Latest news with #Tillis
Boston Globe
4 hours ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Trump's tax bill has become a battlefield for tobacco giants
Industries from finance to health care to clean energy are pouring millions of dollars into Washington to influence the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the legislative centerpiece of President Donald Trump's second-term agenda. Programs or tax laws worth hundreds of billions of dollars to various companies are at stake. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The lobbying effort over the tobacco tax could be one of the most expensive ones this year. Advertisement The 'duty drawback' tax policy at issue makes it easier for U.S. firms to export their leaf. Some companies buy tobacco from farmers, ship it overseas to be assembled into cigarettes, cigars and other products, then import the finished product. Because final assembly of the product did not take place domestically, the companies receive a rebate on federal taxes and certain import duties. Companies that manufacture tobacco products in the United States, such as Altria, which largely does not sell finished products outside the country, do not receive the same tax rebates. Advertisement 'This has ended up being quite an arm-wrestling competition between one of our domestic companies and everybody else,' said Ray Starling, general counsel for the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Altria, the parent company of Philip Morris USA and the firm pushing to end the tobacco tax treatment, has spent nearly $5 million lobbying Congress on this legislation and other issues through the first two quarters of 2025, according to federal disclosures. The two firms that benefit the most from the tax break - British American Tobacco, which owns RJ Reynolds, and Japan Tobacco International - have each spent $170,000 on lobbying in the same period. During Trump's first term, his administration attempted through executive action to eliminate the drawback program tobacco companies and some other exporters use, but that policy was blocked in court. At Tillis's urging, the Senate Finance Committee eliminated the drawback provision from its version of the tax bill, which would preserve the tax rebate. Now each chamber of Congress is competing over the legislation's final form. Budget hawks in each chamber are wary of the price tag of the legislation - it could add $3.3 trillion to the national debt over 10 years when factoring in its effect on the wider economy, the Congressional Budget Office reported Tuesday. That makes any provision that could reduce the legislation's cost increasingly attractive. New polling from The Washington Post and Ipsos found Americans broadly oppose the measure, and especially dislike proposals to cut anti-poverty and anti-hunger programs to offset the bill's tax cuts. Tillis told The Post that 'we have to' find a new policy to replace the $12 billion in revenue that ending the rebates bring in. But eliminating the subsidy would harm farmers in his state, he said, which is why he wants to keep the rebates in place. The tobacco industry contributes $31 billion annually to North Carolina's economy, according to the John Locke Foundation, a conservative think tank. Advertisement 'They have a disagreement on this policy, but they're partners. It's classic 'coopetition,'' said Tillis, using a term that describes when two competing companies rely on a shared infrastructure. For tobacco firms, many contract with the same growers for various types of leaf. 'At the end of the day, it's the impact on growers I have the concern with.' An Altria spokesperson said in a statement that the drawback amounts to 'the U.S. government providing a direct cash subsidy to tobacco companies,' and said firms could more aggressively take advantage of the rebate if Congress does not close the 'loophole.' An RJ Reynolds spokesperson said the provision 'poses a serious threat to North Carolina's economy, with potentially devastating consequences for farmers.' That's because tobacco growers rely on the plant to help financially support a host of other crops, said Kimberly Foley, executive director of Tobacco Associates, a grower-run trade group. Tobacco is aggressive to grow and can be disease-prone if not rotated with other crops, so growers frequently group tobacco with sweet potatoes, corn, fruits and vegetables, said Starling, who grew up on a tobacco farm. Without the tax rebate, which helps tobacco companies afford to buy the crop at higher prices, that multi-crop farming framework can make it so farms struggle to turn a profit. 'Tobacco is what's carrying everything else,' Foley said. 'Losing volume for tobacco either takes away their primary income opportunity on the farm and their most reliable income opportunity on the farm … or we lose the functionality and the logistical capabilities of the farm.' Advertisement The issue could resonate in North Carolina's closely watched 2026 Senate race, which could help determine control of the upper chamber after the midterm elections. Democrats are recruiting former governor Roy Cooper to jump in the race to try to unseat Tillis. Democratic Rep. Wiley Nickel has already declared his candidacy. PACs and individuals associated with Altria and British American Tobacco are significant Tillis donors, according to OpenSecrets, which tracks corporate spending and political influence. Altria's political finance arm and people associated with the company gave more than $77,000 to Tillis and his PACs between 2019 and 2024; BAT contributed more than $44,000. But beyond the manufacturers, tobacco growers - and the regional cachet the plant holds - are a potent force and sympathetic symbol in Tar Heel State politics. 'Tobacco is still very culturally relevant in North Carolina,' said Starling, who was a senior adviser to Tillis in the state House of Representatives and later his Senate chief of staff. 'There's a big contingency of tobacco alumni, people who grew up around it, and it helped them buy their first pair of tennis shoes. I think there's a lot of respect for the industry and the hard work and work ethic that people engaged in the industry have shown.'
