Election time is just around the corner — not 2020 but 2019 — in five states. Align Public Strategies discusses both the local and national implications and how restaurant industry issues are playing into the mix.

Additionally, California and U.S. president Donald Trump’s administration are at war again — this time over independent worker classification. The team talks to attorney Norman Leon of DLA Piper who represents the International Franchise Association on matters like this.

The Align crew also chats with Mark Freedman from the U.S Chamber of Commerce, who shares the latest EEO-1 pay data companies need to submit by September. The episode concludes with the weekly legislative scorecard.

Align Public Strategies is a full-service public affairs and creative firm that helps corporate brands, governments and non-profit organizations navigate the outside world and inform their internal decision-making. This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of Nation's Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality.