Business

Starbucks CEO Worries About ObamaCare Burdens on Small Businesses

Starbucks is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, marking a milestone in the development of one of the most successful business ventures in America today. If anyone knows business, it’s Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz.

On Tuesday, Schultz weighed in on the ongoing debate over Democrats‘ landmark health care overhaul law on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. Though he says he initially supported the bill, the Starbucks exec cautioned that the new regulations will put limiting burdens on America‘s small businesses and changes need to be made to avoid harming the nation’s economy:

Here’s the full interview:

Comments (74)

1 2
  • wash1776
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 11:01am

    WALKWITHME:
    It certainly is OBAMACARE or better yet OBAMAIDON’T CARE. He shoved this through when most of the public did not want it so OBAMAIDON’T CARE is a better name for it.

    Report Post »  
  • Crazy Llama
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 10:37am

    EXDEM
    “When Starbucks refused to support our troops , I refused to support Starbucks.
    Looks like karma bit someone in the @zz!!”

    You know all it takes is less than 30 seconds to find out that Starbucks does not have a policy to NOT support the troops. The urban myth you are referring to is a email chain letter started by SGT Howard C Wright in April 2004. As both a retired Army wife and current Starbucks employee I can assure you we have sent literally 100′s of pounds of coffee donated from out store to Service members over seas. Our store goes so far as to not charge any service member, police or fire fighter in uniform who come into our store for a drink.
    Here’s a link for you to educate yourself… http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/starbucks.asp

    Report Post »  
    • threedoor
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:02pm

      thanks. As a former soldier I heard this daily from other soldiers but they were so anti buisness they would never listen to the truth. Heck, my wife worked for a liscenced store… ON POST!

      Report Post » threedoor  
  • Will NV
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 10:37am

    Whaaat?
    This jakazz supported the Fraud.

    Report Post »  
  • LIBERALSBEDAMNED
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 10:21am

    http://www.thetrumpet.com/?q=8017.6661.133.0

    Report Post » LIBERALSBEDAMNED  
  • MidAmerican
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 10:05am

    Hmmmm…….would a freedom from gov’t regulations suddenly make a $4.00 cup of your coffee, $2.00
    perhaps? Just wondering.

    Report Post »  
    • threedoor
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:00pm

      A 20oz cup of coffer is 2.29 with tax here in idaho. McDonalds and tho others with what I consider crappy coffee only beat the Bux by a quarter.

      Report Post » threedoor  
  • wash1776
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 9:37am

    This guy is in never never land if he thinks Obama truly cares about anything or anyone but him and his agenda. This is the most selfish white house occupier I have seen in my lifetime and to expect him to do anything for the good of the people is wishing for utopia. He has one agenda and that is destroy this country as it has been for the last 200+ years. He will try to make it seem as if he cares so he can get elected in 2012 but just watch closely what he does. YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK SO LOUD I CAN’T HEAR YOU!

    Report Post »  
  • Skewzie
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 9:31am

    I don’t know that I would classify Starbucks as a small business. However, many large businesses went 100% with ObamaCare, including WalMart. The people of this country need to form a union and protest this government and their rules and regulations and spending of our tax dollars, Oh Wait, we have the tea party, and they have been too quiet since the election! Its time to hit the streets!!!

    Report Post » Skewzie  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 9:31am

    Starbucks,
    Never had it,
    Never will

    Report Post » Stoic one  
  • ahabit.com
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 8:55am

    Everybody deserves free healthcare -so why would anybody criticize Obama?

    Isn’t that what he wants?

    Report Post » ahabit.com  
  • psst
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 8:30am

    He initially supported Soetoro’s Care?
    He’s so smart he could not smell the aroma of a Single Payer Communist system when it was being brewed?
    Gimme a break.
    On Drudge, the whole state of Maine just got a waiver.
    http://www.cnbc.com/id/41978227
    Wonder what the twin RINO’s Snow-e job and Collins promised him?
    Mebbe not to support Republican cuts in his marxist spending agendas?
    Me-thunks I smell republicRATS.

    Report Post »  
  • mundusvultdecipi
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 8:20am

    Who really cares about starbuckers..
    .I’m still waiting to see what Ron Paul will do with the Federal reserve….tic toc…

    Report Post » mundusvultdecipi  
  • NickDeringer
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 8:03am

    Classic Stage One thinking: hey let’s have health care run by t he government. It will bring us closer to Utopia.

