MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann on Wednesday praised President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, calling it “one of the better speeches” he has heard from the president and pointing to tax cuts and border security as key priorities affecting Kansans.
Appearing on BW radio the morning after the address, Mann, who represents Kansas’ 1st Congressional District, said Trump effectively outlined what he described as major accomplishments during the first year of his second term and charted a vision for the year ahead.
“I thought it was an incredible speech,” Mann said. “He did a great job outlining the successes of the first year of his term and really charted a vision for our country this next year.”
Mann said a line that stood out to him was Trump’s assertion that he inherited “a nation in crisis” but had delivered what the president called a “turnaround for the ages.”
He also highlighted moments in which Trump recognized U.S. men’s hockey gold medal winners and awarded two Congressional Medals of Honor, calling those tributes “well deserved” and reflective of national pride.
Mann said he was surprised by what he viewed as limited bipartisan participation during portions of the speech. He pointed to a moment when Trump asked members of Congress to stand if they believed protecting American citizens is the government’s top priority.
“When you have half the chamber not willing to stand for that, that really surprised me,” Mann said, adding that the partisan divide could become one of the defining memories of the evening.
While acknowledging growing political divisions in Washington, Mann said there remain areas of bipartisan agreement. He cited support for preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and backing for the STOCK Act, legislation that would prohibit members of Congress from trading individual stocks. Mann said he is a co-sponsor of the measure.
“The most divisive issues are typically what the national media covers,” Mann said. “But there are bipartisan agreements on a whole host of issues.”
Turning to economic policy, Mann said recent federal tax changes are having a direct impact on Kansas families, farmers and small business owners. He referenced the "Working Families Tax Cuts" legislation passed last summer, which took effect Jan. 1.
According to Mann, without congressional action, Kansans would have faced an average federal income tax increase of about $2,200.
“Instead of increasing taxes, we were able to reduce taxes,” Mann said.
He pointed to provisions that lowered basic tax rates, eliminated taxes on overtime and tips, reduced taxes on Social Security income and lowered estate and capital gains taxes. Mann said those measures are particularly important in rural communities across western Kansas.
Mann represents the “Big First” District, which includes Hutchinson and much of the state.
The president’s address comes amid continued national debate over economic policy, border security and the role of government — issues Mann said remain top concerns for constituents in his district.