Kip Tom spotlighted in Trump's address in Indianapolis Wednesday.
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Dan Spalding-dspalding@timesuniononline.com
INDIANAPOLIS – Kip Tom isn’t only just an example of a farmer who worries about the so-called death tax and its impact on farm families.
He occasionally happens to have the ear of the president.
The 62-year-old Leesburg man and chairman of one of Indiana’s largest farming operations, Tom sat near the front of a group of about 100 people invited to President Donald Trump’s speech in Indianapolis Wednesday that was used to unveil details of a proposed massive and potentially historic tax overhaul plan.
He was one of three Indiana men in the audience spotlighted by Trump during the speech who would benefit as a result of proposals under his plan.
Tom’s family has built its livelihood over the past 187 years – spanning seven generations – and Trump touted those circumstances in his speech to lobby for rolling back the estate tax, which is assessed after a death when large amounts of related property are being transferred.
Currently, the first $11 million of an inheritance are exempt from taxation.
“That inheritance could come to an end because of the death tax – or estate tax – and could make it impossible to pass that legacy to his wonderful family,” Trump said about Tom.
“We’re not going to let that happen. We are not going to allow the death tax to steal away the American Dream from these great families,” Trump said.
Tom met with Trump momentarily before the speech at the Indiana Fairgrounds, but it’s not the first time they’ve talked.
The former Congressional candidate was considered earlier this year to serve as secretary of agriculture when Trump was assembling his administration. Tom was one of many considered for cabinet posts who met with Trump at Trump Tower in New York City.
Ultimately, Former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue was chosen to oversee the U.S. Ag Department, but that didn’t mean the end of communications between Trump and Tom.
“You don’t have to be there to make an impact,” Tom said afterward while sitting outside the Farm Bureau Building at the Indiana Fairgrounds.
Tom said he finds Trump to be very approachable and willing to listen.
“I was worried about going in a room and I?would just be listening to him, but he wanted to listen, hear your story and what your beliefs were,” Tom said. “The conversations I’ve had with him are good.”
He said he views the chance to talk with Trump about various issues as an opportunity to “advocate for normal, American values.”
“I’m not representing an industry, association or anything like that. I just go out there by myself, pay my own airfare (and) go see him – and I’ve been there a lot.”
“I want to advocate for rural America, communities like Warsaw, Goshen, New Paris, what’s important to us.”
Trump delivered a 40-minute speech that was overwhelmingly policy-oriented as he explained various facets of the proposal.
One of the over-arching themes is to “Make taxes simple, easy and fair for all Americans,” while making other changes that would propel the economy.
Among other things, Trump proposed reducing the number of tax brackets from seven to three while also lowering rates for individuals, small businesses and corporations.
Specifically, he wants taxable income rates set at 12, 25 and 35 percent, and wants to implement a system in which a “vast majority of Americans will be able to file their taxes on a single sheet of paper.”
“If we want to renew our prosperity, restore our opportunity, and re-establish our economic dominance – which is what we should be doing – then we need tax reform that is pro-growth, pro-jobs, pro-worker, pro-family and, yes, pro-American,” Trump said.
Trump also credited Vice President Mike Pence for his work in cutting taxes and regulations in Indiana when he served as governor, saying some of what Indiana has achieved can be done on the federal level.
Tom said he was “very impressed” with Trump’s overall message and glad that Trump spotlighted Indiana’s policy changes that have helped boost the state’s economy during the tenures of Pence and former Gov. Mitch Daniels.
The moves helped reduce the jobless rate and create hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs, according to the White House.
“It goes to show that if you have a tax-friendly state, a business-friendly state, that will attract jobs,” Tom said.
Wednesday’s event attracted U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski from the 2nd District as well as both U.S. Sens. Todd Young and Joe Donnelly, both of whom traveled with Trump to Indianapolis.
As he has done at other policy events with other lawmakers, Trump called for bipartisan support and then sent a political message to Donnelly, who is widely considered to be one of the most vulnerable Democrats running for re-election in 2018.
If Donnelly doesn’t support the plan, “We will come here, we will campaign against him like never before,” Trump said as the room packed with Republicans erupted with hoots, whistles and loud applause.
“That caught me a little off-guard,” Tom said. “It’s a pretty strong message.”
