Costello visits SeaStar Solutions
Congressman talks with employes about issues, tours facility
LIMERICK » American manufacturing, jobs and the impact of federal tax and trade policy were among the topics of discussion Friday when U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6th Dist., visited SeaStar Solutions.
The congressman’s visit came just one day after the House of Representatives passed a $1.5 trillion reform of the nation’s tax code. The measure must still be passed by the Senate.
SeaStar Solutions, 640 N. Lewis Road in Limerick, is one of the recreational boating industry’s largest global providers of products and accessories for boats.
“If you are a recreational boater it’s almost assured you have a SeaStar component on your boat — either made here or at one of our sister facilities,” said Robert Jameson, plant manager.
The company employs 150 at its Limerick facility.
“At this location, we manufacture components — steering and shift and throttle systems for recreational boats that are mechanical,” he said. The company has five other North American facilities. Additional products include hydraulic and electronic steering
components, controls and cables, engine and drive parts, instruments and displays among others, according to the company’s website.
Jameson said the company’s products supply every boat manufacturer and boating engine manufacturer in the country. In addition, SeaStar products are sold in Europe and Asia.
Before touring the 100,000-square-foot facility Friday, Costello addressed a group of SeaStar employees before taking questions. He spent the most amount of time talking about the just-passed tax reform legislation
Costello told the group that he believes reforming the country’s tax laws will grow the economy and put money back into the pockets of Americans.
“You’re hearing a lot of talk that we lowered rate for corporations but not for
hardworking Americans. The reality is we did lower the rate for hard working Americans,” Costello said, adding that the tax rate for “every single American is going down unless you’re in the top 39.5 percent bracket.”
Additionally, for those that itemize their tax returns, Costello said they will be capped at $10,000 on their property tax, which can be added to mortgage interest and charitable contributions.
The House Republican
tax plan would also reduce the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent, which Costello explained is predicted to result in wage growth.
“That means you can hire more, so you can do more equipment purchasing and immediately expense equipment purchases,” he said, adding that the proposed rate would put the U.S. more in line with where other countries are.
“We need to make sure we’re competitive in the global market and getting tax code consistent with the rest of the world and simplified too — is a net positive,” he said.
One thing Costello said he did not like about the tax proposal was the elimination of the deduction for medical expenses, which could only be taken if the expenses exceeded 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income.
“When you vote on these things, you don’t get to pick and choose the parts you vote for or against — it’s yes or no,” he said, adding he would like to see that deduction restored.
Costello said there is currently
a lot of misinformation being circulated about the proposal and added that the Senate must still finish its work on its bill.
“Once the Senate passes it, it goes to conference — and then we create a hybrid bill,” Costello said. “Over the next four or five weeks there will be a lot of discussion about this.”
Costello also spoke about trade, acknowledging that it is an important issue for SeaStar Solutions, which ships its products around the world.
“I think what the president is doing, trying to renegotiate NAFTA is wrong headed — and not the way to renegotiate,” Costello said, adding that by saying the U.S. should get out of NAFTA, a large amount of uncertainty can be created.
“Instead, the government should create more certainty so that those who have capital have a sense of confidence that they can invest and the government is not going to make it more expensive or confusing in order to invest,” he said.
In response to a question about environmental issues