“Have you ever tried to hire a competent employee off the street?”
Yes, I have many times over many, many years.
“How about one who is familiar with current state and federal regulations?”
Current state, and federal regulations ultimately were always my responsibility, and I wouldn’t hire someone off the street to handle my responsibility.
Do you get my point? He should have said the onerous federal regulations put him out of business, but he did not. Go back, and read the article if unsure of what I’m telling you.
I am certain that he did say it. Probably kept repeating it but the editor wouldn’t allow his party to take the heat for laying off all those people.