Tax cuts, health care and stability in federal laws affecting small businesses were the themes on Friday when U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt led a discussion in Joplin on job creation.
About 50 area business and industry representatives attended the meeting at the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce to hear Blunt’s views on what can be done to create jobs and to express to him their views.
Blunt characterized a 51-48 vote by Senate Democrats last week to extend income tax cuts for couples who make less than $250,000 as “a really bad vote.” If the bill, which no Republican in the Senate voted for, does become law, it would harm farms and small businesses, Blunt said.
Tax cuts that were enacted in the George Bush administration 10 years ago are due to expire this year. President Barack Obama asked Congress to extend those for incomes below $250,000 rather than $350,000. The Bush plan included a cut of estate taxes that would not stay in place if the law reverts to previous tax levels.
Susan Adams, of Able Body Manufacturing Co., said that Joplin company has 380 employees and is competing against companies overseas that do not have to figure health-care costs into their product. She questioned the effect of the Affordable Care Act on U.S. businesses.
Blunt said that some business owners tell him that if they have to provide health care to those who work over 20 hours a week, they will cut all full-time jobs but managers, and schedule employees to work 19 hours or less.
J. Chris Moos, assistant professor of international business at Missouri Southern State University, told Blunt that businesses need more stability in federal laws like the income tax, estate tax and health care act in order to plan. “In the business world, It’s hard to plan with short-term laws.”
Blunt agreed. He said he favors enacting a tax code for 10 years and extending it annually by one year so that taxes are clear for a decade at a time.
A number of things can go wrong for small businesses that have nothing to do with government regulations and “government shouldn’t add to it,” Blunt said.
Blunt said that U.S. energy is the key to job creation and domestic economic growth.
He said the U.S. has the largest reserves of recoverable natural gas in the world and has enough coal and oil to stop buying from the Middle East.
“We can be energy self-sufficient in a decade or a decade and a half, and why wouldn’t we want to? It’s crazy to buy things (oil) from people who don’t like you,” Blunt said.
He called for approval by the Obama administration to extend the Keystone XL pipeline through the northern U.S. to move crude oil to Texas refineries. He said most Americans understand the advantages of the pipeline.
“American energy is the most direct route to more American jobs,” he said.
In attendance
Richard AuBuchon, general counsel and legislative affairs director for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, accompanied U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt to Joplin for the jobs roundtable on Friday.
Local News
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt talks job creation with Joplin business leaders
Stability of federal laws essential, Blunt told
- Local News
-
-
Missouri Prairie Foundation plans BioBlitz for June 1-2 at prairies in Barton, Vernon counties
The Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Denison and Lattner prairies in Vernon and Barton counties will be the focus on Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2, of the fourth annual Prairie BioBlitz.
-
Stream sampling in Jasper County finds elevated levels of E. coli
Stream sampling conducted just before the Memorial Day weekend by the Jasper County Health Department found elevated levels of E. coli in every stream and river tested. Twenty-one sites were tested on May 22, following heavy rains earlier in the week.
-
Families, friends invited to honor veterans with flags this weekend
Small lengths of plastic pipe have been installed behind the headstones of veterans graves in Joplin cemeteries so that every veteran will have a flag on Memorial Day.
-
Mike Pound: Writing column like making pasta
It’s Friday afternoon as I’m typing this and my wife is worried. She’s not worried about what I’m typing; she gave up worrying about that a long time ago. Besides, my wife knows that even though I’m typing right now, I likely don’t have a clue what I’m writing.
-
Joplin to New Orleans bike tour to raise money for disaster victims
Louis Niewald will travel 800 miles on a bicycle next month, pedaling from Joplin to New Orleans. He’ll have a lot to think about along the way. Niewald was returning to Joplin on May 22, 2011, when sirens sounded and an EF-5 tornado began grinding its way across the city.
-
Joplin photo rescue effort gears up to help Moore storm victims
A photo rescue operation based in Carthage that helped salvage and return thousands of pictures after the 2011 tornado in Joplin is reaching out to storm victims in Moore, Okla.
-
Events, activities to honor veterans planned in Joplin area on Monday
No Memorial Day ceremonies are planned at Joplin cemeteries this year or at Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, but a number of other events are scheduled in cities around the region.
-
Area pools ready for plunge; Schifferdecker opening still to be announced
Though this week’s mild temperatures may not signal swim season, most area pools are ready anyway. And, the mercury should rise a little this weekend to help those anxious to dive in. Highs will be in the low 80s today and Sunday. There is a chance for isolated thunderstorms on Monday, but the thermometer should hit 82 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
-
Joplin School Board decision could take up to two weeks; Turner remains on paid leave
It could take up two weeks for the Joplin Board of Education to decide whether Randy Turner’s teaching contract should be terminated, the school district’s attorney, John Nicholas, said Friday.
-
Joplin insurance agent seeks donations for Moore, Okla.
After losing an office building and her home in the tornado on May 22, 2011, Loretta Bailey is familiar with the destruction that a tornado brings. The 400 households that her insurance agency helped through the aftermath of the tornado also know that loss. \
- More Local News Headlines
-
Missouri Prairie Foundation plans BioBlitz for June 1-2 at prairies in Barton, Vernon counties
