Tillis: Restaurant worker hand washing should be optional

By CHARLES BABINGTON
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) – A freshman Republican senator says restaurants shouldn’t have to make their employees wash their hands after bathroom visits if they are willing to accept the consequences.

Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina says such restaurants would have to prominently disclose their decision, and probably would go out of business. But he says they should have that choice.

Tillis says private companies are overregulated and should have more chances to opt out of mandates and deal with the public’s reactions.

His comments come as some Republican presidential hopefuls say parents are justified in sometimes having their children skip vaccinations generally required for attending school.

Tillis, however, says vaccinations are important for public safety.

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