Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign brought a U.S. senator together with a number of Democratic candidates, lawmakers, and small business owners in Bristol Borough on Friday.
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During the campaign event, Democrats touted economic proposals by Harris for small businesses.
The Democrats also took the opportunity to criticize the “Project 2025” plan created by a conservative group and current and former associates of former President Donald Trump, which proposes sweeping changes to the country. Trump has attempted to distance himself from the plan after criticism of the proposal to reshape government, business, and culture.
Democratic congressional hopeful Ashley Ehasz said she understood the significance of local support for businesses and highlighted Harris’ proposal to increase the startup tax deduction from $5,000 to $50,000.
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“Our community knows that, up and down the ballot, starting, of course, with Vice President Harris, we have champions of small businesses running for office and who are making support for them front and center,” Ehasz said.
Local business owner Kyra Brinson, of Bristol Borough’s Business Club, where the event was held, shared her experiences. She stated how proposed tax credits and streamlined processes could help her and other small businesses.
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Brinson said she looks forward to “someone as elegant, resilient, educated and strong as Kamala Harris being our leader.”
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) contrasted Harris’ policies with those of Donald Trump and stated that the current administration focuses on empowering small businesses, which are vital to the national economy.
“Small businesses are a huge deal in our economy, from restaurants to repair shops, from coffee shops to car washes, from tech startups to tile installers,” Klobuchar said.
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She added: “They might call them ‘small’ businesses, but they’re a huge part of our economy.”
Klobuchar also detailed Harris’ goals, which include the addition of millions of small businesses nationwide, simplification of the new business regulatory process, and improved access to loans for growth.
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State Rep. Tina Davis shared a personal testimony about the impact of federal support on her family’s Bristol Township-based trucking business.
“We’re the business owners of a small trucking company, but one of the reasons why we stayed open was because President Biden and Vice President Harris helped us with loans. We have been in business for 45 years, and we would not have been able to do that without their help,” said Davis. “Don’t think you’ll get this from Donald Trump, because it will not be happening. He cares only about the bigger corporations and cutting taxes for the billionaires, but not for us–or our small businesses here.”
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Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie spoke about the “Opportunity Economy” that Harris is looking to create.
The commissioner said Harris’ proposal would create an “economy that allows small business owners to fulfill their dreams and to build a business that can serve their community, help others and put their dreams to action.”
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Bucks County Commissioner Chairperson Diane Ellis-Marseglia highlighted the contrast between the Biden-Harris administration’s support during the COVID-19 pandemic and the tax increases on small businesses, Democrats say, will be proposed under Trump’s plan.
The visiting U.S. senator met with representatives from several longtime borough businesses.
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the event.
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At events and on his social media accounts, Trump has said his second administration, if elected, would offer help to small businesses.
Publisher Tom Sofield contributed to this article.
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