The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
GOP senator criticizes Padilla being wrestled to floor
North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis (R) on Wednesday criticized the forceful removal of Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference last week, while also critiquing his 'inappropriate' behavior. Tillis said the incident, which followed a handful of escalations with Democratic lawmakers, was 'disgusting' during a speech on the floor. 'There were clearly people in that building that knew he was a U.S. senator. So the minute he was removed from that situation in that briefing room, then they should have treated him with respect and allowed him to disperse,' Tillis said Wednesday. 'It was disgusting to me to see somebody wrestle to the floor, anybody, but particularly a U.S. senator that's in a federal building,' he added. Padilla was escorted to the news conference by federal agents and was handcuffed after trying to ask a question during DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's remarks. 'We have daily, weekly press conference out here with leadership. We've got a press room on the third floor. I wonder if we're actually saying it's OK for me to run out here and interrupt Sen. Schumer while he's giving his opening statements to a presser to ask him a question,' Tillis said, referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). 'I think that that's inappropriate. … Sen. Padilla should have found a better way to elevate his concerns to the secretary of Homeland Security rather than going in there and having that dust-up,' he added. Padilla has defended his actions and said the Thursday incident makes him fear for the treatment of immigrants. 'I will say this: If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question, I can only imagine what they're doing to farmworkers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country,' the California lawmaker said during a separate press conference last week. Tillis on Wednesday cautioned elected officials to think twice before handling concerns with the policies of federal law enforcement. 'I would just say to those who are tempted now to think that they can act like they're off the hinge and they should interrupt a press conference or threaten police officials to arrest them, to think twice. Step up and be leaders. If you've got a point, don't go trying to trend on social media by getting in somebody's face,' Tillis said. 'Make a point. You want to make a point, that's what you do. You want to make a difference, then come to the Senate floor and try to figure out how to get your policies through,' he added. 'That's how this place should work.'