    Stage 2: oooooh How are we going to pay for it? What? You mean my business has to pay for it?

    Report Post » NickDeringer  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:23am

    I hope the bill becomes dead in 2011, 2010 would have been better. The Democrats passed this bill over the objections of the people. Congress and the President shouldn’t be aloud to do that anytime. They work for us not the other way around. It seems that they have forgotten this little fact.

    Report Post »  
  • streetrodder
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:55am

    Want a waiver, change the name to Taco Bucks.

    Report Post »  
  • paulpenn
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:34am

    I don’t know how Starbucks have survived selling those expensive coffees. I drink instant coffee at home, so a cup of coffee cost me very little.

    Report Post » paulpenn  
  • patriotteapress
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:26am

    Is he saying, “he was for it, before he was against it.”
    I love how long it takes for the so called “elitist left, smart people” to catch up to the rest of us. FoxNews reports the news. The MSM says it’s just the opposite. Several weeks later the MSM says what FN said, only now it’s not so important. Conservative talk radio warns that Obamacare will hurt small biz. The “smart” lib people say conservatives are stupid. Fast forward a year or two and they are saying the same thing that conservative talk radio said when they don’t want to live with the restrictions. I’ve seen this pattern over and over. I’m trying to have faith that the Progs will one day see the light, if they can only overcome their arrogance.

    Report Post »  
    • 13thGenerationAmerican
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:35am

      73 percent of Americans support single payer health care

      Report Post » 13thGenerationAmerican  
    • randy
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 8:47am

      Lets see some facts 13generationUNamerican

      Report Post » randy  
    • ClockKing
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 9:25am

      There is a reason most nations that tried socialism are moving away from it: it doesn’t work. Americans are like folks from Missouri: show me. Until it bites us in the butt and hard, we won‘t start to understand that it can’t work. BTW 13, single payer is meaningless. It doesn’t cover universal healthcare, which what you really want. All it does is control what doctors make. What we’ll end up with the a system like the old Soviet Union, with plenty of underpaid doctors who are not considered the cream of society. It’s just another job.

      Report Post » ClockKing  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 11:47am

      Randy

      Asking a liberal for Facts is like asking Obama about his college transcripts. You will never see either.

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
  • lejones
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:13am

    Gee, Mr. Schultz, you supported Obamacare. So just ask for a waiver like everybody else. And, while you’re at it, get a waiver form for the other 350 million of us!

    Report Post »  
  • LadyIzShy
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:41am

    yep i thought the company was in favor of socialism. i would not spend one thin dime there. EVER

    Report Post » LadyIzShy  
  • Chrono_Sleuth
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:24am

    He actually is a lib loon himself. He is an advocate for a single-payer system. I used to work for SBux, and the company functions like a socialist state. My own manager wouldn’t let me come in on my days off, not even getting paid, just to clean the store because she would get fired, as my actions would mean others would demand I took work away from them (no I’m not joking) because the company has to pay me for any hour worked, yet for me it is my store and we never had time to properly clean certain areas (plus some shift managers would rather do a quick cleaning to get out in record time). The whole structure is revolved around getting permission from the DM just to allow me to take overtime because we were swamped on multiple occasions.

    Report Post » Chrono_Sleuth  
  • Diane TX
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:59am

    walkwithme1966
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:14am

    I believe that new businesses that can’t afford healthcare are given tax credits by the government to pay for the healthcare for their employees. And by the way, It is NOT OBAMACARE – call the program by the correct name. Hey Diane – I live in TX also – I am in Austin where are you?
    _________________________________________________________________________
    I live in Conservative Williamson County. Round Rock to be exact. I avoid Austin – too many damn Liberals. Another name for Obama Care is “first step to socialized, single-payer system”. Is that what you were going for?

    Report Post »  
    • Non-sequitur
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:22am

      ““first step to socialized, single-payer system””

      Sadly, it isn’t. Because in that case, America would finally have a shot at good health care. A better translation for Obamacare would be “giant handout to insurance companies”.

      Report Post »  
    • 13thGenerationAmerican
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:30am

      Hey moron Non-sequitur

      We have single payer here now genius, it’s called Medicare, you know that insurance your Grand Parents, the Military, and all government officials are on. Where are the death panels Mr. know it all

      Report Post » 13thGenerationAmerican  
    • OneFunR6
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 9:15am

      “America would finally have a shot at good health care.”

