The Morning Wrap

Super Size Liability: McDonald’s could be held jointly liable for labor and wage violations by its franchise operators, the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board ruled on Tuesday. The New York Times reports that the decision, if upheld, would disrupt longtime practices in the fast-food industry and ease the way for unionizing nationwide. The decision “overturns 30 years of established law regarding the franchise model in the United States, erodes the proven franchisor-franchisee relationship, and jeopardizes the success of 90 percent of America’s restaurants who are independent operators or franchisees,” according to the National Restaurant Association.

TMI: The trail of former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell (R) and his wife is getting personal, The Washington Post reports. Maureen McDonnell had a “crush” on the charismatic executive who lavished gifts and cash on the couple, according to her defense lawyer William Burck, co-head of the Washington, D.C. office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan. “Jonnie Williams was larger than life to Maureen McDonnell,” Burck said. “But unlike the other man in her life, Jonnie Williams paid attention to Maureen McDonnell.”