Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz urges end of government shutdown

The federal government shutdown has now gone on for more than a week, and Starbucks Corp. Chief Executive Howard Schultz is none too pleased about it.

In a letter to other business leaders posted late Monday on the company’s website, Schultz is urging other business leaders to pressure Congress to end the brinkmanship between Republicans and Democrats.

“Like so many of you, I find myself utterly disappointed by the level of irresponsibility and dysfunction we are witness to with our elected political leadership,” the letter began.

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The company released the letter after Schultz sent it to an unspecified number of business leaders, whom the company did not name.

Schultz said one party bore more responsibility than the other for causing the government shutdown, the first in nearly two decades.

“I don’t pretend that both parties are equally to blame for this crisis. But, I do think they are equally responsible for leading us to a solution,” he wrote.

Business leaders have already met with President Obama to urge him to do more to end the impasse in Washington. As of Tuesday, there were no clear signs the situation would be resolved soon.

Obama on Monday urged the House to allow a vote on a bill that would fund government at previous levels, without any strings that would pull funding from the new healthcare law, as Republicans have demanded. The president said he believes the House has enough votes to end the shutdown.

Economists have warned that a prolonged government shutdown will most certainly hurt the nation’s still fragile recovery.

Schultz’s appeal Monday was not the first time the chief executive has waded into politics. Last month, following a mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard, he announced a change in Starbucks’ gun policy. Through another open letter addressed to customers he asked patrons not to bring their guns to Starbucks stores. Framed as a request, the policy will not be actively enforced because Schultz said he does not want employees confronting armed patrons.

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