      IF THIS WERE TRUE…………….
      why do the wealthiest people IN THE WORLD come to AMERICA for HEALTHCARE??????

      Because it IS the BEST in the WORLD, NOW.

      Sadly, it soon will NOT be, not even close.

      Good thing I personally know several good doctors in my area,…
      so I will be able to get in front of the LINE of stupid waiting libs……

      Report Post » OneFunR6  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 10:54am

      Thanks for the response – appreciate it!! http://wp.me/pYLB7-IY

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 11:43am

      13thGenerationAmerican

      Really? The military is on Medicare along with all government employees? That has to be the most uninformed statement I have seen on here. Do some reasearch Troll.

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
  • End The Fed
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:25am

    I wonder if they’re also concerned about the small mom and pop coffee shops.

    Report Post » End The Fed  
    • Non-sequitur
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:20am

      They don’t exist anymore after being run out of business by Starbucks.

      This guy is a CEO. He’s basically being paid to have certain opinions. Whoever believes what the guy says deserves what they get.

      Report Post »  
  • Rights of Man
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:33am

    This guy is an idiot. He would not have supported ObamaCare if had a single working brain cell.

    I’m sick and tired of wimpy, PC businessmen making Faustian deals with our increasingly tyrannical government.

    They are slitting their own throats, and ours.

    Report Post » Rights of Man  
    • OneFunR6
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 9:11am

      TRUTH.

      But MY right’s COME FROM GOD and I will not let MY government take them away.

      When/if ‘they’ come to slit my throat……..

      Report Post » OneFunR6  
  • FlowerBell
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:12am

    Isn’t Starbucks run by a union?
    I’ll make my own coffee, thanks.

    Report Post » FlowerBell  
    • Diane TX
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:22am

      I don’t drink coffee – ever. I do love the smell, though.

      Report Post »  
    • Chrono_Sleuth
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:27am

      No, it’s not run by a union. The only unionized Starbucks are those in NYC. That said, the owner is a good little socialist who structured his rules around socialist principles of fair work, and equal work for equal pay, which actually restricts most stores and typically bogs things down on bad days or if the store is poorly run (manager or a shift). Works great when the whole team is in sync, but there is little room for adjustments, though I suppose it would depend on the DM and the relationship with the store manager.

      Report Post » Chrono_Sleuth  
    • threedoor
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:56pm

      No, the Bux is no union

      Report Post » threedoor  
  • Diane TX
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 2:36am

    Ah, yeah. Many small businesses start out on shoestring. Giants like Apple and Microsoft would have never happened if they first had to provide healthcare for their employees and/or were required to pay union wages.

    Report Post »  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 2:45am

      Giants like Apple and Microsoft would have never happened if they first had to provide healthcare for their employees and/or were required to pay union wages.
      ——————–
      Thats exactly what marxists want. No more success stories
      We have had too much wealth and prosperity .
      Time to destroy the economy and de-develop.
      And break the human spirit too

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:14am

      I believe that new businesses that can’t afford healthcare are given tax credits by the government to pay for the healthcare for their employees. And by the way, It is NOT OBAMACARE – call the program by the correct name. Hey Diane – I live in TX also – I am in Austin where are you?
      http://maboulette.wordpress.com

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
    • seeker9
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:49am

      @WALK…ME…
      You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig. How about Bankrupt America Care?

      Report Post » seeker9  
    • IAMMADDOG
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 11:02am

      How’s Commie Care sound?

      Report Post »  
  • Robert-CA
    Posted on March 9, 2011 at 2:34am

    Yep good luck in convincing the lib loons .

    Report Post » Robert-CA  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 2:42am

      You can buy yourself a waiver Starbux…all you need is to start selling halal coffee and breakfast.
      The Sheikh will cast his benovelant glance at you .
      Everything has a price .

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • Non-sequitur
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:17am

      “halal coffee”

      translation:

      “coffee”

      Report Post »  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:54am

      That‘s one thing I won’t miss…the burnt coffee from Starbucks…yuck
      Free food>> http://tysonm.myefoods.com/?pcid=53168

      Report Post »  
    • 912828Buckeye
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:58am

      Just looked up how many waivers have been issued to date.
      Over 1000 waivers have been issued to companies so they don’t
      have to participate in this socialized health care program.
      Obama must be handing them out like candy. Just a couple weeks
      ago there were 840 waivers out there. The words out……Opt out.

