The 70th episode of the “Small Business Rundown” podcast features NFIB Member Rodney Wideman, a Missouri small business owner, and Rep. Jason Smith, Chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee (MO-08). In the episode, they discuss how Congress stood up for Main Street by making the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction permanent.

CLICK HERE to listen to the full conversation.

Wideman is a third-generation owner of his family business, Wideman Pools, which specializes in fiberglass pools. During the conversation, Wideman noted that greater certainty in the tax code has allowed him to invest in his businesses, purchase new equipment, and create more jobs.

“Like most business owners, our biggest expense is our taxes,” Wideman said. “Honestly, almost more than wages. Just having the certainty of knowing where that is gives us a lot more confidence and insight into how to invest and how to manage things. And also, where to keep pricing at for our customers, where to keep wages at for our employees to stay competitive and have a productive business.”

Chairman Smith played a key role in making the 20% Small Business Deduction permanent. He highlighted how tax certainty will support Main Street businesses.

“I expect they’ll invest and grow in their business, in their workforce, in wages,” Smith said. “It’s going to benefit the worker, the families, it’s going to benefit the economy just because of the revenues that will be coming in and the investment that is going into the employees.”

When asked why it is so important for small business owners to reach out to their lawmakers, Chairman Smith said:

“It is so important because their stories, their struggles, their issues have a much greater impact when they talk to their lawmaker,” Smith said. “I would encourage your listeners, stay engaged with your lawmakers. Make sure that they hear the issues and the concerns that you have so that those lawmakers will be ready and willing to respond appropriately.”