultimate final result.”
Fox Information Digital has additionally reached out to Flynn’s holding firm and Panera Bread for remark. Flynn instructed Bloomberg he performed no position in formulating the exemption.
