Rep. Roger Williams Says Rate Cut, Tax Changes and Higher SBA Loan Limits Will Help 'Main Street'
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Summary
Rep. Roger Williams argued that a Federal Reserve rate cut, permanent tax changes and recent increases to SBA loan limits will spur hiring and expansion for small businesses; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries countered that Republicans have not delivered on lowering costs.
Congressman Roger Williams (R-Tex.) said Wednesday that small businesses, bruised by a recent government shutdown, are resilient and primed to expand if borrowing costs fall and tax rules favor reinvestment.
"Main Street businesses are very resilient, and, they're ready to go," Williams said in an interview, describing himself as a small-business owner. He said declining interest rates would be the "last component" needed to "turn this economy on," and predicted "we could have another rate cut in December." He added: "If we can start offering rates in the fives, that does a lot for consumers."
Williams pointed to legislative changes he said will help small firms, calling a pending tax package a "big beautiful bill" that would make tax cuts permanent and allow "100% expensing." He also cited an example for family farmers, saying there is a "$30,000,000" cap related to inheritance that he said is part of the package.
On small-business lending, Williams described an increase in SBA loan size for manufacturers, saying loan limits moved "from 5 to $10,000,000," which he said will expand access to capital and enable businesses to grow and hire.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), quoted by the host, disputed Republican claims on costs and economic promises. "Donald Trump and Republicans lied to the American people repeatedly last year when they said they were gonna lower cost," Jeffries said, arguing that costs have not fallen.
Williams rejected the suggestion that Republicans had failed to deliver on economic promises. "I think we have," he said, asserting the GOP's record on jobs and criticizing Democrats for what he described as a lack of business experience.
The exchange centered on differing political interpretations of recent economic trends: Williams emphasized inventory rebuilds, returning manufacturing investment and the role of lower rates and tax policy in encouraging hiring; Jeffries framed the argument as a record of unfulfilled promises on the cost of living.
The interview closed after Williams reiterated his optimism for small businesses and thanked the host.