Tipsheet

Howard Schultz Criticizes Green New Deal, 70% Tax

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz recently criticized the Democratic Green New Deal proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) for its lack of realism.

The Green New Deal, in case you didn't know, is a new proposal of extensive environmental and economic reforms that would give the government an invasive amount of power. The bill has received much support, but has also been the subject of much scrutiny, even from Democrats.

The latest derision has come from tycoon Howard Schultz, who put the impossibility of the deal into perspective.

"I read that by 2030 they're suggesting that every building in America becomes clean energy... just to put that in perspective, because it's not realistic, that would mean that between 2,000 and 3,000 buildings a day would have to be reconstructed to conform to what they're saying. So let's be sensible about what we're suggesting."

Schultz also criticized the Deal's promise that it would provide a job and free college to everybody in the country. He called it "immoral to suggest that we can tally up $20, $30, $40, $50 trillion of debt to solve a problem that could be solved in a different way."

Echoing the sentiments of fellow businessman Bill Gates regarding the proposed Democratic tax on the rich, Schultz derided the tax as "punitive." The tax, if implemented, would take a 70% bite out of any income that exceeds $10 million.

Schultz' comments are likely to drive a wedge between him and the Democrats, who are already concerned about his run. Several Democrats fear that Schultz' possible 2020 candidacy would divide Democratic votership and lead to yet another Trump term. However, whether Schultz with actually run or not is yet to be decided.