Lafayette business owner reacts to fiscal cliff talks

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - After months of waiting the U.S. Senate passed a bill to avoid a looming fiscal cliff of tax hikes and spending cuts.

The bill maintains tax cuts for individuals making less than $400,000 a year and couples making less than $450,000. The Democratic-controlled Senate passed it 89-8.

Tuesday afternoon the country waited for the House to make a decision.

"They're playing around with [the bill] a little bit, but they're [also] playing around with us," Owner of DT Kirby's Bar Don Kirby said.

Kirby said he has been watching the fiscal cliff talks. Some opponents of the bill said the more than 4-percent tax hike on the 2-percent wealthiest Americans will hurt small business owners, like Kirby.

"We can survive," Kirby said. "We don't want to pass this down to future generations or consumers. We'll get on course and get through it like we have in the past."

Kirby said he takes notes from other downtown business owners on how to adapt to economic changes. He said he is ready to adapt to whatever comes from Washington.

"If it gets tight we'll go back to [what we used to do]," Kirby said. "My wife will bar tend. I'll cook. We'll do whatever to survive. We're not going anywhere."

In the four years since DT Kirby's opened they've seen a recession. Kirby said economic fluctuations are something all business owners will face.

"Whether you're 20 years old or 70 years old we've been through bad stuff and good stuff," Kirby said. "This is just another bump."

Kirby keeps a positive attitude about a possible fiscal cliff. He said you have to when you're doing what you love.