PERRY TWP. − As Vice President JD Vance spoke at the Metallus Faircrest Steel Plant July 28 to discuss the recently passed “Big Beautiful Bill,” Metallus employees and local politicians in the audience cheered the Trump administration’s efforts to lower taxes and encourage domestic manufacturing.
Vance highlighted pieces of the legislation that permanently extend 2017 income tax cuts and allow some workers to deduct some tipped wages and overtime from their taxes.
“We happen to believe that you all work very hard for your money,” Vance said. “You ought to keep it, not the federal government.”
The bill pays for some of the tax cuts by overhauling Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The new provisions impose work requirements and tighten eligibility.
Vance also discussed policies to grant tax breaks to companies looking to build or expand manufacturing facilities in the United States and impose broad tariffs on foreign goods.
Metallus, a local steelmaker, has previously praised Trump’s policies to increase tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.
Vice President JD Vance spoke at the Metallus Faircrest Steel Plant July 28 to discuss the recently passed “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Stark County politicians discuss ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
Stark County Commissioner Richard Regula praised policies on tax cuts and business incentives.
He said the policy to limit tax on overtime will benefit people in Stark County.
“That’s going to put extra money in people’s pockets that they’ll go out and spend in Stark County,” Regula said. “I think you’ll get more people that will want to work a little bit of overtime.”
Stark County Commissioner Richard Regula and U.S. Rep. Max Miller talk after Vice President JD Vance visited the Metallus Faircrest plant in Perry Township.
The provision to impose Medicaid work requirements has some pros and cons, Regula said.
“The Medicaid provision is a concern to me, but I like that if you want to work and you’re an able-bodied person, (you’ll be encouraged to),” he said. “Because we need workers.”
In Stark County, just under 93,000 people, or about a quarter of the population, were enrolled in Medicaid in June, according to data from the Ohio Department of Medicaid.
Stark County Commissioner Bill Smith voiced support for tariff policies. He said it will benefit Metallus and other local manufacturers.
“He’s put some business sense into it,” he said. “Getting these jobs back in this country is the biggest thing.”
Extending federal income tax cuts was necessary, Smith said.
“Those tax breaks were going to expire. Once you get used to that, how do you go back?” he said. “It’s kind of tough right now. As things have went up, wages are taking a little longer to get there.”
Alan Harold, Stark County commissioner, and State Sen. Jane Timken were among those attending Vice President JD Vance’s remarks at Metallus’ Faircrest plant in Perry Township.
The legislation prioritizes the American worker, State Sen. Jane Timken, R-Jackson Township said, and the impact will be especially felt in Stark County.
“Stark County is almost a microcosm of the rest of the country,” she said. “We have a lot of industrial base, we have a lot of production that requires overtime, and especially we have a lot of people who rely on tips.”
‘It’s obscene.’ Protestors gather, wave signs outside Vance appearance
Sue Jacobs, a retired Canton resident, stood across the street from Metallus to protest the vice president’s visit.
Jacobs opposes changes to Medicaid included in the “Big Beautiful Bill,” aka the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. She worries two disabled family members could lose their healthcare coverage because of the new work requirements.
“That’s all they have,” she said. “What’s all these people going to do?”
Chris McCarthy, Don Tolbert and Sue Jacobs protest across the street from Metallus Faircrest Steel Plant in Perry Township, where Vice President JD Vance visited to discuss the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Chris McCarthy of Trumbull County wants to see policies that expand access to healthcare and strengthen unions. He said the Big Beautiful Bill will overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy and hurt the poor.
“It’s degraded to a bunch of wealthy people stuffing their pockets with our tax dollars,” he said. “It’s obscene.”
Don Tolbert of Carroll County held a sign that said “Vance/Trump are traitors and seditious conspirators.”
“I’m a 26-year Marine Corps veteran, so I don’t want democracy taken apart, I don’t want any more cuts to the government,” he said. “I don’t want a felon as a president.”
Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: JD Vance visits Stark County to support for One Big Beautiful Bill Act