Louisville-based Papa John's founder and CEO John Schnatter is backpedaling on criticism of President Obama's health care law, and says his company has no plans to cut jobs as a result of the Affordable Care Act.Last week, Schnatter told the Naples Daily News that President Obama's health care law would force him to reduce employees' hours. The comments ignited a backlash and support, with the conservative Super PAC Freedomworks urging people to take part in "National Papa John's Appreciation Day" last Friday.But now Schnatter says those remarks were taken out of context by reporters.From The Huffington Post: Many in the media reported that I said Papa John's is going to close stores and cut jobs because of Obamacare. I never said that. The fact is we are going to open over hundreds of stores this year and next and increase employment by over 5,000 jobs worldwide. And, we have no plans to cut team hours as a result of the Affordable Care Act. Clearly there was some misunderstanding somewhere. The remarks that generated the headlines were made during an entrepreneur class I was asked to speak to at a Florida college. I was asked to share my experience as an entrepreneur and to provide the students with real-life small business situations. Unbeknownst to me, until she identified herself, a reporter was there.In August, Schnatter said health care reform would increase the cost of his pizzaby 11 cents.
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