      Report Post » 912828Buckeye  
    • Jackers
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:17am

      This 2,700-page monstrosity of a Health Care/Redistribution of Wealth scheme has been an utter disaster since Day One! The outrageous ways these “sweetheart deals” were cut behind closed doors, the twisting of arms, the deaf ear to the vast majority of Americans who adamantly opposed this bill, the lack of respect for our Constitution, the 1,000+ waivers already granted to the very institutions, such as unions, who supported this bill…

      We must repeal this disastrous “Health Care” bill as a whole and replace it with sensible methods to create competition. The more competition in the health insurance market, the lower the costs…

      Report Post » Jackers  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:07am

      Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, donated twice to Obama’s primary campaigns in 2008. Also Patty Murray in primaries and general election. He wants the advantage of being a capitalist but he supports the dems across the board. Unfortunately the people who get hurt in the long run are his employees. I do frequent our Starbucks and the people who work there are wonderful and don’t deserve Obamacare anymore than the rest of us.

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:20am

      Isn’t that just funny? Howard Schultz and Starbucks usually support liberal agendas and suddenly they are skeptical of Obamacare. Oh little Schultzy woltzy is it because you are figuring out that when people have no place to work, and companies have to shut their doors, that no one will be able to buy your coffee, and then you also will go out of business? You should have thought about that before you supported politicians who love giving other peoples money away.

      Report Post »  
    • VerySeniorCitizen
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:28am

      Starbucks is a SMALL business?? I didn’t know that.

      Now REAL small businesses (according to IRS filings) are :-

      Enterprise Products Partners – a pipeline company with an income for 2009 of $25 Billion
      Price Waterhouse Coopers with a $$26 Billion (per year) revenue stream
      Koch Industries – which employs seventy (70) thousand folks
      Ferrellgas – a propane and propane accessory company with $2 Billion income and 1 million customers

      After all, these are the REAL small businesses – so they might just go broke because the might have to take care of their employees.. Sad! REALLY sad!

      Report Post »  
    • tobywil2
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:59am

      To understand how the Obama administration was able to enact the Health Care Reform bill, read “SELLING HEALTH CARE REFORM-A CLASSIC CASE OF MISDIRECTION.” Click on the following link to open a pdf file of the article: http://commonsense21c.com/files/HCR-MISS-DIRRECTION.pdf

      Report Post » tobywil2  
    • Stonewall_Jackson
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 8:26am

      My bet would be that most if not all the 1000 waivers already given went to companies/unions whom the President feels supported his administration. I bet it is impossible for someone with the view most of us Blazers share to get a waiver.

      Now does that seem fair & balanced?

      Report Post » My Hero-Allen West-click my name  
    • exdem
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 8:37am

      When Starbucks refused to support our troops , I refused to support Starbucks.
      Looks like karma bit someone in the @zz!!

      Report Post »  
    • crazedbanshee
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:54pm

      Nice job moron, support one of the most devastating pieces of legislation ever passed and then think about it and realize it is bad after the fact. You would think with something this important geniuses like this guy would figure it out before.

      On another note. Waivers??? What a horrible idea, don’t you idiots realize why you needed to require everyone to get health insurance in the first place? By accepting all applicants you are creating a little thing called adverse selection, you need as many people paying premiums as you can get to cover the ill people. Man these geniuses in the White House. I guess they couldn‘t get their buddies to support their campaigns if didn’t have some corrupt measure allowing for favoritism.

      Report Post »  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on March 9, 2011 at 9:06pm

      Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is seeing the light too late…No coffee for me.

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • Deuteronomy22
      Posted on March 10, 2011 at 2:11am

      Poor guy only got paid $22 million last year. Such a shame if he has to get by on 6 or 7 million so his employees can get care when they are sick without going bankrupt. He’ll probably only be able to afford 4 homes and 1 yacht.

      Report Post » Deuteronomy22  
    • TheWiz
      Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:02pm

      I understand that STARBUCKS will not send product to our soldiers overseas because of their opposition to the war. SHAME ON NOT SUPPORTING OUR SOLDIERS, no matter what your political views. I demand a response from STARBUCKS to verify that this is correct. If they don’t support BRAVE AMERICANS let them sell their burnt junk to the foreigners. BOYCOTT ???

      Report Post »  
1 2

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love