With his party set to retain control of both branches of Congress, local voters have high expectations for President-elect Donald Trump.
His supporters in Johnson County are confident he can deliver on the promises he made as a candidate. Here is what three of them want to see Trump do.
Business owner
As the owner of a local Franklin business, Pickett Equipment Parts Inc., Jim Pickett said his chief concern is with how taxes, business and health care laws limit the ability of small businesses to grow and hire more employees.He has supported Trump since the Republican announced his candidacy in 2015. He’d like to see health care reform changed so that premiums are more affordable.
He used to pay all of his employees health care insurance costs, but now he can’t, Pickett said.
The war on coal also needs to be put to an end, Pickett said.
He supports clean energy, but believes that clean coal is a legitimate option for the U.S. The crackdown on coal has cost many people their jobs, Pickett said.
Tax breaks are also needed for small businesses who want to expand, hire more employees and grow, he said.
Retiree
For one Greenwood man, repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act should be at the top of the to-do list for Trump.If the GOP majority doesn’t enact change, they won’t stay in office for long, William Reisa said.
Negotiating better trade deals, so that the U.S. doesn’t have a trade deficit, is also a must, he said.
Steps need to be taken to discourage businesses from fleeing the U.S. for offshore production, Reisa said. That could include high taxes on the products those businesses try to send back into the country.
He also wants to see former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton investigated for the attack in Benghazi and her use of a private email server, he said.
Republican official
Health care, future members of the Supreme Court, economic development and national security will be the top issues immediately facing Trump when he takes the oath of office Jan. 20, Johnson County Republican Party Vice Chairman Jeff Colvin said.Colvin expects Trump to make some substantial changes and introduce initiatives on those four hot button issues.
Colvin also wants to see Trump address unbalanced trade deals.
But to do so, the president-elect will need to surround himself with good, conservative advisers, he said.
