Has everyone been getting a barrage of mailings and TV ads about the horrible things Tom Kean has done to make your coffee more expensive by voting for tariffs and tax cuts for billionaires? He may also have caused the coffee blight or the drought that held back coffee production last year. Tom Kean seems a nice, intelligent enough young man trying to help the state and country like his father before him.
A few things to note: First off, tariffs were never voted on, and the President cut the tariffs on coffee cocoa, beef and bananas last November. Secondly the “Big Beautiful Bill” (BBB or HR1 of 2025) had the largest tax cuts for the lower and middle class that we’ve ever seen—these include no taxes on tips, overtime, or senior’s retirement withdrawals, an increased child tax credit and adoption credits, various tax relief and aide for Indian tribal govts. and agricultural concerns, help for K-12 students whose states opt in, business opportunity zones, Health Savings Accts. (HSA) and tele-health expansion, Trump accounts for babies and children—with babies getting $1,000 automatically put in to an IRA acct. to be accessed when they turn 18 (Sign up on line), and many restrictions lifted. Look at your IRS refund. It may be the largest you ever got. The wonderful thing about tariffs is their magical ability to settle disputes around the world without violence or high costs and bring production back to the U.S., all because of our sometimes ridiculous penchant for buying stuff. No one wants to lose their best customer. Pres. Obama asked how a president could bring manufacturing back here—a magic wand?? Yes, a magical tariff wand. Ever since WWII our country bent over backwards with low or no tariffs to help the world get back on its feet. Now with international companies moving production here, we can move people from poverty to the middle class with the most dignified and effective remedy. Jobs.
Luann Byrne
Stanhope
