Indiana’s business community is waiting to see how federal tax reform plans, set for release next week, might impact their companies and workers.  At a roundtable in Indianapolis yesterday, business leaders said they want to communicate to their workers and the public that lowering America’s corporate tax rate will be good for more than just executive paychecks.

Big Red Liquors owner Don Ricks says he doesn’t want tax hikes to be what keeps him from, say, upping from his contribution to his employees’ health plans. He says not cutting the corporate tax rate will eventually hurt his workers.  “Their accessible dollars to go out and buy that new television or whatever to affect all of our economies, are dramatically affected by this.”

Other executives say they’d invest money saved on taxes in technology or expansions that would create jobs and job stability for their current employees.  They also say the current rate encourages companies to look for lower taxes overseas, and discourages small businesses from growing. Brian Schutt  owns one such business – HomeSense Heating and Cooling – and says lower taxes would mean… “Two more vans on the road next year, two more people employed, money going into an education program that we can’t currently afford.” 

Along with Vice President Mike Pence rallying support for federal tax reform, this (Fri.) afternoon, in Anderson, President Trump will visit Indiana next week for the same purpose, though more details haven’t been announced.