House Vote on Labor Bill Draws Bid to Shield Franchise Business

Two House Democrats and a Republican are mounting an effort to shield franchise businesses from a far-reaching labor bill headed to the House floor next week, moves that face almost certain defeat.

Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), and Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) plan to offer a pair of amendments to the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (H.R. 2474) that would limit franchisers’ liability for labor and employment law violations at franchise establishments—in effect, taking some teeth out of the bill as it would apply to questions of joint employment.

The PRO Act poses a litmus test ...