Maryland State Wire

John E. Kelly, Jr., an NFIB member and small business owner from Owings, Maryland, has written an op-ed in The Baltimore Sun. Kelly calls on Congress to pass the Main Street Tax Certainty Act to ensure the permanence of the Small Business Deduction that has benefited businesses like his.

In his op-ed, Kelly emphasized the looming challenges small businesses face, stating, “The truth is that small businesses are staring at a fiscal cliff. At the end of next year, the main tax cut of the 2017 tax reform is set to expire, which means that my taxes will rise dramatically." He expressed concern about the potential consequences, adding, "I’m terrified that I won’t be able to give raises, boost benefits, and invest in new equipment."

Kelly highlighted the impact of the tax policy over the years, saying, “Thanks to Small Business Deduction, I have the confidence to keep hiring and investing. It’s been 32 years since I started my business, and in all that time, no other policy has been as helpful as this tax cut.”

He warned that failing to make the deduction permanent would have adverse effects on businesses. "Nothing would be more harmful than letting the Small Business Deduction disappear at the end of the year," Kelly said. He also emphasized the importance of timely action by Congress, stating, "Small businesses have to plan years in advance. When we don’t know what’s going to happen, we don’t spend nearly as much money because we’re saving it to pay for a potential tax hike."

The full op-ed is available for reading at The Baltimore Sun's website.