What was Tillis thinking?

Published February 6, 2015

[caption id="attachment_3197" align="alignleft" width="150"]Thom Tillis Thom Tillis[/caption]

Editorial by Winston-Salem Journal, February 5, 2015.

Or not thinking. When you make a really stupid remark, just double-down on it and dig yourself a deeper hole. It’s bad enough when private citizens do that, embarrassing themselves, their relatives and their pets. But when our new U.S. senator does it, drawing national ridicule, it’s embarrassing for the whole state.

Such was the case when Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina suggested this week that restaurants shouldn’t have to make their employees wash their hands after bathroom visits.

That’s beyond gross. We’ve seen sayings scrawled on bathroom walls that smack of more brain use.

Moms require hand-washing after toilet use. But somehow, we don’t think we’re entering nanny-state territory to support the long-standing mandate that restaurants require such hand-washing as well. We shudder to think how many restaurant employees don’t follow the regulation now.

Drop the regulation, and … Well, let’s not go there.

Restaurants taking the non-regulation path would have to prominently disclose their policy with a sign and other steps, Tillis indicated Monday while speaking at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, and then would likely go out of business. But they should get to decide on such issues, The Associated Press and other news organizations quoted Tillis, the former speaker of our state House, as saying.

He went on, “But I think it's good to illustrate the point, that that's the sort of mentality we need to have to reduce the regulatory burden on this country."

In an interview Tuesday, he doubled down. "Sometimes there are regulations that maybe we want to set a direction, but then let those who are regulated decide whether or not it makes sense," he said. The businesses might pay a heavy price, he indicated, but "they get to make that decision versus government."

At least Tillis got one thing right: He didn’t join the pack in coming out against vaccinations. "Vaccinations are important to keeping our kids safe, keeping our schools safe,” he said Tuesday.

Agreed.

Now, can Tillis please come to his senses regarding hand-washing?

http://www.journalnow.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-what-was-tillis-thinking/article_af2cea72-ad74-11e4-9aab-cb2beb428478.html

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February 6, 2015 at 10:53 am
Norm Kelly says:

Typical libs. Missed the point. I don't believe the point was that Tillis believes employees shouldn't wash their hands after being in the restroom. The point is that central planners have gotten way too involved in regulation of every aspect of daily life. The question is whether the central planners should be regulating businesses to this extent. The question is whether there is authority at the central planner level to implement this type of micro-managing of business. The question is whether this should be regulated at the state level or local level as the U S CONSTITUTION demands.

This is one aspect of central planner over-regulation, and it's just the one that Tillis chose to use as an example. He is right that central planners have gone beyond the authority of the U S CONSTITUTION and have usurped power, control, authority away from states, as demanded by the U S CONSTITUTION. If central planners have gotten to this level of micro-managing businesses, what else are they regulating that should be eliminated? If central planners have gotten to this level of micro-managing business, does it imply they have their own house in order to such an incredible extent that they are now expert enough that they can 'help' businesses be more successful by following the excellent example of central planners? When central planners have their own house in order, then maybe perhaps we should let them extend their authority beyond the limits of the U S CONSTITUTION to where they micro-manage business. In the meantime micro-managing business is what socialist countries do, not FREEDOM LOVING nations like the U. S. used to be. Perhaps the idea that Tillis is proposing is that EVERY regulation already on the books should be looked at to determine if it's a regulation that SHOULD apply at the central planner level. Cuz truth is that EVERY regulation, business related or otherwise, should be looked at to determine if it extends beyond CONSTITUTIONAL limits! Just because central planners WANT to take more power/control/authority for themselves to make themselves feel bigger doesn't mean we should continue to let them get away with it. It's time we take our country back! Starting to eliminate useless, over-reach regulations is a good start. Getting the budget in order is also a great start! Which means libs, socialists, editorial writers, and demon pols will object to suggestions like Tillis made!

February 6, 2015 at 2:18 pm
Johnny Hiott says:

Personally I think it is ridiculous for the state to "have" to force employees to wash their hands. In a decent society they would do this regardless. The fact that the state does require this is evidence of the crumbling of our society. Regarding vaccinations I would feel more comfortable had tillis come out against them. Once again, there is something very wrong when a government gives complete immunity from prosecution for deaths or damage caused by the poisons injected into children derived by crackpot scientist employed by pharmaceutical companies. It has been proven time and time again how dangerous these vaccinations are but media and government conspire to insure citizens are not allowed to know of these real dangers to their children. Many of the vaccinations being called for now such as measles vac. would not be needed were our so called president held accountable for not enforcing the laws of this nation. obama's administration is purposely bringing in third world disease via illegal immigrants. America's entire federal govt. is now nothing less than a criminal organization.

February 6, 2015 at 3:38 pm
Scott McKinnon says:

Let's look at this another way. Just because there is a sign in the bathroom making it mandintory for employees to wash their hands, who is policing the policy? Do we need that tells employees not to spit, or worse, in food before serving? I think Tillis is trying to make a point that there are too many regulations. I would not eat in any restaurant that had signs stating' "We do not allow state sanitary inspections of our premesis" OR "Our employees are not required to wash their hands during bathroom visits".

Knowing this, would you eat there?