The Politicizing of Pizza
I’ve never liked Papa John’s pizza, it always tasted like tomato sauce and cardboard to me. So the fact that I won’t be ordering from Papa John’s in the foreseeable future should not really affect their bottom line. However, some of you out there, might be ordering this crappy pizza and you might want to rethink that. John Schnatter, who you might know better as “Papa John”, said that if ACA goes into effect in 2014, he will be raising the price of their pizza.
But as Matthew Yglesias explains, the real winner of ACA and the politicizing of pizza will be our local Mom and Pop pizza shops — you know the small businesses that Republicans always say the Obama administration is killing.
Firms with fewer than 50 employees are exempted from the ACA’s “employer responsibility” provision (which says you pay a penalty if your workers don’t get health insurance) and firms with fewer than 25 employees get subsidies. Specifically, if you have fewer than 25 employees and your employees earn less than $50,000 on average then you get a tax credit to defray 35 percent of the cost of providing health insurance to your workers. It seems to me that many non-chain pizza operations are going to fit that criteria, and the Affordable Care Act will essentially let them offer workers a dollar’s worth of compensation with sixty five cents worth of revenue.
Tags: Pizza, Republicans
Why can’t everyone just keep their damn politics out of my junk food? What’s next? Oscar Meyer bacon demanding the defunding of Planed Parenthood? Spare me.
A ha! A food post!
15 to 20 cents retail increase is not a big deal, but his freaking out about it is.
I don’t think anyone should be suprised that there will be a pass-on expense in this scenario, I think that much is (should be) obvious. It’s the blathering and bellyaching that it forces him to put the customer against the shareholder (the shareholder wins). Whatever.
Honestly, Nemski, I don’t think it has so much to do with him thinking his mom and pop competition gets unfair breaks (from the blockquote in your post), but I think it has more to do with him being a huge Romney supporter. It gives him a personal plank to stand on and bash Obama.
Isn’t there a rule that says that if you have a choice between chain pizza and Mom&Pop pizza, that Mom & Pop is always the choice?
And for all of you folks in the city, DiMeo’s pizza on Market street is All.Of.That.
@rsmitty, I absolutely agree with you that Schnatter’s biggest concern is probably getting Romney elected. However, Yglesias’ point is that ACA helps small business much more than corporations which is a good thing as Republicans generally are suppose to think.
Eeew. Chain pizza? In desperation, I’ve ordered Grotto’s – mainly for the kids… because Grotto’s… well… sucks.
Haven’t tried DiMeo’s – but I will! We’ve been Cafe Verde and Ciao’s (for delivery) consumers.
Had Papa John’s once. Yuk!
I’m glad that CEO Schnatter lowered the price of his chain’s pizzas two years ago when all workers under the age of 26 were permitted to remain insured on their parent’s health insurance policies due to the ACA (and let’s face it, a LOT of the chain’s workers are under the age of 26).
Oh that’s right, his need to ‘set the record straight’ is situational.
@Pandora — forgot to say that DiMeo’s delivers too.
Oooh! Delivery is a biggie for us since pizza is an impulse buy!
I always thought that one of the benefits of living in this area is that we didn’t need to eat at national chain pizza/sub shops, because all of our local options are so superior.
Do you know ANYONE who orders the “philly cheesesteak” anything at a chain restaurant?
also DiMeos is amazing.
This guy is looking at the fat-ass jerks packing Chick-fil-a for the eat-in protest, and thinking “I want some of that guns and Jesus-loving, obesity action!”
Does DiMeos deliver bacon? Priorities, people, priorities!
Maybe pancetta, smitty. Worth asking! Or ordering their white pizza with pancetta — bet they’d make that.
Glancing at the menu of DiMeo’s I found this:
NAPULITANA Our Authentic San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella di bufala, prosciutto di parma, arugula, and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano. Personale 10 Grande 15
Yummy.
Come on, Smitty. Prosciutto di parma. That’s gotta tempt you!
Lunch?
You cant always count of the local guys being a more appealing place to eat….. let us not forgot the dear departed racist pig who owned Gino’s.
Except that Gino’s wasn’t appealing or good. It was tourist food.
Prosciutto de pancetta? Sounds delicious!
@Jason330 – – Hilarious – but so true!!!!
C’mon SB. Everyone knows if you’re in that part of town you go to Pats.
So pizza will now cost $5.20 and people who work at papa johns get health insurance. Is this what the Republicans are pissed off about?
Paris Pizza or Steak works. Pizza’s for $6 and $5 on Tuesdays…how do you beat that. Support local pizza shops, the money stays here.
S’up dog?
Second DiMeo’s. Margherita’s in Newark is good as well.
And, honestly, the cost incidence of ACA is unknown. Depending on the price elasticities of pizza demand and supply and labor demand and supply, Papa may not be able to raise prices or decrease wages. Now, most likely, Papa can pass along some costs, through higher prices and decreased wages (or other compensation). But, the exact incidences are unknown.
Also, I dislike exceptions to generally applicable laws. I understand the reason for this carve-out, but politicians often use carve-outs to reward special interests.
This is the best thing John Schnatter has ever done. Got us talking Pizza on Del Lib….
In Newark don’t forget Peace of Pizza. Especially if you have an affinity to fresh vegetables. And my most recent discovery, at the behest of acquaintance, since I would never have stooped that low, is Pat’s Pizza, their supreme version. From bottom of crust to the rare sprinkle of something over its top just before the box gets closed….
Just sayin… And has anyone ever gotten a Papa John’s pizza which they thought was worth the price they paid? I have yet to hear of that happening….
After the Super Bowl, I got a Papa John’s pizza for free. So yes.
Does anyone know if there’s any place where you can be the butter/garlic dipping sauce?
The PJ’s dipping sauce is the best thing about it. YUM.