Axios
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
N.C. swing-voter focus groups: Negative on Tillis while supporting Trump
A majority of North Carolina swing voters in our latest Engagious / Sago focus groups expressed skepticism about re-electing N.C. Sen. Thom Tillis, even as they broadly support President Trump's policies, especially on immigration. Why it matters: While a focus group is not a statistically significant sample like a poll, the responses show how some voters are thinking and talking about current events. The big picture: The Trump-to-Biden voters' said they could not point to any actions he has taken as senator, and only one of the 12 focus group attendees said they would be likely to vote for him. "After more than a decade, Sen. Tillis remains largely unknown to these North Carolina swing voters," said Rich Thau, President of Engagious, who moderated the focus groups. State of play: Tillis, who faced some backlash from Republicans for his stances on some Trump appointees, looks likely to face a tough re-election campaign next year — especially if former N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, enters the race. How it works: Axios observed two Engagious / Sago online focus groups Tuesday night comprising 12 North Carolinians, all of whom said they voted for Biden in 2020, then Trump in 2024. Nine are independents and three are Republicans. What they're saying: "I['ve] just seen so much stuff on TV ... around election time that just had a bad imprint on my mind. You say his name, it's like saying Joe Biden to me," Ashley B., 36, of Arden, said of Tillis. "He hasn't done much for North Carolina, in my opinion," Karen L, 61, of Wilmington said. Driving the news: Top of mind for the focus group, however, was the topic of immigration, especially with so much media coverage focused on anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles. A majority of the focus group said they support President Trump's deportations and activation of the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles, despite reservations about extremism and civil rights violations. Seven of 12 panelists said they support the president's activation of the National Guard and Marines in L.A. despite Gov. Gavin Newsom's and local officials' objections. Three disapproved; two didn't have an opinion. Between the lines: Several panelists cited concerns about the economy, tariffs and political corruption. A majority objected to Trump's moves to cut university research (though many were unsure of the nature of the cuts) as well as the prospect of Medicaid cuts as part of the spending and tax-cut bill before Congress. Research funding cuts are already leading to job and investment cuts at UNC and Duke, both among the state's largest employers. After a decade of debate, Medicaid was expanded in North Carolina last year by the Republican-led General Assembly, giving hundreds of thousands of people coverage. "The people that need [Medicaid benefits], I mean they really need them," said Kimberly S., 37, of Sanford. "They need to be able to survive with medications and things like that."
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Expert warns 'China Shock' on manufacturing that struck one state could spread to the rest of the country via the 'Big Beautiful Bill': 'A chilling effect'
Few states were hit harder by "the China Shock" than North Carolina. Now, few are seeing a bigger manufacturing revival. This is an economic turnaround story that every American should hear. After China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, factory jobs in North Carolina collapsed — especially in textiles, apparel, and furniture. Entire communities in places like Hickory and Alamance County saw their local economies hollowed out. Between 2000 and 2010, the state lost nearly 330,000 manufacturing jobs — that's almost half its industrial workforce gone in less than a decade. The Great Recession accelerated those job losses as companies invested in automation. Since then, manufacturing jobs have been basically flat. But that could soon change. In 2022, Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act — the largest investment in clean energy and advanced manufacturing in U.S. history. North Carolina has emerged as one of the biggest winners of this law. Companies have flocked to the state, investing more than $20 billion in new advanced manufacturing facilities. These factories are expected to generate thousands of jobs. This manufacturing renaissance could come to an early end if the IRA is repealed as part of the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill." To that end, few U.S. senators will hold more sway in these negotiations than Thom Tillis from North Carolina. Tillis has voiced concern about killing the IRA, and he was one of four senators who publicly supported the protection of clean energy incentives. North Carolina has benefited from $23 billion in clean energy manufacturing investments since the IRA passed. If the law is repealed, the state could lose 17,500 future jobs. Tillis has warned that an abrupt repeal would create "whiplash" for investors and "devastate" America's ability to remain an innovation leader. Should the government continue to give tax incentives for energy-efficient home upgrades? Absolutely No Depends on the upgrade I don't know Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. An immediate phaseout, he told The Washington Post, would "have a chilling effect" on "future investments" in the domestic energy sector. In fact, the manufacturing renaissance resulting from the Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill has amounted to a 279% increase in manufacturing across America. Whether that manufacturing growth will continue may be up to the senators debating the Big Beautiful Bill in Congress. Editor's note: If you want to use your voice to make a difference, you can look up how to contact your own state senators here — whether or not (and perhaps especially if not) they appear on this list. Michael Thomas is the founder of Cleanview, a platform that helps clean energy leaders track the energy transition in real-time, and the author of a newsletter about climate change, Distilled, that has been read by more than 50 million people. Follow Michael on LinkedIn here, where this post appeared in its original form, or subscribe to his newsletter here. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sen. Thom Tillis avoids censure at NCGOP convention despite MAGA backlash
