‘Tax Reform Is Helping Hoosiers’

Hoosier Paychecks Going Up

SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “…tax reform is helping Hoosiers. Pat Williams, who lives in Southern Indiana, recently shared another tax reform success story with my friend Senator Young. Pat’s husband, Jim, works part-time in the U-Haul service center across the river in Louisville. He received a $500 tax reform bonus.” (Sen. McConnell, Floor Remarks, 3/22/2018)

SEN. TODD YOUNG (R-IN): “Chelsee [Hatfield] is a young mother of three. She is a teller at a rural branch of First Farmers Bank & Trust Company in Tipton, IN. Chelsee recently learned that she is going to receive a raise and a bonus as a result of tax reform. This additional income will help Chelsee go back to school and earn her associate's degree. It is also going to enable her to put money away for her children's college education…. Chelsee and the employees of First Farmers Bank & Trust represent so many regular Hoosiers who work in small towns and in our large cities, and they are going to see real benefits, substantial benefits, for themselves and their families. As a result, the entire State and country, of course, will benefit as well.” (Sen. Young, Congressional Record, S. 679, 2/07/2018)

• “In response to the recently passed legislation affecting corporate tax, Gene Miles, President and CEO of First Farmers Bank & Trust recently announced in a press release a new corporate wage and community support program that commits to four points of emphasis. 1. Raise the minimum hourly starting wage by $2.50 for all new FFBT employees. 2. Provide a minimum year-end bonus of $750 annually to all full-time FFBT employees. 3. Invest a minimum of $250,000 annually to community development and support of local branch markets. 4. Invest a minimum of $150,000 annually to FFBT employee development and education. ‘With this special opportunity, we are pleased to further our commitment to our community and to our people. Since 1885, First Farmers has prided itself in supporting the communities in which we serve and our employees are the primary reason for our corporate success and growth,’ Miles said.” (“First Farmers Bank Announces Employee Wage Raise,” Tribune Star, 12/30/2017)

• CHELSEE HATFIELD, First Farmers Bank & Trust employee: “I am currently taking university courses online and pursuing my associate’s degree. This raise and bonus will certainly be helpful in those expenses along with preparing for my kids college savings. These steps taken as a result of tax reform are specifically affecting me and small communities like my hometown of Windfall.” (Sen. Young, Press Release, 1/26/2018)

“Kelli Harding, constituent from Tell City, Indiana - Increase in her and her husband's paychecks ($335 a month) is being used for her children's college (529) accounts.” (Sen. Young, Constituent Mail, 2018)

“Alex Bettag, constituent from Terre Haute – Received a paycheck increase due to tax reform $600 a year.” (Sen. Young, Constituent Mail, 2018)

“Stewart Seeds, Greensburg, Indiana – Employee Mark Bartlow saw his pay increase $86 per two-week pay period.” (Sen. Young, Constituent Mail, 2018)

“Brian Wheeler, constituent from Brownstown, Indiana – Has never had dental insurance and was able to purchase it this year with what he is saving because of tax reform.” (Sen. Young, Constituent Mail, 2018)

“The growing challenge for Democrats [in opposing tax reform] was clear in comments from voters last week in Kokomo, a central Indiana town hit hard by the recession but creeping back toward prosperity thanks to auto industry jobs. As rain fell one weekday, residents found refuge in the small but cheery Markland Mall … Several spoke approvingly of the tax cuts and claimed that their paychecks had already gone up as a result.” (“As GOP Tax Cuts Take Hold, Democrats Struggle For Line Of Attack,” The Washington Post, 2/26/2018)

• “Brent Duff, 54, dismissed Democratic complaints that the majority of benefits would go to the wealthy while the middle class would make do with ‘crumbs,’ in the words of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). ‘I could be handing out ­hundred-dollar bills at the front of this building and someone would complain about it,’ scoffed Duff, who works at Aptiv, an automotive-parts technology company. The tax bill ‘has been a huge advantage,’ he said.” (“As GOP Tax Cuts Take Hold, Democrats Struggle For Line Of Attack,” The Washington Post, 2/26/2018)

• “Another [Kokomo, Indiana] resident, Joe Griffin, 32, stopped to chat … Griffin said he had noticed a $40 increase in his biweekly take-home pay from his factory job. He said the money would not make a huge difference, but it would allow him to treat his family of five to a few extra pizza dinners. ‘This is a step in the right direction,’ Griffin said. ‘Businesses are spending money.’” (“As GOP Tax Cuts Take Hold, Democrats Struggle For Line Of Attack,” The Washington Post, 2/26/2018)

Hoosiers ‘Are Looking Forward To Smaller Utility Bills’

SEN. MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “The good news about tax reform continues to sweep across the nation. … Ratepayers in many states are looking forward to smaller utility bills, thanks to our country’s new tax code. … The Northern Indiana Public Service Company reports that, thanks to tax reform, it will be able to pass $26 million dollars in new savings on to its customers.” (Sen. McConnell, Floor Remarks, 3/22/2018)

• “As a result of the newly enacted federal tax reform, NIPSCO submitted a request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to lower its previous request to modify natural gas base rates by $26 million.” (NIPSCO, Press Release, 1/29/2018)