A U.S. senator's proposal that restaurants should be able to make the decision on whether employees are required to wash their hands after bathroom visits has sparked a public health debate.
North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis made the controversial comments during a question-and-answer session about government and business regulations at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington D.C. on Monday, CNN reported.
"We're one of the most heavily regulated nations in the history of the planet. Let them decide such issues," the newly elected lawmaker said, arguing that restaurants which choose not to make such requirements would soon run out of business.
Speaking about the issue of government over-regulation on Monday, Tillis believes that government rules are burdening businesses, and companies should be allowed to opt out -- even when it comes to rules that require restaurant employees wash their hands before returning to work, according to BBC News.
"I said I don't have a 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," Tillis said. "The market will take care of that."
"It's one example -- but then let them decide," the Republican told audience members at the think tank. "Now that's probably one where every business that did that would go out of business, but I think it's good to illustrate the point that that's the sort of mentality that we have to reduce the regulatory burden on this country."
"They might pay a huge price," he said, but "they get to make that decision versus government."
While some criticized the 54-year-old's remarks, others expressed support for government regulation, ABC News reported.
"I absolutely would like everybody in the restaurant industry to wash their hands and be required to do so," said diner Jennifer Knox.
"I also wash my hands before I cook a meal and so I would think that everybody should, yes," Margaret Eagles added.
"It's all a part of the chain of command. You have someone at the top, and they're the ones who set the rules for the lower people, and it just works its way down," Albert Joseph, who was having lunch at Chick-Fil-A, said, adding that government should be the ultimate enforcer on health rules.
Meanwhile the comments come after some Republican presidential hopefuls have questioned vaccine regulations amid a measles outbreak.
Parents should be the ones to decide whether they vaccinate their children, not the government, Sen. Rand Paul argued in a contentious interview on Monday, just hours after likely 2016 rival Chris Christie made similar controversial comments on the subject.