Opinion - President Trump Snubs Small Business During State of the Union

President Donald Trump failed to mention small businesses in his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday — perhaps not surprising given that the failed 2017 tax law was an irresponsible giveaway to large corporations and the wealthy that exploded the debt while doing little for Main Street businesses.

It’s true there is little to brag about in the Trump Tax Law, especially when it comes to small business. Businesses for Responsible Tax Reform’s polling shows the temporary 20% tax deduction small business owners received did little for small firms: 74% of small business owners said they were not able to hire new employees due to the law, 66% said they were not able to give raises, and just 19% said the law had a positive impact on their business.

Lawmakers promised a $4,000 boost in income to average families that never materialized, thus failing to increase consumer demand to help small business. Indeed, small businesses with fewer than 20 employees shed 93,000 jobs in 2019, according to the monthly ADP National Employment Reports.

What’s more, 65% of small business owners believe large corporations do not pay their fair share of taxes and two-thirds want the 40% tax cut corporations received from the law—from 35% to 21%—to be partially rolled back to fund policies that will help small firms.

It’s not surprising the president snubbed small business during the State of the Union—that’s exactly what his failed tax law did.

Businesses for Responsible Tax Reform is a coalition of business leaders calling for tax reform that truly benefits America’s small business owners. The organization says it is dedicated to ensuring tax reform is fiscally responsible, creates a level playing field for all businesses, grows the economy and works for the nation’s 30 million small business owners. https://www.businessesfortaxreform.org