Small businesses need action on tax reform

When it comes to tax reform, we cannot afford to let Congress continue the all-talk-no-action approach that it seems to take with so many other issues that impact Pennsylvania businesses and families.

Congress must reform our tax code to allow businesses to grow — and it must do it without delay.

U.S. businesses already face a higher corporate tax rate than companies in any other industrialized nation. Small, local businesses like mine — Mahoney’s Restaurant and Lounge in Downtown’s Cultural District — end up on the hook for even more when you factor in state and local taxes.

Add to that the fact that the U.S. tax code is a twisted, confusing mess full of loopholes that help only larger corporations, and you get a pretty hostile business environment. Every year, it seems, we must divert more and more resources just to prepare for tax day. These are costs large firms may be able to absorb, but for me, it means less money to reinvest in growing my business and creating new jobs.

Congress needs to simplify and update our confusing, broken tax code and lower the corporate tax rate. It’s time to help businesses grow, create jobs and improve our communities.

ELIAS KAZAS Owner, Mahoney’s Restaurant

Downtown depending on which party he or she belongs to. Who cares? Each person’s opinion should be taken individually.

There’s too much hate. Even though I don’t agree with President Donald Trump’s politics, and I certainly didn’t vote for him, I still don’t hate him. All people have to be kind to each other, no matter where we’re from, what we look like or what we believe in.

There are too many guns out there that put so many of us in danger. Whoever invented assault and nuclear weapons should be in prison for life. What good would a nuclear attack be for anyone? It would be the start of the end of the world.

The Carnegie Mellon University student helping the people of Puerto Rico is a true hero and humanitarian. She is a great example for the White House.

There is no need to display swastikas or Confederate flags now. We’ve seen enough of hate and murders due to those symbols already. I thought we were supposed to learn from our mistakes in the past.

We have had no choice on where or when we were born in this world ... why can’t we all just get along? There is too much crudeness out there when compassion should be given instead. MARCY TUSZYNSKI

Ingram

We welcome your opinion

speaking out about the disrespect toward our president (“Trump Treated Badly,” Oct. 22 letters). It is to the point of becoming obnoxious.

I always enjoyed “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” but every night it is the same thing ... bash bash bash the president. Mr. Kimmel even has a skit called Drunk Donald Trump in which they slow his speech down to make him sound smashed — and Mr. Trump is a teetotaler! The audience might think these jokes are funny, but they are so disrespectful to the leader of these United States.

I change the channel to another, and it is the same thing from all the shows. The joke is over. It isn’t funny anymore! CLAUDIA BENCH LANG

Baldwin Borough