Back in 2023, the North Carolina Republican Party censured Sen. Thom Tillis during its annual convention for 'blatant violations' of the party's platform. This year, after Tillis opposed some of President Donald Trump's nominees and policies and MAGA conservatives pushed for a 2026 primary challenger, another censure vote seemed possible. But at the party's convention, which took place from June 5 through Sunday, no such action was taken, signaling a smoother path to re-election for Tillis — at least for now. 'Republicans across the state look forward to a robust primary and the convention shows Republicans are unified to keep our Senate seat to ensure President Trump's agenda has the votes in Congress to continue delivering for the American people,' said NCGOP spokesperson Matt Mercer in a message following the convention, held this year in Greensboro. Mercer said no censure motions were introduced this year. MAGA Republicans have taken issue with Tillis in the past few months for questioning Trump's pick of Pete Hegseth, as Defense secretary, though, Tillis ultimately voted for Hegseth. Tillis told Trump he wouldn't confirm Ed Martin as the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia due to their differing views on the Jan. 6 insurrectionists. Tillis says he has 'no tolerance for anyone who entered' the Capitol on Jan. 6. Tillis is also pushing back on provisions within a more than 1,000-page reconciliation bill that Trump and House Republicans named the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act.' Chief among Tillis' concerns are 'no tax on tips,' a campaign promise Trump made, and cutting clean energy tax credits. The friction is not new. Since joining the Senate, Tillis has found himself at odds with far-right factions of his party for his willingness to work with Democrats and decisions they've seen as disloyal to Trump. Once widely favored by the party, Tillis' favorability is on shaky ground. Tillis has been a mainstay in North Carolina politics, beginning his political career on local boards in Cornelius before being elected in 2006 to the North Carolina House. There, Tillis worked his way into leadership positions, and served as the House Republican Caucus campaign chairman where he traveled across the state recruiting Republicans to run for office. He is credited with playing a significant role in taking the House majority away from Democrats. Republican House members rewarded him by electing him speaker of the House, where he led the chamber through debates on same-sex marriage, election laws, Medicaid expansion and restructuring the state tax code. By the time he ran against Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan, The New York Times called Tillis 'a favorite among the party establishment.' But that sentiment faded as Tillis found his footing in Congress and established himself as a moderate willing to work with Democrats to get major pieces of legislation passed. That led to Tillis' first censure in 2023, for voting in favor of same-sex marriage and working on the largest piece of gun legislation passed in 30 years. Two years prior, the state party censured then-Sen. Richard Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican, after he voted to impeach President Donald Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Tillis, 64, a Huntersville Republican, is running for a third term in 2026. He was first elected in 2014, defeating Hagan, who served one term. And he's one of 53 Republicans helping to hold the party's slim majority in the Senate, over the minority's 47 seats. MAGA conservatives have taken to social media to call for a primary challenger to Tillis in 2026, though no candidate has emerged. Contenders they floated early on included names like former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson or Lara Trump. She's the president's daughter-in-law, who grew up in North Carolina but resides in Florida and just joined Fox News. Neither seem likely. Don Brown, a retired Navy JAG officer, and Andy Nilsson, a retired businessman, threw their names out to challenge Tillis, but neither have large name recognition. Democrats are waiting to learn whether former Gov. Roy Cooper, who left office in January after being term-limited out, will challenge Tillis. Former Rep. Wiley Nickel, a Democrat from Cary who has a history of winning challenging races but has not yet run statewide, jumped ahead of Cooper and announced he would seek the Democratic nomination. Tillis announced last week he has added big names to his campaign team including three people who served on Trump's reelection campaign: Tony Fabrizio, Tim Saler and Jim McCray. The 2026 election in North Carolina is expected to be the most expensive Senate race in U.S. history, a record Tillis broke twice in his race against Hagan and again in 2020 against attorney Cal Cunningham.
