Election Looms: Immigration and Business Costs Addressed

The upcoming election has put immigration and small business issues at the forefront, with Congressman Beth Van Duyne speaking out against the chaotic back-and-forth regarding illegal immigrants in Texas being sent to New York and back. She argues that current policies have failed, leading to a staggering number of approximately 20 million undocumented individuals without adequate programs to manage their influx. The financial burden on states, particularly Texas, has exceeded $6.5 billion in efforts to enforce immigration laws. With the election just a week away, candidates Trump and Harris outline starkly contrasting plans for small businesses. Trump aims to extend tax cuts from the 2017 Jobs Act and advocate for tariffs on imported goods to stimulate job growth, while Harris proposes creating 25 million new business applications and increasing existing tax deductions. Van Duyne expresses concern over small businesses with many facing operational scaling back due to economic pressures exacerbated by inflation and debt, the latter projected to hit $36 trillion this year. Furthermore, the rising costs affecting seniors' retirement funds due to inflation as well as the prospect of job-seeking seniors highlight the far-reaching impact of federal policies. As the election nears, Van Duyne stresses the importance of considering how current and future policies affect both small businesses and vulnerable populations.