Left: Robert Heinrich Herbert Koch, father of modern bacteriology, discoverer of the causative agents of tuberculosis, cholera, and anthrax, and exponent of Koch's Postulates. Right: David Hamilton Koch, purveyor of fine Georgia Pacific brands of toilet paper.
I was having this discussion with someone, and we were at a Starbucks in my district, and we were talking about certain regulations where I felt like maybe you should allow businesses to opt out - let an industry or business opt out as long as they indicate, through proper disclosure, through advertising, through employment literature, whatever else. There’s this level of regulations that maybe...maybe they’re on the books...you can make a market-based decision as to whether or not they should apply to you. And she said “you know, I can’t believe that,” she said, “opting out.” And at that time we were sitting back at a table that was near the restrooms, and one of the employees just came out. She said, “for example, don’t you believe that this regulation that requires this gentleman to wash his hands before he serves your food is important, should be on the books?” I said, as a matter of fact I think it’s one that I can illustrate the point. I said I don’t have any problem with Starbucks if they choose to opt out of this policy as long as they post a sign that says “we don’t require our employees to wash their hands after leaving the restroom.” The market will take care of that.Yes, well, so would soap. And rather more dependably, at that.
At press time, Starbucks executives had not issued any comment.
Thom Tillis's successful 2014 Senate bid against incumbent Kay Hagan set a record as the all-time high in outside spending (estimated at about $100 million), led by the Koch brothers.