On her Fox show Wednesday night, Greta Van Susteren interviewed Tom Stemberg. He is the CEO of Staples.
Van Susteren asked Stemberg what he thinks about the CBO report that finds that Obamacare creates a disincentive to work.
“It does,” Stemberg replied. “Because of the subsidies for healthcare, you are better off not working the extra hours it takes to get you employer paid healthcare instead to get a subsidy from the government which of course is paid for by other taxpayers.”
Stemberg continued: “The CBO points out a very tragic side effect of Obamacare. It’s not the only one. Every retailer in America now knows if they hire somebody for 30 hours a week they have to pay healthcare for 6 to $12,000 per year. On the other hand, working them 28 hours a week you don’t have to. So all the 35 hour jobs now in most of retail are gravitating towards 28 hours a week. That’s not something people are choosing to do. That’s being something trust thrust upon them by Obamacare.”
Van Susteren brought up a New York Times editorial, which characterized this as “liberating.”
“The New York Times says that this disincentive to work under Obamacare is, quote: and this is their editorial that it’s mostly a good thing, a ‘liberating’ result of the law, which is along the same line as congressman van hollen,” Van Susteren said. “I’m curious, do you think they really believe that?”
Stemberg replied: “Well, I think the New York Times may believe it but that does not make it true. And I don’t think it is true. I think the American way is to earn your own way in the society and not count on subsidies from others.”
Watch the interview here.
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