MOUNTAIN GROVE, Mo. – Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08) recently visited a locally owned and operated McDonald’s restaurant in Wright County, where he joined crew members in cooking breakfast items and working the drive-through window. He also discussed with staff policies in the Working Families Tax Cuts that benefit small businesses.

Congressman Smith said, “Small businesses like the Mountain Grove McDonald’s play an important role in providing opportunities for people to earn a paycheck, build skills, and support their families. The policies we enacted as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts, which I authored, will help small businesses thrive in rural areas like Wright County. Specifically, we talked about how the permanent 20% small business deduction will help keep these locally owned restaurants strong, and how Employer-Provided Education Assistance Benefits also make it easier for companies to invest in their employees without additional tax burden. On top of that, thanks to that bill, a family of four in Wright County will pay ZERO dollars in federal income tax on the first $73,000 they earn.

“For small businesses owners, the Working Families Tax Cuts provided certainty, allowing employers to reinvest in their businesses, hire more workers, and expand their operations — greatly benefiting communities like Mountain Grove.  It was an honor to spend time with the team here and see firsthand the hard work that goes into serving customers in Wright County. The employees I met take pride in what they do, and it shows in the way they serve their community each and every day.”

As part of the Working Families Tax Cuts included in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, the permanent 20% small business deduction provides critical financial relief for locally owned businesses like the Mountain Grove McDonald’s. By lowering their taxable income, this deduction helps small businesses retain more earnings, which can be reinvested in hiring and equipment. The Employer-Provided Education Assistance Benefits also encourages small employers to invest in their employees to help them pay student loans and advance their careers.

Additionally, provisions like no tax on overtime mean employees who pick up extra shifts or stay late can keep more of what they earn, while a typical family with two children is seeing thousands of dollars more in take-home pay each year and the largest tax refund season in American history. At the same time, pro-growth policies like full and immediate expensing are helping small businesses like the Mountain Grove McDonald’s invest in new equipment, upgrade their restaurants, and continue creating jobs. Together, these policies reward hard work and support the restaurants and business owners who serve communities across southeast Missouri every day.