[Photo: Liz Kern KMJ]FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – House Speaker Paul Ryan visited the Central Valley, Wednesday, touring a local manufacturing facility.
Speaker Ryan was the guest of U.S. Congressman David Valadao, visiting the MEC Aerial Work Platforms facility in Kerman.
The site was chosen as an example of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that Congressman Valadao, who represents the 21st Congressional District, has allowed the manufacturing business to grow.
They were met by David White, MEC President, and dozens of employees. “I think they wanted to take a tour in real life in real life of cause-and-effect they had of the tax reform particularly in rural areas like Kerman, California,” said David White, the company’s president.
Speaker Ryan has said small business is “the backbone of the economy” and the new tax code promotes entrepreneurship.
“In just a short time, David Valadao has proven himself to be a tireless advocate for the Central Valley and one of the hardest working members of Congress. Thanks to him, workers are seeing bigger paychecks and the average family in his district will save nearly $1,700 because of the tax reform legislation that we passed last year. It was great to join him in Kerman to hear first-hand from a local business about how they are benefitting from this new law and to offer him my complete support,” stated House Speaker Paul Ryan.
According to White, the tax reform has had a positive effect at his company, “because of the reform, not only did our 123 employees received a $1,000 bonus this year but the tax benefits to our customers’ businesses is creating more sales growth for us and more jobs for our community.”
When asked if tax cuts benefit CEOs more than workers, Congressman Valadao responded, “we have to make sure the U.S. is still a place that people want to invest, and have the ability to invest and we’re competitive, and by making sure that we’re competitive by lowering some of corporate tax rates, it did play a role in that, and is attracting some more of investment back.”
MEC Aerial Work Platforms anticipates 200 percent growth over the six months following implementation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and allow the company to hire approximately thirty more employees in Fresno County.
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