The politics of taxes can always be complicated. But this year, as President Donald Trump put it, we all have a once-in-a-generation chance to leave the bad old days of the economic crisis behind us.

Thanks to his leadership, for the first time since the days of the Ronald Reagan administration, we’re looking at transformative tax cuts for small business. An across-the-board 25 percent small business tax rate is within reach.

Now is the time for lawmakers to keep it simple and focus on the big picture. Almost all small businesses are taxed at the highest possible individual rate, which is almost 40 percent at the federal level. When state and local taxes are included, job creators can pay 50 percent of their income to the government.

That is a heavy burden.

When so many resources flood government coffers instead of local communities, small business owners are left with much too little to reinvest in their business — like most want to do right now — and pass the growth on to the rest of the country.

You can look all over the country for proof of just how much we all count on that small business growth to lift our fortunes. Of course, I like Maine for an example, but not just because of state pride. Even though we are up in the corner of the country, the outsized role small business plays in our economic life is as all-American as anywhere in the country.

More than half our employment comes from small businesses. And all those small firms account for more than 99 percent of our total businesses. That kind of eye-popping data crops up again and again in otherwise vastly different parts of the country.

Small business owners come from all walks of life, putting their grit to good use in all kinds of industries. It is natural to think of that picturesque storefront when you think of small business, but we have a hand in manufacturing and exports, too.

We are also part of the global economy. Here in Maine, small businesses represent more than 80 percent of state exporters.

But one thing Americans count on small businesses to do is grow and keep jobs right here at home. Small business owners see the difference they make on Main Street and know they owe that impact to their customers.

And customers, in turn, know tax relief needs to help out small business in order for us all to enjoy a booming economy. Recent polls show most Americans want small business taxes cut because they’re getting clobbered from excessive individual rates. Around 80 percent say tax relief needs to boost jobs at home. Small business tax cuts boast even larger majority support than tax cuts for respondents’ own families.

The current plan from House Republicans takes to heart the strong message being sent to Washington by small businesses and everyday voters. Now, it’s essential that no small firms fall through the cracks as Congress moves toward a final bill.

All of our small businesses have toiled enough under excessive taxation. At a 25 percent tax rate, they’ll have the chance to push millions of Americans into a brighter future.

Maine Rep. John Picchiotti represents Fairfield, Mercer and Smithfield in the state Legislature.

Rep. John Picchiotti