Congressman Greg Walden, R-Hood River, did not raise his voice while in Union County Tuesday as he discussed the positive impact he believes the tax cuts Congress approved in December 2017 are now having.

Walden instead let percolating economic statistics serve as his amplifier.

“One million new jobs have been added since the tax cuts took effect,” said Walden, speaking at the Barreto Manufacturing plant at the La Grande Airport Industrial Park during and unannounced visit.

Walden was referring to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which overall is the largest one-time reduction in the corporate tax rate in U.S. history, from 35 percent down to 21 percent. The bill has also lowered taxes for the vast majority of Americans as well as small-business owners — at least until some of the cuts expire in eight years.

Walden said an Oregon family of four with a household income of $70,000, which is the median income in the state, will pay almost $2,000 less a year in income taxes due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

“This is not (a few) crumbs,” Walden said. “It is real money in the pockets of Oregonians.”

The congressman also noted the nation’s unemployment rate, now at 3.9 percent, is the lowest it has been in at least 30 years. Walden said the low rate is creating a problem for employers, who are having trouble finding people to hire.

“Companies can not fill positions with workers,” Walden said.

Workers now have opportunities as a result.

See complete story in Wednesday’s Observer