CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO – Congressman Jason Smith stopped in Cape Girardeau this week to visit two small businesses and discuss issues they are facing. First, Smith stopped at a UPS store and then visited Lazy L Safari, a family-run agribusiness. Both small businesses are locally owned and operated, hire hardworking Missourians and are involved in the community.
At the UPS store, owners Doug and Diana Rystrom have seven employees and shared that they reach out to local high schools, colleges and churches when hiring.
Congressman Smith discussed his work on tax reform and how it could help small business owners.
“As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I am fighting for a fairer, flatter tax code that will allow families to run their small businesses without being taxed left and right by bureaucrats in Washington,” said Congressman Smith.
Small businesses create approximately half of all jobs in the United States; however, their tax rates are as high as 44.6%. Furthermore, due to the complexities of the tax code, American businesses spend more than $147 billion dollars each year just to file their tax returns.
“Instead of shops on Main Street spending what they make on hiring more employees and investing in expanding their business, they are forced to give their money to the government. Or worse yet, they are spending thousands in compliance just to figure out how much they owe the government,” said Congressman Smith. “We need a tax code that rewards people for working hard, not one that punishes them.”
Smith is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, the only committee in Congress with primary jurisdiction over federal tax measures. On August 30, 2017, Smith joined President Trump in Springfield for his speech on tax reform.
Smith also shared his excitement about the growing agri-tourism industry in Missouri that is fueled by small, family-run operations like Lazy L Safari. Owner Vicki Lantz told Congressman Smith that in the last year alone, they had more than 20,000 people visit their agribusiness.
“Whether it’s pumpkins patches or safaris, seasonal festivals are popping up left and right,” said Congressman Smith. “It’s great to see the agri-tourism and entertainment industry growing in our area, but what’s even more special is seeing family farms and agribusinesses open their doors and welcome fellow Missourians to join them in doing what they love.”
